Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Nautilus

Top 10 Design Flaws in the Human Body

From our knees to our eyeballs, our bodies are full of hack solutions.

The Drive

How Long Do Brake Pads Last?

Do you want to stop before the wall or after you go through it?

The Kitchn

Recipe: Creamy French Mustard Chicken

Believe it or not, this elegant dish comes together in about 30 minutes using only one skillet.

Stylist

Stretching: 4 Hip Flexor Stretches to Reduce Tight and Sore Hips

Many of us deal with tight hip flexors—especially when we sit down all day. Here’s how to stretch out the pain at the front of your hips.

Scientific American

Going Barefoot Is Good for the Sole

Walking without shoes builds calluses, but that does not limit sensation.

Inverse

In 1989, Nintendo Changed How We Play Video Games Forever

Game Boy kicked off gaming on the go.

Glamour

The Wild Stories Behind Casting Your Favorite Rom-Coms

“It was a nightmare…you name a British guy, and we saw him.”

Fatherly

In 1964, One Beloved Kids Book Almost Had A Totally Different Hero

We’ll never stop wondering what snozzberries taste like.

CityLab

Why Public Transportation Works Better Outside the U.S.

The widespread failure of American mass transit is usually blamed on cheap gas and suburban sprawl. But the full story of why other countries succeed is more complicated.

Knowable Magazine

Why Isn’t Dental Health Considered Primary Medical Care?

Ailments of the mouth can put the body at risk for a slew of other ills. Some practitioners think dentistry should no longer be siloed.

Mental Floss

Why Lining Your Flower Pots With Coffee Filters Makes Houseplants Harder to Kill

There’s a tool that prevents both root rot and dehydration—and you likely already have it at home.

Bustle

Here’s Why You’re Either A Birthday Person Or Birthday Hater

It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to.

Popular Collections

Curated guides to the best reads on the web

Pocket Collections

The Art of Navigating Thorny Office Politics

From bad bosses to gossipy colleagues and, of course, office refrigerator drama.

Today’s Pocket Hits

Wednesday, July 23

The Walrus

Can Office Tools Help Couples Optimize for Domestic Bliss?

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the colour-coded Google Calendar.

BBC

How a Fatal Accident Ended Ted Kennedy’s Presidential Hopes

In July 1969, Senator Edward Kennedy pleaded guilty to fleeing the scene of an accident where a young aide died. But many questions about the ‘Chappaquiddick incident’ went unanswered.

Grist

The Surprising Reasons Floods and Other Disasters Are More Deadly at Night

It’s not just that it’s dark and people are asleep. Urban sprawl, confirmation bias, and other factors can play a role in why nocturnal disasters claim more lives.

NPR

Are High-Protein Snacks Worth the Hype? Here’s How to Assess

Protein has taken over the packaged-snack aisles at the grocery store. But do you need extra protein in your chips and muffins?

WIRED

A Head-to-Toe Breakdown of Social Media’s Billion-Dollar Remedies

Bad mood? Puffy face? Immune issues? Across TikTok and Instagram there are scores of influencers ready to sell you some products—without ever sending you to a doctor.

The New York Times

The Trouble With Wanting Men

Women are so fed up with men that the phenomenon even has a name: heterofatalism. So what do we do with our desire?

New Lines Magazine

Waiting for Justice in South Africa

Families of those killed and tortured for political reasons under apartheid are searching for the truth about why the perpetrators have gone unpunished.

Boston

Blood Feuds: The Fight Over Who Gets to Be Native American

A Rhode Island tribe’s quest for state recognition has sparked a controversy.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

The Spruce

6 Things You Can Find in Every Stylish Room, According to Interior Designers

Designers say these six items are found in every stylish room; learn what they are to make the most out of your decor choices.

Cup of Jo

How to Show up for Kids Who’ve Lost a Parent

Four women who lost their parents early in life share what helped them deal with their grief.

MIT Technology Review

AI Companies Have Stopped Warning You That Their Chatbots Aren’t Doctors

Once cautious, OpenAI, Grok, and others will now dive into giving unverified medical advice with virtually no disclaimers.

Nautilus

The “We Evolved to Eat Meat” Argument Doesn’t Hold Up

The evolutionary story behind meat consumption is less convincing than it sounds

The New Yorker

In an Age of Climate Change, How Do We Cope with Floods?

The deaths in the Texas Hill Country are a tragic testament to the force of a raging river. Flood-stricken Vermont has a radical plan to counter the threat it faces.

NBC News

A Genetic Test Could Predict the Odds of Obesity, Allowing for Early Interventions

Scientists looked at the genes of millions of people to determine which ones are linked to obesity — and developed a way to screen people before age 5.

Axios

Altman Plans D.C. Push to “Democratize” AI Economic Benefits

Altman wants to continue driving debate over the effect AI will have on jobs.

Martha Stewart

The Surprising Design Changes That Keep Pests Away From Your Home

Don’t let pests take over your home. These smart home design tweaks repel insects while making your house look and feel better.

Business Insider

Here’s How to Write an Effective AI Prompt, According to Anthropic

Anthropic released a guide to get the most out of your chatbot prompts. It says you should think of its own chatbot, Claude, as a forgetful employee.

Inverse

You Can Now Watch Most of the Mission: Impossible Saga on Netflix

The last few Mission: Impossible movies have both benefited and suffered from conformity, and now’s your chance to revisit its wilder days.

Los Angeles Times

January Fire Victims Face Little Used Mediation in Faceoff With Insurers

After receiving more than 1,000 complaints from Jan. 7 fire victims about how insurers are handling their claims, state regulators are considering referring hundreds of the cases to mediation — a little used process that worries consumer advocates.

Condé Nast Traveler

The Glitz, Glam, and Grit of Entertainment on a Cruise Ship

The cruise industry’s ever-expanding entertainment programming requires a vast workforce—and an almost uncountable number of dance shoes.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

NPR

A Creek With Atomic Waste From WWII Is Linked to Increased Cancer Risk

A new study in JAMA shows how proximity to Coldwater Creek, where nuclear waste from the Manhattan Project was improperly stored, affected cancer rates over the decades.

BBC

Mineral v. Chemical Sunscreen: Which One Should You Be Using?

Some people are trading chemical sunscreens in favour of mineral versions because of fears over toxicity, pollution and effectiveness. Is there actually any difference?

Time

10 Questions to Help You Plan for the End of Life

Talking about death is often life-affirming.

CBS News

COVID-19 Cases Are Rising in These States Amid Summer Wave, CDC Data Shows

The data, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also showed a significant increase in COVID-related emergency room visits for young children.

CNBC

What a Trump, Powell Faceoff Means for Your Money

Tensions are escalating between the White House and the Federal Reserve, with consumers caught in the middle.

CNBC

Student Loan Bills Could Double for Some Borrowers As Biden-Era Relief Expires

Many student loan borrowers could see their monthly bills more than double now that the Biden-era SAVE plan is defunct.

The Walrus

Before You Share That Health Tip, Read This

Misinformation is everywhere. And yes, some of it has probably gotten to you.

Stylist

Managers, Here’s How to Have an Effective 1-to-1, According to Career Experts

How to help your team members get the most from your meetings.

Fast Company

I’m a Two-Time Tech Founder. but Restaurants Are Where I Learned to Lead

The surprising lessons the conveyor belt sushi business taught me. Sudden equipment failures. Supply chain surprises. Retaining staff as the goalposts move in real time. These aren’t challenges I’ve faced as a tech founder—but I have faced them running restaurants.

The Week

How Can You Get the Maximum Social Security Retirement Benefit?

For many, Social Security benefits are a key part of their retirement plan. So it makes sense that you would want to get the most possible from this monthly source of income.

Yahoo

What Is ‘Revenge Saving,’ and Should You Hop on the Trend?

“Revenge saving” emphasizes making up for poor financial habits by being aggressively frugal or restrictive with your current spending.

Money.com

Why You Probably Need Flood Insurance — Even if You Don't Live Near Water

Over the Fourth of July weekend, parts of central Texas were devastated by flash floods after the region was hit with the equivalent of four months' worth of rain in just a few hours. At least 134 people were killed, and more than 100 are still missing as of press time.