Pocket Future

Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Outside

How to Eat Like a Nutritionist (And Never Feel Like You’re On a Diet)

It doesn’t have to be all kale salads and quinoa.

Epicurious

How to Make a Dish Less Spicy

Tame the flame in that fiery curry like a pro.

Aeon

Haunted by History

War, famine and persecution inflict profound changes on bodies and brains. Could these changes persist over generations?

Bon Appétit

How to Make Boxed Cake Taste Homemade

However you look at boxed cake mix—a desperate measure or a jumping-off point for delicious desserts—here are my best strategies to make it taste better than you ever imagined.

BBC Future

The Jokes That Have Made People Laugh for Thousands of Years

What makes a good joke? It’s worth going back a few thousand years to find out.

Popular Science

Probiotics Are More Hype Than Science

Experts say that the marketing for these supplements has outpaced the actual science.

MEL Magazine

I Spent a Day as a Times Square Mascot

Who knew that dressing as a Ninja Turtle for seven hours could be such a miserable slog?

The Atlantic

You’re Not Allowed to Have the Best Sunscreens in the World

Newer, better UV-blocking agents have been in use in other countries for years. Why can’t we have them here?

We Regret To Inform You That You May Have ‘Email Apnea’ and Not Even Realize It

Your inbox can literally take your breath away. Here’s how to not let it.

Fast Company

How to Land a Job You’re Not Qualified For

It doesn’t hurt to apply, even if you feel underqualified. But there is a strategy you should follow.

Literary Hub

50 Great Classic Novels Under 200 Pages

I once wrote about the best contemporary novels under 200 pages. Now I must turn my attention to my favorite short classics.

Smithsonian Magazine

How Scientists Resolved the Mystery of the Devil’s Corkscrews

Smithsonian paleontologist Hans-Dieter Sues tells the tale of a fossil find that bedeviled early 20th-century researchers.

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

Saturday, July 26

The Guardian

How Video Games Are Keeping Romance Alive – One Level at a Time

Some are using Final Fantasy and GTA Online as dating sites and long-time lovers are finding comfort and connection through Resident Evil. Could video games be the ultimate relationship tool?

NBC News

The Deadliest Extreme Weather Event Is Not What You Think It Is

Nationally, extreme heat causes more deaths each year than any other weather event, including floods, hurricanes and tornadoes.

Esquire

What I Didn’t Understand About My Autistic Son, and What I’m Learning Now That He’s an Adult

I have opened my heart and my mind to Sam, and he’s brought both of us to the place we so desperately need to be.

The Guardian

The Rise and Fall of the British Cult That Hid in Plain Sight

Philippa Barnes was a child when her family joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she helped expose the shocking scale of abuse it had perpetrated.

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?

Business Insider

Return Fraud Is Running Rampant

Whether it’s sending back broken items or claiming a package never arrived, Americans are committing return fraud at Amazon and other retailers.

The Associated Press

Photos Show a Filipino Couple Walking Down a Flooded Aisle on Their Wedding Day

Jade Rick Verdillo and Jamaica Aguilar were determined to walk down the aisle on their wedding day.

SELF

3 Simple Steps to Keep Your Bananas From Rotting Way Too Soon

Expert-approved strategies for extending the life of this potassium-packed—but short-lived—fruit.

Tesla Pledges to Make Cheaper Cars As Issues Mount

Elon Musk’s carmaker says a more affordable Tesla model is coming as it reports a steep drop in revenue.

NPR

Doctors Urge FDA to Remove Black Box Warning on Hormone Therapy for Menopause

The FDA may remove the warning labels on hormone replacement therapies used to treat the symptoms of menopause. Doctors say the warning is scaring people who could benefit from these treatments.

Martha Stewart

When to Plant Sunflowers (and When You Shouldn’t), According to Gardening Experts

Sunflowers are a stunning addition to your garden, but they’ll only thrive if they’re planted at the proper time. Here’s when you should start growing these seeds, according to experts.

The 19th

The Number of Family Caregivers Is Surging

A new report from AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving shows that more than 63 million Americans are serving as family caregivers — and they’re managing financial risks, poor health and isolation.

History Today

Shakespeare’s Lost Years

‘What’s past is prologue’ Shakespeare wrote – but so little is known of his own. There are plenty of theories, each as implausible as the next.

Inc. Magazine

These Are the Best Jobs for These Personality Types

Certain jobs seem well suited to people with personality traits — astronauts have ‘the right stuff,’ for example. And they get paid a lot.

NPR

I Didn’t Know I Needed the New Billy Joel Documentary

NPR critic Linda Holmes has been a Billy Joel fan since the ‘80s. HBO’s new two-part documentary still taught her something new about his life — and provided a chance to consider the role of his music in her own.