Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

The Washington Post

What the Science Says About Multivitamins, Magnesium and 7 Other Supplements

Spoiler alert: Many claims about the benefits of supplements aren’t backed by strong data.

Nautilus

Is Net Zero Emissions an Impossible Goal?

What it would take to suck more carbon dioxide out of the air than we put in.

The Hustle

Are Advertisers Going To Infiltrate Our Dreams?

Major brands like Coors, Microsoft, and Burger King want in on our dreams — and researchers are concerned about it.

Atlas Obscura

The Communist Cookbook That Defined Prague’s Cuisine

For years, one book dictated how and what people could eat.

Afar

From the Ashes: Rwanda’s Traditional Imigongo Art on the Rise

You might never guess that “imigongo” art from Rwanda, which is characterized bold, geometric designs, is actually made of cow dung.

The Conversation

When Men Started to Obsess Over Six-Packs

The Napoleonic wars and the advent of photography all played a role.

Knowable Magazine

The Growing Link Between Microbes, Mood and Mental Health

New research suggests that to maintain a healthy brain, we should tend our gut microbiome. The best way to do that right now is not through pills and supplements, but better food.

The Drive

How To Wash a Motorcycle

Clean bike, full hearts, can’t lose.

Outdoor Life

How to Sharpen a Pocket Knife

Learn the basics of sharpening with stones or a guided sharpening system.

Literary Hub

10 Things All Writers Could Learn From Love Island. No, Seriously.

From an intrusive narrator to the hothouse effect.

Fast Company

What Happened When I Ate The Best Brain Foods For A Week

This is what cutting out sugar and dairy and eating lots of fish and blueberries did to my productivity.

Slate

How to Talk About Your Salary With Co-Workers

Breaking this taboo is crucial to getting paid what you’re worth—and it could help shrink the wage gap, too.

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

Friday, July 4

CNN

Here’s Who Stands to Gain From the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill.’ And Who May Struggle

President Donald Trump has promised that the “big, beautiful bill” passed by Congress will be one of the most successful pieces of legislation in American history.

Smithsonian Magazine

In a Milestone for Manhattan, a Pair of Coyotes Has Made Central Park Their Home

For six years, two photographers have carefully followed the canines and documented their secret lives.

KCRW

Want Better Bakes? Here’s What Your Ingredients Actually Do

Pastry chef Nicola Lamb sifts through the essential ingredients of baking — flour, sugar, eggs, and butter.

The New York Times

He’s Ringo. And Nobody Else Is.

As he turns 85, one of the last surviving Beatles is still musically curious, dispensing his signature wisdom, and preaching the gospel of peace and love.

CNN

A Couple Tried for 18 Years to Get Pregnant. AI Made It Happen.

As artificial intelligence shapes fertility care, it’s now helping doctors find hidden sperm.

The Atlantic

The Feminine Pursuit of Swoleness

A new book considers how weight lifting can help you unlearn diet culture.

Bon Appétit

An Inside Look at the Best Snack Trends at the Summer Fancy Food Show

At the Comic Con of snacks, we track down the latest in sweet treats, sauces, and drinks.

New York Magazine

'People Want That African Euphoria'

Black Americans are moving to Ghana — and driving up the cost of living for everyone around them.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

Smithsonian Magazine

Scientists Built a Canoe Using Only Prehistoric Tools. Then They Sailed the Dangerous 140-Mile Route Early Humans Traveled 30,000 Years Ago

Five paddlers journeyed from Taiwan to Japan’s southern Yonaguni Island in 45 hours. Their efforts provide new insights into prehistoric mariners’ tools and techniques

Real Simple

10 Porch Paint Color Ideas That Instantly Make Your Home Feel More Inviting

From calming neutrals to bold accents, these porch paint color ideas help create a warm, welcoming entrance.

Nautilus

Is It Cake? How Our Brain Deciphers Materials

Neuroscientists are discovering how this basic ability, essential to our survival, works

NBC News

How the U.S.-China Trade War Could Leave Skies Dark on the Fourth of July

The U.S. gets almost all of its fireworks from China, and the industry is warning that tariffs on Chinese imports could limit supply and send prices soaring.

Inside Climate News

Wastewater Treatment Plants Channel ‘Forever Chemicals’ Into Waterways Nationwide

A study by the Waterkeeper Alliance documented elevated PFAS concentrations downstream of wastewater treatment facilities and fields treated with biosolids in 19 states. Unregulated discharge from industry sources are to blame, the group says.

Parents

Why New Parents Sometimes Resent Their Pets—and What to Do About It

Many new parents feel resentment towards their pets and the amount of care they require after giving birth. That’s why we spoke to psychologists and pet experts to determine why parents feel this way and how to connect with your pet postpartum in a way th

Smithsonian Magazine

Jewish Food Is Making a Comeback in Poland

Bagels, knishes, bialys and more are popping up in bakeries as the country reckons with historical trauma

Axios

Some Oil Patch Execs Say “Drill Baby Drill” Isn’t Happening

Some oil producers tell the Dallas Fed that Trump’s trade policies are discouraging drilling.

Vanity Fair

And Just Like That…: Would Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda Even Be Friends Anymore?

Maybe not—and they wouldn’t have connected at all without Carrie as the fulcrum, says Cynthia Nixon. “Would Miranda and Charlotte have become friends alone? No.”

Reuters

Record July Fourth Travel Expected As Americans Hit the Road and the Skies

Travel agents said some of their clients are flocking to Europe, and those staying in the U.S. are prioritizing the destinations they can reach by car.

NBC Los Angeles

Clayton Kershaw Carves Name Into Baseball History Books With 3,000th Career Strikeout at Dodger Stadium

Kershaw, now just the 20th pitcher in Major League Baseball history to reach 3,000 strikeouts, joins an exclusive pantheon of greatness.

Axios

New Push for National AI Rules Likely After State Ban Fails

Advocates expect federal legislation to try to preempt state laws.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

Lifehacker

Five Psychological Tricks You Can Use to Make Yourself Feel Happier

It’s easy to see why being happy is such a challenge these days. People are working jobs they hate, struggling to pay bills, and living in an increasingly isolated, digitally driven world.

Fast Company

Why Office Gossip Can Be Good for the Workplace (If It’s the Right Kind of Gossip)

Gossip at work is inevitable. But what exactly workers gossip about can be key in dictating company culture. Rumor has it that gossip can be a positive force in workplace cultures, under the right circumstances.

The Conversation

Self Determination Theory: How to Use It to Boost Wellbeing

A foundational idea in self-determination theory is that we have three basic psychological needs: for autonomy, competence and relatedness.

The New York Times

Illness Took My Mother’s Independence, but It Gave Us Something Precious

An immune condition changed my mom’s life — and taught us to see art differently.

Fast Company

How to Make the Most of Your Summer Vacation

Plan to connect with loved ones and plan to disconnect from work.

The Guardian

How Sorry Are You? Why Learning to Apologize Well Could Save Your Relationships

Got something to say sorry for? Here are words that have no place in your apologies, according to those who have spent years analysing them.

The New York Times

Better Half

The midpoint of the year is an opportune moment to look back at where we’ve been, and set our sights for where we want to go.

The New York Times

Gen Z, It Turns Out, Is Great at Saving for Retirement

Brynnley Beckman is only 23, but she is already thinking about retirement. She teaches ninth grade biology at the Shelton School in Dallas and contributes 3 percent of her salary to an employer-sponsored retirement fund. She hopes to increase her contribution by 1 percent each year.

Money.com

The Ultimate Guide to Paying Less for College

Running the numbers on typical college costs can leave you feeling breathless and wondering how you’re going to afford it. Sticker prices look staggering these days, especially for private colleges.

The Atlantic

How to Make Your Work Your Calling

Three ways to find purpose and meaning in a job.

CNBC

Here’s the Average 401(K) Balance by Age

When it comes to our retirement nest egg, we can't help but wonder where we stand compared to our cohorts.

Time

Are You Just Tired or Truly Burned Out?

Fatigue and burnout are similar, but one requires more serious attention.