Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Literary Hub

Hello Darkness, My Old Friend: 8 of the Best Sunsets in Literature

“The sky, at sunset, looked like a carnivorous flower.”

Quanta Magazine

Machine Learning’s ‘Amazing’ Ability to Predict Chaos

In new computer experiments, artificial-intelligence algorithms can tell the future of chaotic systems.

Fast Company

Side Hustles You Can Start From Your Couch

You don’t need an office, employees, or investment capital to launch a small business that could generate thousands of extra dollars a year.

Scientific American

How Do I Know I’m Not the Only Conscious Being in the Universe?

The solipsism problem, also called the problem of other minds, lurks at the heart of science, philosophy, religion, the arts and the human condition.

BBC Future

The Enormous Heat Pumps Warming Cities

From New York City to rural England, communal heat pump networks could be the answer to decarbonizing heat in both city high-rises and other hard-to-heat homes.

Popular Science

These Auditory Illusions Make People Hear Phrases as Melodies

A linguist explains why spoken words sound melodic when repeated over and over.

Greater Good Magazine

Is Your Brain Foggy? Here Are Five Ways to Clear It

Studies have found that isolation, stress, and uncertainty can cause forgetfulness and disorganization. Here’s what to do about it.

Scott Young

How to Find Time

Start by asking yourself if time is really the issue.

Stylist

4 Reasons Why Your Plant’s Leaves Are Turning Yellow, and How to Fix It

The problem of yellow leaves on plants—although common—can be caused by a number of reasons. Here, an expert outlines four of the main ones.

The Conversation

Why Do People Faint?

Most of the time, different parts of your nervous system work in balance. But sometimes things can get out of whack.

Aeon

A New Word for That Feeling When Travel Makes Everything New

One thing I’ve noticed over the years of bringing my students to Ireland – my homeland – is that they pay rapt attention to the little things.

Nautilus

Why Astrology Matters

Seeing meaning in the stars is a vital part of the scientific story.

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

Sunday, August 3

Scientific American

The Hidden Way Allergens Attack Nose, Throat and Lung Cells

The immune system senses damage to cell membranes caused by pore-forming proteins and mounts a response.

Glamour

Would You Let Your Friend Pitch You to a Room Full of Single Strangers?

In 2025 we’re turning back to one of the oldest forms of dating: meeting a romantic partner through friends.

Tampa Bay Times

She Left Her Abusive Ex. Could She Stay Away?

Money, housing, kids and heartache keep victims with abusers. For a Florida woman, breaking free meant risking it all.

AFAR

Where to Go Every Month of the Year for Better Weather, Fewer Crowds, and the Most Value

Hurricane-free Caribbean beaches, empty canals in Venice, and lush safaris—all can be yours in off season.

The Baffler

Winging It

For those trying to overcome their fears of flying, it’s been...a challenging time to say the least.

POLITICO Magazine

Meet the Fraudster Who Wants to Make California Its Own Country

The man behind the Calexit movement claims to be a baller. But he’s broke.

The Cut

What If a Child Was Terrified of Food?

The rise of ARFID, a new eating disorder driven not by body image but by fear.

PBS

In the Gray World of GLP-1 Supplements Online, Health Experts Urge Caution

TikTok beauty influencer Kaycee Ogle is regularly contacted by brands who want her to promote their products. But one email she received in June was different, and made her curious.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

Smithsonian Magazine

Killer Whales Hunt Fish in Highly Coordinated Pairs and Perfect Their Movements With Practice, Drone Videos Reveal

Footage taken off the coast of Norway reveals that orcas team up to maximize their prey, according to a new study.

The Atlantic

First Came Tea. Then Came the Male Rage.

The app was meant to make dating safer for women. Data breaches exposing its users show why it was so popular in the first place.

Popular Mechanics

A Study Says Your Brain Can Travel Through Time. Here’s What It Does to Your Memory.

Recalling thoughts and feelings when a memory was encoded improved memory recall, but this mental trick has its limits.

NBC News

It’s a Good Time to Be a Nostalgic Millennial

From the Backstreet Boys’ Sphere residency to a mini “Dawson’s Creek” reunion, ‘90s kids are seeing their pop culture favorites return to prominence.

PS

Yes, Lack of Sleep Is Ruining Your Skin

A dermatologist and sleep doctor break down what lack of sleep can do to your complexion and how to take control of your beauty sleep.

Capital B

Black Neighborhoods at Risk As US Pushes to Cancel Important Climate Protection

Black communities brace for fallout after Trump revokes core safeguard that outlined pollution’s impact on nature and humans.

Popular Science

What Do TSA Bag Scanners Actually See?

Airport X-ray imaging can detect all sorts of threats, along with the water bottle you forgot to trash.

The Verge

Google Has Just Two Weeks to Begin Cracking Open Android, It Admits in Emergency Filing

Google is fighting back.

Martha Stewart

The Right Way to Grow Cayenne Peppers for Huge, Flavorful Harvests

Learn how to grow cayenne peppers the right way and maximize your harvest with expert tips on planting, care, and harvesting for bold, flavorful results.

SELF

6 Skin Care Mistakes That Are Making Your Dark Spots Worse

Dermatologists say these habits could be sabotaging your brightening progress.

CBS News

Americans Are Still Waiting on Trump’s Pledge of IVF Treatment for All

On the campaign trail, Donald Trump said the U.S. would be “paying for” IVF.

The Associated Press

How One Gaza Family Dedicates Each Day to Finding Enough Food to Survive

Abeer and Fadi Sobh spend their days seeking food for themselves and their six children. Their family is like so many others in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

The Associated Press

What to Know If You’re at Risk of Having Your Wages Garnished Over Student Loan Debt

Millions of student borrowers could begin having their wages garnished as soon as this summer. That’s according to estimates from credit bureau TransUnion.

CBS News

What Will Happen to Gold Prices This August?

Gold prices have largely risen over the past 18 months, approximately, but will they continue to do so this August?

HuffPost

This Mosquito-Borne Illness Is Being Reported in Multiple States — Here’s What to Know

Now’s the time to replenish your bug spray supply.

The Atlantic

Three Ways to Stop Feeling Like an Impostor

This common syndrome can certainly harm your happiness. Here are three ways to get over it.

Money

How to Prioritize Your Bills in a Financial Crunch

Which obligations need your immediate attention and which can wait.

SFGate

7 Dogs Suddenly Die in Southern California, 11 More Fall Ill

All were said to have been in good health before a sudden onset of lethargy, nausea, seizures and other symptoms.

The Guardian

Sweat, Stingers and Scratching: 14 Expert, Easy Ways to Treat and Prevent Insect Bites

Some of us seem to be bitten much more than others – and in unlucky cases this can lead to an allergic reaction or chronic illness. Pharmacists explain how to avoid the worst insects have to offer.

The Cut

How Do People Actually Afford These Summer Trips?

If you’re wondering how everyone is staying at four-star hotels in Italy right now, you’re not alone.

Culture Study

A Fascinating Look at How a Hair Stylist Organizes Their Days

This is so interesting.

SELF

5 Reasons You Get Random Bruises—and When to See a Doctor

Here’s how to tell if something nefarious might be behind them.

NPR

The Transformative Power of Keeping a Daily Journal

In a new book, writer Suleika Jaouad explains why journaling is a form of alchemy — and offers tips on how to reignite your practice if you’re feeling stuck, bored or uninspired by your own writing.

CNBC

Back-to-School Shopping Is More Expensive This Year — Here’s the Breakdown

This year, parents will pay more for back-to-school essentials such as pens, pencils and backpacks.