Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Popular Science

What the Heck Is a Time Crystal, and Why Are Physicists Obsessed With Them?

Some of today’s quantum physicists are tinkering with an esoteric phase of matter that seems to disobey some of our laws of physics.

Popular Mechanics

We Used to Make Fun of Fool’s Gold. Now, It Might Fuel Our Future.

The misunderstood mineral pyrite is hiding a big secret.

Stylist

Should You Use Castor Oil for Your Skin? Our Beauty Team Investigates

Castor oil has gained a reputation in hair care for its ability to help your hair grow and shine. But could the benefits extend to skincare? We spoke to a dermatologist to find out.

Quartz

It’s Enlightenment Philosophy’s Fault That Women Wear High Heels Instead of Men

Men wore them first as a symbol of status. Then times changed.

Greater Good Magazine

Moving Your Body Is Like a Tune-Up for Your Mind

If we want a healthy, happy mind, we need to move our body more.

The Washington Post

How to Use All Those Takeout Chopsticks in Your Miscellany Drawer

Try the disposable utensils when cooking, twisting orange peels or cleaning those hard-to-reach places.

The Guardian

I Was the Poster Girl for OCD. Then I Questioned Everything I’d Been Told About Mental Illness.

When I sought help for crippling invasive thoughts, I was told I had a disease like any other. But I wasn’t able to recover until I understood the fallacy at the heart of mental healthcare.

MIT Press Reader

A Century of Science Fiction That Changed How We Think About the Environment

Even before the idea of climate change took hold, sci-fi began to think of the planet as something that preceded our species and could conceivably continue without us.

BBC Future

What Are the Best Lucid Dreaming Techniques?

Lucid dreaming holds a widespread appeal, but many people simply can’t do it. So what do studies show are the best techniques?

BBC Worklife

The Case for Turning Off Your Zoom Camera

Bosses want video call cameras on. But workers may have a strong argument against appearing on screen when they don’t want to.

Scientific American

How the Higgs Boson Ruined Peter Higgs’s Life

A biography of the physicist and the particle he predicted reveals his disdain for the spotlight.

Homes & Gardens

7 Common Household Items That Are Polluting Your Air

Learn what household items are polluting the air around you in your home.

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 17

BBC

How Kentucky Bourbon Went From Boom to Bust

Tariffs, oversupply and teetotaling Gen-Zs have all contributed to the downfall of one of America’s most iconic liquors.

CBS News

This Car Ranks as America’s Most-Stolen Vehicle

Here’s why one Chevrolet model is the most-stolen type of car, according to a new report.

ESPN

The Predatory Web of Sextortion Increasingly Ensnares Young Athletes

A Michigan teen was goaded into sharing an intimate photo that scammers threatened to expose unless he paid up.

New York Magazine

The Crypto Maniacs and the Torture Townhouse

How two men charged with an outrageous kidnapping scheme introduced a new kind of crime to the city.

BBC

A Dating App, a Niqab and a 9mm Gun: How a US Woman Was Hired to End a UK Family Feud

The investigation into the Wisconsin native revealed her to be “fairly unexceptional” with virtually no “criminal footprint”. And it remains unclear why she became a would-be contract killer.

The Associated Press

The Top Photos of the Week by AP’s Photojournalists

This photo gallery, curated by photo editor Anita Baca, highlights some of the most compelling images worldwide published in the past week.

NPR

Why the Origin of the Word ‘Dog’ Remains a Mystery

They’re known as man’s best friends, fur babies, pooches. But the most widely used word for these beloved animals — “dog” — is also a great linguistic mystery.

NPR

Recommendation: New Books Published This Week

A portrait of the lucrative drug-treatment industry; a memoir of a female firefighter; debut fiction from an Emmy-winning TV writer; and a brand new Karin Slaughter thriller.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

Real Simple

Not All Ultra-Processed Foods Are Bad for You—These 8 Are Actually Healthy

Ultra-processed foods make up the majority of what's in your grocery store. But while ultra-processed foods have been linked in studies to serious health risks, there's a wide spectrum as far as safety profile. Choose from the "green-flag" foods from the American Heart Association—including nuts, whole grain breads, and soy milk—to limit your risks.

Serious Eats

Banana Bread, but Make It a Layered, Crowd-Pleasing Showstopper

This banana bread trifle layers brown sugar pastry cream, caramelized bananas, gingersnap crumbs, and whipped cream for a comforting, crowd-pleasing dessert.

SAPIENS

The Tangled Roots of Corruption in Today’s South Africa

A legal scholar turned anthropologist connects South Africa’s colonial and apartheid past to what she witnesses shadowing parole officers.

PS

The “Backpacking Effect” Is Healing Solo Travelers, Inside and Out

TikTok’s before-and-after backpacking videos have gone viral, showcasing the transformational power of solo backpacking or the “backpacking effect.”

Kiplinger

Social Security Turns 90 — Five Important Things to Know

Social Security has become a cornerstone of the American retirement system and works to keep over 16 million retirees above the poverty line. Here are five key facts about the program as it turns 90.

NPR

Private Equity and Crypto Could Be Heading for Your 401(K). Here’s What to Know

A recent executive order paves the way for retirement accounts to include a lot more than stock and bond funds.

The 19th

Suspending Monthly Economic Reports Would Be Really Bad for Women of Color

Trump’s pick to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggested a pause of the monthly employment reports, the only timely economic measure of how women of color are faring in the economy.

Literary Hub

How Small-Town Public Libraries Enrich the Generative Research Process

Like many authors, I love doing background research. Also, like many authors, I do some of my research online. Setting a chapter in San Luis Obispo, but never been? Drop your little gingerbread dude into Street View.

Gizmodo

Tesla Is Making a Move in New York City That Regulators Absolutely Hate

Tesla has already spent years fighting federal probes, civil and criminal lawsuits and a host of scrutiny from everyone from the SEC to buyers.

The Associated Press

RushTok Backlash: Why Sororities Aren’t Letting Prospects Post

Kylan Darnell is a TikTok star known for documenting sorority recruitment, but she decided to step back from posting this year.

Nieman Journalism Lab

Independent Journalist Molly White Knows How to Follow the Memecoin

The cryptocurrency and tech newsletter Citation Needed is pay-what-you-want. White currently has about 29,000 subscribers including about 2,400 paid subscribers despite the lack of a paywall.

Mental Floss

10 of the Scariest Airport Landings in the World

Terrified of flying? You may want to avoid these airports.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

The Week

What Is an Upside-Down Car Loan and How Do You Get Out of It?

This happens when the outstanding balance on a car loan exceeds the vehicle's worth.

NPR

Electricity Prices Are Climbing More Than Twice As Fast As Inflation

Electricity prices are rising more than twice as fast as overall inflation. That's especially costly during the dog days of summer when air conditioners are working hardest. In addition to hot weather, a variety of factors are causing power bills to climb, including the high cost of natural gas used to generate electricity and soaring demand from data centers.

Allure

Why Is the FDA Suddenly Calling Out Foam Sunscreens?

The agency issued warnings to two beloved brands regarding alleged regulatory violations. What gives?

The Associated Press

FACT FOCUS: No, Taxpayers Will Not Receive New Stimulus Checks This Summer

This is false. Taxpayers will not receive new stimulus checks of any amount this summer, an IRS official said.

The Local

On the Front Lines of the War Against ‘Super Lice’

With the emergence of drug-resistant nits, lice removal has become a booming business, catering to harried, itchy parents willing to pay for relief.

NPR

8 Essential Conversations to Have With Your Aging Parents

There comes a time when it’s the kid’s turn to take care of mom and dad. Here’s how to broach this sensitive subject with your parents, and what to talk about.

NBC News

Why Investors Shouldn’t Try to Be a ‘Hero’ in This Economy, Analyst Says

In other words: Stick to your long-term investment plan, including an appropriate asset allocation and time frame to reach your goals.

GQ

Buying Stuff Online Is About to Get a Lot More Expensive. Here’s Why.

The answer has to do with tariffs, synthetic opioids, and something called the de minimis exemption.

The Guardian

Ozempic Didn’t Work for Me. I Was Furious – and Ashamed

Everyone taking the ‘skinny shot’ was losing weight, but my scales didn’t change. My inner dialogue became toxic.

The Atlantic

The Logic of the ‘9 to 5’ Is Creeping Into the Rest of the Day

How free time gets conscripted into the service of work.

CBS News

AT&T Customers Could Get up to $7,500 in a $177 Million Settlement. Here’s How to File a Claim.

AT&T customers whose data was compromised in either of two data breaches, or both, are eligible to file a claim that could provide up to $7,500.

USA TODAY

‘The Tooth Fairy Sticks to a Budget:’ Kids Are Finding Less Under Their Pillows for Lost Teeth

Times are tough, even for kids.