Pocket Future

Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

MEL Magazine

The Quick and Ubiquitous Economics of Bodegas

Do convenience stores really survive on cigarettes and lotto tickets?

I Swiped Tinder for Days in the Name of Research—These 5 Tips Will Make Your Bio Stand Out

Don’t fall victim to these common clichés, blasé generalities, or self-deprecating lines to shine in the sea of swiping.

Atlas Obscura

Can We Blame the Mafia on Lemons?

Economists and historians are connecting the early rise of organized crime with Sicily’s citrus trade.

Mental Floss

11 People Who Operated on Themselves

“The detachment had already happened in my mind ... It’s no longer my arm. As I picked up the knife, I was very cool and collected.”

The Guardian

Teeth as Time Capsules: Soviet Secrets and My Dentist Grandmother

In postwar Warsaw, my grandmother Zosia fixed the teeth of prisoners and spies. In doing so, she came into contact with the hidden history of her times in a way few others could.

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.

Smithsonian Magazine

Harriet Tubman Was an Abolitionist, but She Was Also a Naturalist

The Underground Railroad conductor’s understanding of botany, wildlife biology, geography and astronomy allowed her to guide herself and others to safety.

Narratively

Bob and Evelyn’s Seven-Decade Dance

In swinging 1940s Hawaii, an eager young sailor courts a trailblazing woman who dreams of joining the Navy herself. The attack on Pearl Harbor upends their lives and solidifies a romance that lasts 67 years.

The Atlantic

Eight Books That Will Take You Somewhere New

These titles conjure their settings so vividly that you’ll feel as if you’re there.

Mental Floss

Why Hold Music Is So Annoying

We asked an expert to explain why listening to hold music is such a frustrating experience.

The Kitchn

Lemon Blueberry Muffins

For a bright morning muffin, whip up this batch in less than an hour.

The Hustle

The Thriving Business of ‘Ikea Hacking’

A growing number of companies are offering design tweaks for old Ikea furniture — and business is booming.

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

CNN

Meet America’s First Ever Wife-Carrying World Champions

Caleb and Justine Roesler are the first Americans ever to claim the world title at the Wife-Carrying World Championship in Sonkajärvi, Finland.

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.

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.

Slate

Who Killed the Spoof Movie?

’The Naked Gun’ aims to resurrect what was once one of our most beloved sure-hit genres. Why did it ever go away?

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.

Popular Science

How the Tomato Created the Potato

The starchy staple evolved from the tomato about 9 million years ago.

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.

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.

Is Organic Food Better for Your Family? Here’s What Experts Say

If shopping organic is a priority for your family, this is what you need to know.

The New Republic

The Invisible Climate Change Effect That Is Most Likely to Kill You

Air pollution is less dramatic than floods or storms, less inconvenient, and much harder to politicize. It’s also much more deadly.

Discover

The Secret to Hibernation Is Hidden in Human DNA and We Might One Day Activate It

Hibernating animals reverse aging, avoid diabetes, and preserve muscle. Could we one day do the same?

The New Yorker

Treating Gaza’s Collective Trauma

In Gaza, where displaced children play games called “air strike” and act out death, the lack of mental-health resources has become another emergency.

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.

Variety

Ranking the MCU: Every Marvel Studios Movie and Show, From Worst to Best

Every Marvel movie and TV show ranked from worst to best.

Variety

How Julianne Nicholson’s Comedic Role in ‘Hacks’ Changed Everything: ‘I’m Actually Really Funny Too!’

Podcast: Double Emmy nominee Julianne Nicholson reveals how she created her viral “Dance Mom” character in “Hacks” and mysterious Sintra in “Paradise.”