Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Knowable Magazine

The Wasps That Tamed Viruses

To protect and rear their young, some insects have transformed wild viruses into tiny biological weapons.

Quanta Magazine

The New Science of Seeing Around Corners

Computer vision researchers have uncovered a world of visual signals hiding in our midst, including subtle motions that betray what’s being said and faint images of what’s around a corner.

MEL Magazine

A Gentleman’s Guide to Getting Out of a Conversation

Because telling someone to shut the heck up isn’t ‘gentlemanly’ or ‘civilized’ or ‘appropriate for a 5-year-old’s birthday party, Brian, Jesus.

Atlas Obscura

How Capicola Became Gabagool: The Italian New Jersey Accent, Explained

A linguistic exploration.

Scientific American

When Does Intelligence Peak?

Maybe that’s not even the right question.

Bloomberg

Can Toothpaste Tubes Be Recycled Across the US? It’s Getting Closer

Three out of four plastic squeeze tubes on the US market are now made in a way that allows them to be recycled alongside shampoo bottles.

Nautilus

The Secret History of the Supernova at the Bottom of the Sea

How a star explosion may have shaped life on Earth.

BBC Future

The People Who Believe Plants Can Talk

While many gardeners believe talking to their plants encourages them to grow, there is a war of words in the scientific world about whether plants are listening, or even talking back.

Men’s Health

How Long Does It Take to Get Abs? You Might Be Surprised.

Revealing your six-pack isn’t as simple as just crunching into oblivion. Here’s what you need to know.

CityLab

The Case for Japan’s Amazing Clothes-Drying Bathrooms

Why don’t we all have bathrooms that can dry laundry, too?

MIT Press Reader

The Two-Century Quest to Quantify Our Senses

The quantification of bodies, senses, and experience can be traced back to mathematical and statistical techniques of the 19th century.

Smithsonian Magazine

When Coal First Arrived, Americans Said ‘No Thanks’

Back in the 19th century, coal was the nation’s newfangled fuel source—and it faced the same resistance as wind and solar today.

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

Monday, July 21

Popular Science

Why Do Our Ears Pop on a Plane? An Audiologist Explains.

Tricks to fix it go beyond chewing gum.

The New Atlantis

Does Marriage Have a Future?

From the Industrial Revolution to the pill to AI girlfriends, technology is unbundling what used to be marriage’s package deal.

New York Magazine

Inside the Media’s Traffic Apocalypse

The whole premise of internet publishing is starting to crumble.

Boston

Blood Feuds: The Fight Over Who Gets to Be Native American

A Rhode Island tribe’s quest for state recognition has sparked a controversy.

Los Angeles Times

AI Can Write a Scene. It Can Pitch a Movie. So What Happens to the Screenwriters?

As generative AI reshapes Hollywood, screenwriters like Billy Ray, Paul Schrader, Bong Joon Ho and Todd Haynes, along with a new class of tech disruptors, are navigating the uncertain future of storytelling.

The Week

Why Your Body Ages Rapidly in Two ‘Bursts’

Scientists have found that ageing increases in our mid-40s and 60s.

Virginia Quarterly Review

Dark Ride to the Source

Holding on to Joy at Disneyland.

NPR

4 Confidence-Boosting Ways to Overcome the Fear of Flirting in Real Life

Does talking to a cute stranger make your palms sweat? Confidence coach Regina Bonds offers advice on to how to put yourself out there, including how to show interest without coming off as creepy.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

The Verge

An Electric Scooter That Accelerates Faster Than a Tesla Model 3? No Thanks!

Too many insane claims to track!

Smithsonian Magazine

Researchers Discover the Trick That Allows Burmese Pythons to Digest the Bones of Their Prey

Special intestinal cells collect excess minerals into particles the snakes can poop out, according to a new study.

Newsweek

What To Do if Your Child Gets Hit by Another, According to Parenting Expert

When your child is hit by another, it can feel like time slows down. Do you go to your child first? Say something to the other kid? Look for the parent?

Polygon

Donkey Kong Bananza’s Gold Is Pointless, but Collecting It Is Still Better Than Super Mario Bros.’ Coins

Why settle for six golden coins when you can tear 60,000 gold chunks out of a wall?

CBS News

21st Century Technology Used to Help Solve Wisconsin Mom’s Murder

A man suspected in his girlfriend’s murder swears he didn’t do it – can his Fitbit prove he’s innocent?

Parents

Dad Admits He’s Envious of Other Parents Who Are ‘Effortlessly Social’ at School Drop-Off

Even as parents, navigating social pressures with our individual personalities can be exhausting.

CNET

Americans Are Paying $78 Monthly for Internet on Average: Here’s What to Do If Your Bill Is Too High.

I compared over 150 plans from the top ISPs to find the country’s average broadband costs. Here’s what I found.

The New Yorker

Another Doctor Is Dead in Gaza

In February, Marwan Sultan showed me the wrecked hospital where he worked. In July, an Israeli missile killed him.

BBC

Parades, Flags and Songs: The Campaign to Force Ukrainian Children to Love Russia

Russian youth organisations are encouraging Ukrainian children to turn against their country.

BBC

‘The Village Will Die’ - Italy Looks for Answers to Decline in Number of Babies

The government wants to encourage women to have babies but Italians say they need greater help.

Real Simple

5 Mental Habits That Could Be Sabotaging Your Decluttering Goals

Clean house emotionally and physically.

Vogue

The Future of Fashion Is Female: Nine Designers Leading the Way

From Prada to Tory Burch, Calvin Klein, Fendi, Victoria Beckham, and beyond: Women designers are pointing the way forward around the world.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

The Walrus

Before You Share That Health Tip, Read This

Misinformation is everywhere. And yes, some of it has probably gotten to you.

Stylist

Managers, Here’s How to Have an Effective 1-to-1, According to Career Experts

How to help your team members get the most from your meetings.

CNBC

Student Loan Bills Could Double for Some Borrowers As Biden-Era Relief Expires

Many student loan borrowers could see their monthly bills more than double now that the Biden-era SAVE plan is defunct.

CNBC

What a Trump, Powell Faceoff Means for Your Money

Tensions are escalating between the White House and the Federal Reserve, with consumers caught in the middle.

Fast Company

I’m a Two-Time Tech Founder. but Restaurants Are Where I Learned to Lead

The surprising lessons the conveyor belt sushi business taught me. Sudden equipment failures. Supply chain surprises. Retaining staff as the goalposts move in real time. These aren’t challenges I’ve faced as a tech founder—but I have faced them running restaurants.

The Week

How Can You Get the Maximum Social Security Retirement Benefit?

For many, Social Security benefits are a key part of their retirement plan. So it makes sense that you would want to get the most possible from this monthly source of income.

Money.com

Why You Probably Need Flood Insurance — Even if You Don't Live Near Water

Over the Fourth of July weekend, parts of central Texas were devastated by flash floods after the region was hit with the equivalent of four months' worth of rain in just a few hours. At least 134 people were killed, and more than 100 are still missing as of press time.

Yahoo

What Is ‘Revenge Saving,’ and Should You Hop on the Trend?

“Revenge saving” emphasizes making up for poor financial habits by being aggressively frugal or restrictive with your current spending.

GQ

What to Wear to a Job Interview, According to Hiring Experts

Make sure your suit fits, don’t dress too sexy, and other essential advice from professionals in law, tech, finance, and marketing.

Kiplinger

I Want to Buy an Annuity, but I’m Scared I’ll Get Ripped Off. Should I Get One Anyway?

An annuity is a way to achieve lifetime income in retirement, but you need to understand how this product works before making a purchase.

Business Insider

The Hot New MBA Hustle

Millennials’ hottest new career pivot: ditching the corporate grind to run unsexy small businesses.

NPR

‘Panicking’: Why Recent College Grads Are Struggling to Find Jobs

Recent college graduates are facing one of the most challenging job markets in years — with the exception of the pandemic period — even as the overall unemployment rate remains low.