Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

MIT Press Reader

How Expectations and Conditioning Shape Our Response to Placebos

Kathryn Hall, an expert on placebos, considers the ways that expectations and learning affect our response to them.

BBC Future

The ‘Megascale’ Structures That Humans Could One Day Build

From planet lifters to space cannons, Anders Sandberg explores some of history’s most ambitious visions – and why they’re not as ’impossible’ as they seem.

Nautilus

Galactic Settlement and the Fermi Paradox

The results of galactic colonization models are a mixed bag for SETI optimists.

Literary Hub

Writing Wisdom from Anne Carson: “It is Very Fun to Delete Stuff”

And other insights from one of our greatest living writers.

Mental Floss

Why Does Cilantro Taste Like Soap To Some People?

The herb’s unique flavor can make a dish for some and ruin it for others.

CityLab

When the School Bus Doesn’t Come

The school commute is turning into a nightmare for many families, as cities across the US grapple with a severe driver shortage.

Truly*Adventurous

The Last Train Robbery

The Old West goes out with a bang in its last train robbery, leading a series of investigators down unexpected paths to a shocking conclusion.

Aeon

Cruel to Be Kind: Should You Sometimes Be Bad for Another’s Good?

Turns out, humans have an excellent sense of when a negative emotion will be the best motivation.

Smithsonian Magazine

The Scientist Using Bugs to Help Solve Murders

At crime scenes around the world, the forensic entomologist Paola Magni is taking her field into uncharted waters.

Narratively

The Original New Orleans Diva

With sequins on her arms and a cocktail stirrer hanging from her neck, the most vibrant and vivacious member of NOLA’s preeminent restaurant family made the city her personal playground.

Scientific American

How Parents’ Trauma Leaves Biological Traces in Children

Adverse experiences can change future generations through epigenetic pathways.

Prevention

How to Be More Confident in 8 Steps, According to Experts

Sometimes you really do have to fake it ’til you make it.

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 7

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.

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.

The Atlantic

The Feminine Pursuit of Swoleness

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

Boston

Did We Ruin Summer Camp by Making It Safe?

The kids are all right—but are they missing out?

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 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.

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

CBS News

How Lady Liberty Became a Beacon for Immigrants

The Statue of Liberty, France’s gift to the U.S., was originally viewed as a tribute to the end of slavery. But poet Emma Lazarus reimagined Lady Liberty as a “mother of exiles,” welcoming immigrants to the shores of America.

Martha Stewart

How to Make Your Kitchen Appliances Last Longer and Work Better

Modern kitchen appliances don’t always last as long as older models, but you can still maximize their lifespan with the right care and maintenance. Here’s how to do it, according to repair experts.

Los Angeles Times

Is Hollywood Inspired by the CIA, or the Other Way Around?

There’s a revolving door of talent between the country’s premiere intelligence agency and its entertainment industry, with influence often working both ways.

Popular Science

Should You Keep Eggs in the Fridge? Short Answer: Yes.

Food safety experts have a clear answer.

BBC

US Debt Is Now $37trn – Should We Be Worried?

President Trump’s budget bill will add to the US debt pile but is there a limit to how much the rest of the world will lend Uncle Sam?

Popular Mechanics

Archaeologists Found Two Epic Treasures Under the Floors of George Washington’s Mansion

The incredible relics hail from before the Revolutionary War.

Gizmodo

Move Over Messi: China’s New Robot Soccer League Is Wild!

With AI-powered humanoids now playing 3-on-3 matches, China kicks off its boldest push yet to dominate robotics through sports.

Condé Nast Traveler

Women Who Travel Book Club: 9 New Books to Dive Into This Summer

Exciting new favorites by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Joan Didion, and Eleanor Wilde.

MIT Technology Review

Google’s Electricity Demand Is Skyrocketing

The tech giant just signed a deal to buy fusion power. Meanwhile, company emissions are up 50% since 2019.

Popular Mechanics

Scientists May Have Found the Blueprint of the Human Body at the Bottom of the Ocean

We know that some animals are bilaterian—meaning they display bilateral symmetry—while others are not, but nature is rarely so black-and-white.

Kiplinger

I’m a Retirement Psychologist: Money Won’t Buy You Happiness in Your Life After Work

While financial security is crucial for retirement, the true ‘retirement crisis’ is often an emotional, psychological and social one. You need a plan beyond just money that includes purpose, structure and social connection.

The Hollywood Reporter

The Best Moments From Ozzy Osbourne’s Back to the Beginning Farewell Concert

The day-long concert special featured standout performances from Osbourne and Black Sabbath, Metallica, Guns n’ Roses, Jack Black and more.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

CNBC

Recruiter: I’ve Placed Over 1,000 People Into Jobs–Here’s the No. 1 ‘Closing Technique’ to Nail Your Interview

In this environment where it’s difficult to get your foot in the door, one mistake that some recent graduates make is assuming that their degree will automatically get them a job.

NPR

4 Things to Know About the Vaccine Ingredient Thimerosal

The federal government could soon recommend that people only receive flu shots made without an ingredient called thimerosal.

The New York Times

How Many Dates Should You Go on Before You Start Talking About Money?

Couples tend to dance around discussing how much they earn or owe early in a relationship. But experts agree that talking about money sooner is better than later.

HuffPost

I Paid Off a School’s Lunch Debt. Then Strangers on the Internet Did Something Truly Stunning.

This is proof that strangers can decide, together, to make things better.

Fast Company

How to Trick Your Nervous System Into Calming Down When You’re Stressed at Work

Understanding how your body works can be the key to reducing stress. For example, you’re probably aware of your fight-or-flight response—the body’s way of preparing itself when it believes it’s being threatened.

NPR

‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ Purchases Can Now Affect Your Credit Score. Here’s What That Means

Services that split up payments into installments are increasingly popular, especially among young and low-to-middle income shoppers. But now the FICO credit scoring company will be tracking that debt.

The Guardian

Natural Fibers and No Heathered Grey: What to Wear When It’s Really, Really Hot Out

The biggest concerns are a) maximizing comfort and b) masking sweat so one doesn’t look like a sentient pile of wet laundry.

DW

Paris Reopens Seine River for Public Swimming

Parisians have begun bathing in the Seine for the first time in over 100 years after a ban was lifted. The French capital has created three swimming zones along the river as part of its Olympic legacy.

Inc. Magazine

Half of Remote Employees Nap During the Workday, a Survey Says 

Employers might want to keep an eye open for any visible facial creases, suspiciously mussed hairdos, or groggy comments during video meetings with remote staff. It turns out nearly half of people working from home admit to taking naps on company time.

Men's Health

How Long It Should Take to Walk a Mile—and How That Can Help to Improve Your Fitness

Whether you're looking to move more or you want to upgrade your daily stroll, these tips will help you pick up the pace.

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.