Pocket Future

Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

The Hustle

How Ikea Tricks You Into Buying More Stuff

The home furnishings giant enlists a maze-like layout, cheap food, and crafty psychology to get you to fill up your cart.

Nautilus

Once Upon a Gemstone

Precious stones hold the stories of continents, oceans, and cultures.

Quanta Magazine

The Grand Unified Theory of Rogue Waves

Rogue waves—enigmatic giants of the sea—were thought to be caused by two different mechanisms. But one idea that borrows from the hinterlands of probability theory has the potential to predict them all.

BBC Future

The Ingenious Living Bridges of India

For centuries, indigenous groups in north-east India have crafted intricate bridges from living fig trees. Now this ancient skill is making its way to European cities.

Outside

6 Ways to Be a Better Photographer, According to Pros

Best practices gleaned from decades of shooting.

Dwell

How to Source Vintage and Secondhand Furniture Online

All you need is patience, time, and (of course) to know where to look.

Popular Science

How to Actually Remove Pesticides From Your Fruit

Assuming that you should be worried about them in the first place.

WIRED

How to Stop Falling Asleep on the Couch During Movies

Had a long day and still want to stream something? These tips from sleep experts will help you stay awake till the credits roll.

Narratively

I Spent My Childhood Helping My Mom Sell Dead People’s Junk

I was only 8 when I began working as an undercover security guard at estate sales. Among the dusty trinkets and used shampoo bottles, I learned a lot about human nature.

Literary Hub

On the Endless Symbolism of ‘Jaws’, Which Owes Its Dark Soul to ‘Moby Dick’

Olivia Rutigliano discusses punishment, redemption, and fate in her favorite movie of all time.

Fast Company

4 Common Lies About Performance and Productivity

Feel free to shed these bits of “wisdom” about hacking your personal performance and productivity.

CityLab

How the Tuberculosis Epidemic Influenced Modernist Architecture

Light, air, and hygiene were not just aesthetic preoccupations of the early Modernists: They were the best treatment for tuberculosis at the time.

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

Thursday, August 7

The Guardian

The 12-Year-Old Girl Staring Down Monster Waves at Teahupo’o

The young Tahiti surfer will become the WSL’s youngest competitor when she takes on the fearsome break she can see from her family home.

Sapiens

What’s Behind a Michelin Star?

As judges scout new restaurants in the U.S., an anthropologist investigates the elite, Eurocentric history of the Michelin Red Guide.

BBC

How Pac-Man Changed Gaming - and the World

Celebrating his 45th birthday this year, the yellow eating machine revolutionised video games – and has even been used in science. What has made him and his adventures so addictive?

BBC

Mississippi Burning: The Shocking Murders That Sparked Change in the US

In August 1964, three civil rights activists were found dead in the Deep South. The public’s response provided the impetus for new civil rights legislation in America.

Noema Magazine

The Gulf World That Air Conditioning Wrought

From Saudi Arabia to Qatar, rulers have used modern air conditioning to control landscapes and lives, forgoing traditional methods of keeping cool.

The Wall Street Journal

Earning More But in Worse Shape: Hardship Overwhelms Many American Families

Nearly half of kids in the U.S. live in households below the middle class as inflation and the end of Covid relief hit working parents; a $2.90 raise that cuts government benefits.

SELF

The ‘Contrarian Friend’ Is Real—and They’re Driving Everyone Crazy

When disagreeing with you becomes someone’s entire personality.

Slate

I Quit Drinking. It’s Great. There’s Just One Small Problem.

How do I deal with my emotions without whiskey?

John Oliver Talks Legal Battles, Late Night Turmoil and Clapping Back at His Owners

The ‘Last Week Tonight’ host also sounds off on Stephen Colbert’s “horrible, horrible” news and the future of the format.

CNN

The Mindbending ‘Cyberpunk City’ in China That Exists on So Many Levels

Younger travelers are skipping Beijing in favor of Chongqing due to its unusual, Instagram-friendly terrain.

Popular Science

Why Do We Talk in Our Sleep? ‘It’s a Glitch.’

From bizarre food rants to midnight cursing fits, sleep talk reveals the strange ways our brains short-circuit while we rest.

The Verge

Microsoft Is Bringing Its Xbox Copilot to the Windows Game Bar

The Gaming Copilot will help you during games.

Time

The History of How the Car Seat Made American Kids Safer

Child car seats save lives. But for years, Americans didn’t embrace them.

Condé Nast Traveler

The Extravagant Rise of the Corporate Incentive Trip

From skydiving trips in Dubai to Michelin-starred meals in Paris, some companies are rewarding top performers with once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences.

The Ringer

The First Ride of the Valkyries

In its inaugural season, Golden State is competing for a playoff berth and has the highest franchise valuation in the league. What does the WNBA’s newest franchise mean for the future of the sport? And what will it take to bring a title to the Bay?

Vogue

Are We All Protecting Our Peace Too Much?

This year, I made a conscious decision to stop doing anything I didn’t want to. But what was I giving up in the long-term?

Popular Mechanics

Lightning Might Be Irradiating Our World Without Ever Showing Its Face. Here’s How.

We’ve long understood the broad strokes of lightning, but the what kickstarts the process—and allows for some of its weirdest quirks—was a mystery until now.

CBS News

Home Prices Are Dropping in Some Regions of the U.S. Here’s Where.

U.S. home prices are dropping the most in the South and West, according to a new report from Realtor.com.

Real Simple

Want Healthier Skin? Eating These 5 Foods Could Make a Big Difference, Derms Say

To achieve clear and healthy skin, we asked a dermatologist, nutritionist, and dietitians the best foods to eat. Plus, actionable ways to improve the quality of your skin.