Pocket Future

Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

The Hustle

The Economics of Broadway Shows

Even though megahits happen every few years, the formula for success remains elusive.

The Washington Post

What Dreams Are Made Of: Scientists Mine Sleep’s Mysteries

Research has evolved from the mechanics of dreaming to what dreams signify — and back again.

The Guardian

The Lost Girls: ‘Chaotic and Curious, Women With ADHD All Have Missed Red Flags That Haunt Us’

After multiple burnouts, in my early 30s I finally knew why life sometimes felt harder for me. It made perfect sense, so why had no one noticed before?

BBC Future

Cosmic Megastructures: The Largest Objects in the Universe

The discovery of giant superclusters of galaxies are challenging our very understanding of the Universe.

Literary Hub

The Real Dracula Is a Detective Story

Forget what you think you know about the ur-vampire story. Bram Stoker’s masterpiece was a sprawling, radical detective novel.

The Guardian

I Think My Cat Likes My Partner More. What Should I Do?

The signs that a cat likes you are fairly obvious. Here’s how to strengthen your bond with a pet if you think they prefer your partner more.

Literary Hub

10 Works of Labyrinthine Literature to Get Lost In

Celebrating the life and works and Jorge Luis Borges.

Quanta Magazine

Machines Beat Humans on a Reading Test. But Do They Understand?

A tool known as BERT can now beat humans on advanced reading-comprehension tests. But it's also revealed how far AI has to go.

The Atlantic

A Sneaky Theory of Where Language Came From

It might have hijacked our early ancestors’ brains.

Stylist

Strength Training: 8 Exercises You Can Do in Your Living Room

Struggling to put together a workout that keeps you motivated? We’ve rounded up the best strength training exercises you can do at home to re-inspire your routine.

Knowable Magazine

How to Overcome Political Polarization on Climate Change

Conversations — in real life — can help bridge the partisan divide, but the trick is to have some structure to the discussion, says a human ecologist.

Atlas Obscura

How a Chinatown-by-the-Sea Popped Up on the Jersey Shore

A tuberculosis epidemic, a church, and one lucky break sent Chinese Manhattanites to Bradley Beach.

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 10

Lifehacker

Are ‘Ultra-Processed’ Foods Really That Bad for You?

They’ve been linked to heart disease and other health conditions.

The New Yorker

The Internet Wants to Check Your I.D.

New safety rules require users to verify their identities before gaining access to sites. This spells the end of the relative anonymity that we’ve come to expect online.

Condé Nast Traveler

16 Golden Rules That Business Travelers Swear By

People who constantly hit the road for work share what they wish they’d known from the jump.

Atavist

The Talented Mr. Bruseaux

He made his name in Chicago investigating race riots, solving crimes, and exposing corruption. But America’s first Black private detective was hiding secrets of his own.

Saveur

That Chewy, Bouncy Texture You Love Has a Name

Whether in boba tea, cuttlefish, rice noodles, or cassava dough, the texture of QQ connects people across cultures and generations.

The Hollywood Reporter

After 70 years of tucking America into bed, it looks like the curtain is about to come down on the late night genre. What’s being lost is more than a TV tradition but a backdrop for some of America’s most memorable moments.

Food52

Our 10 Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes of All Time

From crispy to chewy, we’ve collected the best of the best.

BBC

How ’Keep Calm and Carry On’ Became a Divisive 21st-Century Phenomenon

After a forgotten WW2 propaganda poster was discovered in 2000, it found an astounding new resonance in 21st-Century Britain – becoming an endlessly memeable template that is both cherished and mocked.

Why Space (Yes, Outer Space) Is a Much Bigger Business Opportunity Than You Think

How to take advantage of the next transformative business frontier: space.

Los Angeles Times

Being a Special Ed Teacher Taught Chinedu Unaka His Biggest Lesson in Stand-Up

The L.A.-born comedian, who recently released his first “LOL Live” special on Hulu, says his past teaching with mild to moderate special ed students gave him all the tools he needed to succeed onstage as a comedian.

Inc. Magazine

Your Employees With Student Loans Are Struggling, and It’s About to Get Worse

Data shows more employees are falling behind on student loan payments, but companies can offer mutually beneficial solutions.

Men's Health

What It’s Like to Compete in Stickball America’s Oldest Sport, Aka ‘The Little Brother of War’

For the Choctaw nation in Mississippi, playing stickball is much more than a game.

Popular Science

Throwing Food Out of Your Car Can Kill Owls

Wildlife rescuers saved a concussed baby owl after he was likely hit by an automobile.

Fast Company

Samsung Is Now Tracking Employee Office Attendance

In an internal email Samsung announced a tool that would provide managers with the days and time in office metrics for each employee.

Fast Company

Housing Market Supply Is Finally Back in These 80 Metro Areas—and It’s Good News for Buyers

Among the nation’s 200 largest housing markets, these 80 metros now have active inventory above 2019 pre-pandemic levels.

Real Simple

How to Get Rid of Mildew Smell in Laundry for Good

Mildew is a fungus that loves to grow on damp, dirty clothes left in a dark hamper. It leaves a sour, musty smell and dark stains. Learn how to get rid of mildew smell in clothes.