Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Atlas Obscura

Everything You Need to Know About the True Origins of the Everything Bagel

There’s a lot of history in every bite.

Shondaland

It’s Okay to Be Needy in Romantic Relationships

Having a need for consistent connection with your partner is actually a sign of emotional maturity.

Epicurious

The Big-Batch of Braised Beef Your Family Will Go Nuts For

It’s a freezer-friendly meal that feels fancy—but couldn’t be easier to make.

MIT Press Reader

How Did Consciousness Evolve? An Illustrated Guide

Two leading voices in evolutionary consciousness science explore the subject through words and images.

Greater Good Magazine

Instead of Pulling Out Your Phone, Let Your Mind Wander

When we’re waiting, we often have the urge to distract ourselves—but a new study finds we’d enjoy doing nothing but think.

The Kitchn

How To Roast Any Vegetable

They taste great and there’s no recipe required.

Smithsonian Magazine

The Continuously Evolving Picture of the World’s Largest Raptor

Utahraptor is an official state dinosaur and an NBA mascot’s inspiration. Understanding it has been anything but simple.

Harvard Business Review

Relax, Turn Off Your Phone, and Go to Sleep

In the current fast-paced and technology driven world, a good night’s sleep is more important than ever.

Condé Nast Traveler

Can Aviation Ever Be Sustainable?

As a growing number of passengers take to the skies, a viable path towards climate-friendly innovations in air travel is filled with challenges.

BBC Worklife

Why Some People Are Always Running Late

It’s not always rudeness or scatter-brained behavior – it can be something much deeper.

Culture Study

Is Everything an MLM?

In a pyramid scheme, the integrity of the whole is contingent upon the retainment of each individual part; at the same time, growth can only through continual expansion of the base.

The Marginalian

The Ocean and the Meaning of Life

“Contemplating the teeming life of the shore, we have an uneasy sense of the communication of some universal truth that lies just beyond our grasp...”

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, July 24

WIRED

A Head-to-Toe Breakdown of Social Media’s Billion-Dollar Remedies

Bad mood? Puffy face? Immune issues? Across TikTok and Instagram there are scores of influencers ready to sell you some products—without ever sending you to a doctor.

BBC

How a Fatal Accident Ended Ted Kennedy’s Presidential Hopes

In July 1969, Senator Edward Kennedy pleaded guilty to fleeing the scene of an accident where a young aide died. But many questions about the ‘Chappaquiddick incident’ went unanswered.

NPR

Are High-Protein Snacks Worth the Hype? Here’s How to Assess

Protein has taken over the packaged-snack aisles at the grocery store. But do you need extra protein in your chips and muffins?

The Walrus

Can Office Tools Help Couples Optimize for Domestic Bliss?

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the colour-coded Google Calendar.

The New York Times

The Trouble With Wanting Men

Women are so fed up with men that the phenomenon even has a name: heterofatalism. So what do we do with our desire?

Grist

The Surprising Reasons Floods and Other Disasters Are More Deadly at Night

It’s not just that it’s dark and people are asleep. Urban sprawl, confirmation bias, and other factors can play a role in why nocturnal disasters claim more lives.

New Lines Magazine

Waiting for Justice in South Africa

Families of those killed and tortured for political reasons under apartheid are searching for the truth about why the perpetrators have gone unpunished.

The New Yorker

In an Age of Climate Change, How Do We Cope with Floods?

The deaths in the Texas Hill Country are a tragic testament to the force of a raging river. Flood-stricken Vermont has a radical plan to counter the threat it faces.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

MIT Technology Review

AI Companies Have Stopped Warning You That Their Chatbots Aren’t Doctors

Once cautious, OpenAI, Grok, and others will now dive into giving unverified medical advice with virtually no disclaimers.

Martha Stewart

The Surprising Design Changes That Keep Pests Away From Your Home

Don’t let pests take over your home. These smart home design tweaks repel insects while making your house look and feel better.

Fast Company

Why Ambition Is Misunderstood—and How to Reclaim It

Stepping into purposeful ambition might feel like meeting yourself for the first time.

National Geographic

You’re Never Too Old for Summer Camp—These 8 Getaways Prove It

Put away your cellphone and spend your summer eating s’mores, working on your backstroke, or taking up archery. These resorts cater to adults who need a break from adulting.

The Hollywood Reporter

How ‘The Gilded Age’ Newcomer Jordan Donica Charmed His Way Into the Role of Winning Peggy’s Heart

And not even Phylicia Rashad can stop him.

Epicurious

How to Turn an Almost-Empty Peanut Butter Jar Into Dinner

Transform it into a sauce for noodles, vegetables, or dessert, right in the jar.

Popular Mechanics

Scientists Just Witnessed the Birth of a Solar System for the First Time

This is amazing.

Nautilus

Anteaters Have Evolved More Than a Dozen Times

Unlike people, these mammals found a diet they can actually stick to

POLITICO

Frustration and Fear Ripple Through NPR and PBS Affiliates After Congress Approves Clawbacks

Small, rural public media stations are disappointed that Congress ignored their campaign to preserve federal funding.

Real Simple

Your Most Organized Life Starts Here

It’s time to declutter your closet, organize your kitchen like a pro chef, and get your stuff together. Here’s how to get organized—and actually stay that way.

Condé Nast Traveler

The Glitz, Glam, and Grit of Entertainment on a Cruise Ship

The cruise industry’s ever-expanding entertainment programming requires a vast workforce—and an almost uncountable number of dance shoes.

The 19th

Women’s Contributions and Men’s Racism Erased From History of Muir Woods National Monument

An initiative to fill in historical gaps from the Muir Woods National Monument disappeared under pressure from the Trump administration.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

BBC

Mineral v. Chemical Sunscreen: Which One Should You Be Using?

Some people are trading chemical sunscreens in favour of mineral versions because of fears over toxicity, pollution and effectiveness. Is there actually any difference?

NPR

A Creek With Atomic Waste From WWII Is Linked to Increased Cancer Risk

A new study in JAMA shows how proximity to Coldwater Creek, where nuclear waste from the Manhattan Project was improperly stored, affected cancer rates over the decades.

Time

10 Questions to Help You Plan for the End of Life

Talking about death is often life-affirming.

CBS News

COVID-19 Cases Are Rising in These States Amid Summer Wave, CDC Data Shows

The data, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also showed a significant increase in COVID-related emergency room visits for young children.

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.

The Walrus

Before You Share That Health Tip, Read This

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.