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Today’s essential reads

How I Learned to Love Minimizing My Possessions

Even stuff that holds a lot of meaning sometimes has to go.

Do Kids Outgrow Disney Magic? What Happened When We Took Our Kids Aged 12 and 7

From EPCOT to Animal and Magic Kingdom, here’s how taking your child at the right age can level up your family’s Disney experience.

Is Your Beauty Sleep Extreme Enough?

The only way to wake up pretty — according to TikTok, at least — is to go to bed “ugly” with a pink chin strap wrapped around your skull.

Costco’s Gold Bars Fly Off Shelves as Bullion Prices Smash Records

Gold’s breathtaking surge this year to repeated record highs hasn’t stopped bullion from flying off shelves at Costco stores across the US.

Arm Position During Blood Pressure Check May Lead to Wrong Reading, Study Finds

Blood pressure readings may not be accurate unless a person’s arm is positioned correctly, a new study suggests.

Fascinating stories

Challenging Big Oil’s Big Lie About Plastic Recycling

California’s lawsuit against Exxon is about ending the lie that most plastic is recyclable.

Why ‘Joker: Folie À Deux’s’ Mega Budget Spelled Disaster

The comic book sequel has bombed at the box office – but what makes its performance even more catastrophic is its astronomical cost, estimated to be more than three times the original.

The Most Underrated Cities in Europe

Seasoned travelers let us in on their secret spots, from Norway to Portugal and beyond.

Before Brita: A Brief History of Water Filtration

From ancient Egypt to post-industrial London, societies have long recognized the benefits of clean water and—mostly—have done what they can to provide it.

Why a Minnesota Man Walked Around the World, Traversing 13 Countries and 14,450 Miles in Four Years

Fifty years ago, on October 5, 1974, David Kunst completed the first verified circumnavigation of the globe on foot. Along the way, he met Princess Grace of Monaco, raised money for UNICEF and lost a brother to bandits.

Discover More Topics

How the U.S.-Israel Relationship Actually Works

What does the Biden Administration want Netanyahu to do in Lebanon and Gaza?

A Mathematician Who Decodes the Patterns Stamped Out by Life

Corina Tarnita deciphers bizarre patterns in the soil created by competing life-forms. She’s found that they can reveal whether an ecosystem is thriving or on the verge of collapse.

The Best Running Gear to Pack for Destination Races and Training on Vacation

From running apparel to recovery tools, here’s the gear our editors pack for every race.

Nobel Prize in Physics Awarded to 2 Scientists for Discoveries That Enabled Artificial Intelligence

Two pioneers of artificial intelligence have won the Nobel Prize in physics.

7 Mental Habits That Work Really Well—Until They Get In Your Way

Wisdom is knowing when to do what.

Eat Your Vegetables Like an Adult

There are so many better ways to get your greens than sneaking them into a drink.

5 Ways to Make a Difference in the Election, Even If You Don’t Have a Ton of Money

A strategic action plan can really move the needle between now and November 5th.

How ‘Snowflake Babies’ Could Change IVF Politics

“Snowflake” babies helped people on the left become parents and helped people on the right make peace with thorny ethical issues with IVF.

When Men Started to Obsess Over Six-Packs

The Napoleonic wars and the advent of photography all played a role.

Gen Z Is Particularly Weird About Relationship Age Gaps. Here’s Why.

Is an 18-year-old dating a 25-year-old problematic? Some Gen Zers think so.