‘There’s endless choice, but you’re not listening’: fans quitting Spotify to save their love of music
The Guardian · 8 minFormer streaming service subscribers on why they have ditched mod cons for MP3s, CDs and other DIY music formats.
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Today’s essential reads
Delicious Reads About Your Favorite Candy
PocketFrom the history of Pez to the science of gummies, and why red Starburst reign supreme—help yourself to some of the most fascinating stories about candy, sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Asking one simple question can entirely change how you feel
psyche.co · 7 minStudies have shown that when people label their negative emotions, it can decrease how negative they feel.
The ‘End’ of COVID Is Still Far Worse Than We Imagined
The Atlantic · 6 minEven now, the coronavirus is killing three times as many people as the flu.
How Long Does It Take to Fix a Marriage? Give the Gottmans 7 Days.
The New York Times · 9 minThe renowned love researchers have been happily wed for decades. Would following the advice in their new book improve my own relationship?
Fascinating stories
Why One Neuroscientist Started Blasting His Core
The Atlantic · 7 minAn anatomical understanding of how movement controls the body’s stress response system.
Who needs cutlery anyway? Why food is more delicious when you eat with your hands
The Guardian · 7 minWhen I first introduced my now-husband to my family, he was met with open arms by everyone – except my nine-year-old niece. “Why does Aunty have to marry that man?” she asked, before scathingly adding: “I bet he can’t even eat with his hands.”
‘They Have Nothing to Lose’: Why Young Iranians Are Rising Up Once Again
The New York Times · 8 minAmid growing repression, a sickly economy and bleak prospects, the death of one young woman was all it took.
People Are Sharing Their Go-To Answers To Tricky Interview Questions, And I'm Filing These Away For Later
BuzzFeed · 5 minSave these for your next job interview.
Shuteye and Sleep Hygiene: The Truth About Why You Keep Waking up at 3 a.m.
The Guardian · 4 minYou eschew caffeine after lunch, have stopped drinking alcohol and eat healthily. But you’re still staring at the ceiling in the small hours. Here’s why.
Inside the Ransomware Gangs That Extort Hospitals
New York Magazine · 22 minThey shut down patient care and put lives at risk. Would the pandemic finally slow them down?
How the War in Ukraine Might End
The New Yorker · 14 minIn recent years, a small group of scholars has focused on war-termination theory. They see reason to fear the possible outcomes in Ukraine.
The Zen Rule for Becoming Happier: Change One Thing
Quartz · 2 minSlow down and take things one tiny step at a time.
Cats Give the Laws of Physics a Biiiiig Stretch
The Atlantic · 6 minThey can fall from potentially infinite heights and survive. They can pivot off of nothing to land on their feet. Scientists still can’t fully explain why.
Coolio Was More Than “Gangsta’s Paradise”
Slate · 5 minThe hip-hop classic was both 1995’s biggest song and its most acclaimed, but the rapper scored hits both before and after.
How to Start Meal Prepping Without It Taking Over Your Life
Lifehacker · 5 minWhen you get serious about your fitness goals (be they strength- or weight-related), often one first step is to get your nutrition in order.
The Daring Diplomat Who Proved One Person Can Thwart an Empire
Narratively · 20 minA whistleblower puts his life on the line to defy Soviet aggression. Over sixty years later, this forgotten story of subterfuge, smears and suspicious death has never felt more timely.
How one of America’s last piano manufacturers stays alive
thehustle.co · 8 minPiano-building was once one of the country’s largest industries. Today, only two companies remain in business.
Genetics Spills Secrets From Neanderthals’ Lost History
Quanta Magazine · 8 minHow many Neanderthals were there? Archaeology and genetics have very different answers. But recent discoveries reveal the lost history of these ancient people—including an early brush with extinction.
When Meeting Someone New, Try Skirting the Small Talk and Digging a Little Deeper
The Conversation · 4 minA series of experiments explored the seemingly radical idea that opening up to strangers can be deeply satisfying.