The clever folds that kept letters secret
BBC · 7 minHundreds of years ago, people developed ingenious methods to secure their letters from prying eyes – and they did it with only paper, adhesive and folds.
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Today’s essential reads
How Lin-Manuel Miranda Went From Cool To Corny
BuzzFeed News · 8 minOver the past four years, the star musical composer has become a symbol of millennial cringe.
When does sharing become oversharing?
The Verge · 4 minSharing our personal lives online is important — but it’s dangerous, too.
The NBA’s New Normal Isn’t Working Out
The Ringer · 5 minAs the postseason limps toward the finish line, one thing is clear: Try as they might, the NBA’s players can’t handle the cruel grind of another season like this.
The Bison and the Blackfeet
sierraclub.org · 17 minIndigenous nations are spearheading a movement to restore buffalo to the American landscape.
Fascinating stories
The controversy over Bill Gates becoming the largest private farmland owner in the US
Vox · 5 minPeople are drawing connections between Gates’s vast farmlands and climate change advocacy.
Powerball mystery: Someone in this tiny town won $731 million. Now everyone wants a piece of it.
The Washington PostIn Western Maryland, the identity of the Powerball jackpot winner remains unknown, but that hasn’t stopped gold diggers from descending on Lonaconing.
You're Apologizing All Wrong. Here's How To Say Sorry The Right Way
NPR · 3 minOver the last few months, we've heard a spate of apologies pouring forth from the pens and lips of politicians, businesses, celebrities and even royalty.
How to Eat Like a Nutritionist (And Never Feel Like You’re On a Diet)
Outside · 7 minIt doesn’t have to be all kale salads and quinoa.
Benji Is One Down Dog
Texas Monthly · 9 minAdriene Mishler’s blue heeler, Benji, is one of the most famous canines in the country, but he hasn’t let it go to his sweet, soft little head.
Why American Women Everywhere Are Delaying Motherhood
The New York Times · 10 minThe birthrate is falling for American women in their 20s, especially in places where the local economy is booming.
The best places to find extraterrestrial life in our solar system, ranked
MIT Technology Review · 11 minIf there’s alien life nearby, where are we most likely to find it?
The Damaging Double Standard Behind Intermittent Fasting
Quartz · 6 minIs it "optimization" or an eating disorder?
Can a $110 Million Helmet Unlock the Secrets of the Mind?
Bloomberg · 20 minBryan Johnson, who made a fortune in online payment processing, has spent a lot of it building hardware meant to radically expand science’s understanding of the brain’s aging and effects on the body.
How to Make 'Steakhouse Butter' at Home
Lifehacker · 2 minSteakhouse butter is really just a compound butter that you put on steak.
Essential Reading: Celebrating Juneteenth
Pocket · 2 minBlack writers on the history and traditions of America's newest national holiday and why it has always been one of the most important days on the calendar.
What to expect from the 2021 fire season in the West
The Verge · 5 minThe stage is set for a bad season, but there are still a lot of unknowns.
50,000 security disasters waiting to happen: The problem of America's water supplies
NBC News · 6 min"If you could imagine a community center run by two old guys who are plumbers, that's your average water plant," one cybersecurity consultant said.
The Ancient Forests That Have Defied Urbanization
CityLab · 7 minIn cities around the United States, old-growth forests have survived against the odds. But preserving them is not as simple as roping them off from the public.
Burnout Runs Deeper Than “Too Much Work”
Brad Stulberg · 5 minFind synergy between mastery and belonging without sacrificing your autonomy.