The People the Suburbs Were Built for Are Gone
A new book documents the “retrofitting” of obsolete suburban malls, box stores, office parks, parking lots, motels, and more.
Healthcare Workers Are Refusing the COVID Vaccine Because No One Is Immune to Bad Ideas
Medical professionals, unfortunately, are as prone to hesitancy and misinformation as the rest of us.
Why You Should Talk to Yourself in the Third Person
Evidence suggests that there are real benefits of talking to yourself in the third person—in your head, not out loud.
Can Bunny the Talking Dog Really Talk?
Bunny is more than an internet celebrity, she is part of the latest attempt to research the limits of animal cognition.
How to Be Bored
Boredom doesn’t feel good, but it isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Understanding it can help resist the urge to run from it.
‘Conspirituality’ Explains Why the Wellness World Fell for QAnon
The philosopher Jules Evans tells us who and what are prone to both conspiracy theories and alternative beliefs, while advocating for “critical spirituality.”
TikTok's 'What I Like About People' Trend Is Like a Gratitude Journal, But For Humanity
By describing redeeming (if not obscure and minuscule) qualities of human beings, the videos are finding gratitude in taxing times.
You Don’t Have to Work On Yourself Forever
A fixation on being the peak versions of ourselves—emotionally, physically, spiritually—is now an ingrained part of daily life. What would happen if you stopped?
Why We Forget How Early It Gets Dark Every Year
There are reasons why seeing the afternoon’s darkness outside our windows feels freshly jarring and disorienting year after year.
People Are Dying After Joining a 'Pro-Choice' Suicide Forum. How Much Is the Site to Blame?
Loss survivors are demanding an end to the site, and provoking a conversation about how little we know about the internet and suicide risk.
Why We Sigh
Sighing is like a reset button for the lungs and emotions. But there’s such a thing as too much sighing.
Texting My Mom Photos of My Dinner Is How I Tell Her I’m Okay
In China, instead of "How are you?" people often ask, "Have you eaten?" During the pandemic, sending my mom a picture of my dinner was a reassurance that I was safe.