The Longreads Blog

“I’m For Sale.” Genevieve Smith, Elle.

“Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin’s Post-Scandal Playbook.” Johnathan Van Meter, New York Times Magazine.

Our Longreads Member Pick: Symmetrical Universe, by Alan Lightman

This week’s Member Pick is “Symmetrical Universe,” an essay by physicist Alan Lightman, published in the latest issue of Orion magazine. In it, Lightman explores the wonder of nature and the principles that guide its design—helping to answer questions like why a honeycomb is a hexagon, or why human-created art embraces asymmetry.

Lightman is a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and author of books including Einstein’s Dreams and Mr g: A Novel About the Creation.

Read an excerpt here.

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Illustration by Katie Kosma

“The Divorce from Hell, The Battle for Alimony and Empty Pockets.” Leonora LaPeter Anton, Tampa Bay Times.

“Her Husband Had Taken Their Young Daughter To Iran. She Was Determined To Get The Child Back,” Del Quentin Wilber, The Washington Post.

“Death of a Revolutionary.” Susan Faludi, The New Yorker.

“In Conversation: Robert Silvers.” Mark Danner, New York magazine.

“Why Aren’t Video Game Actors Treated Like Stars?,” David Griner, Polygon.

“The Story of a Failed Startup and a Founder Driven to Suicide.” Alyson Shontell, Business Insider.

“The End and Don King.” Jay Caspian Kang, Grantland.