Today we’re featuring stories about YouTube pranksters, marathon cheats, cephalopods, sleep and a massive collection of restaurant menus. 1. Vigilantes for Views: The YouTube Pranksters Harassing Suspected Scam Callers in India Andrew Deck and Raksha Kumar | Rest of World | January 10, 2023 | 5,737 words Justice can mean equality, and it can also mean retribution. In the case of Artsiom […]
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The Significance of Sniffing: A Reading List on Smell
Why it’s important to give things a sniff.
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
From writing about climate disaster and catastrophe to pieces on sleep habits, hometowns, and the heyday of a digital media empire, these five reads will take you into your weekend.
If Aliens Exist, Here’s How We’ll Find Them
“We are near the end of Darwinian evolution, but technological evolution of intelligent beings is just beginning.”
A Racist Scientist Built a Collection of Human Skulls. Should We Still Study Them?
“After the murder of George Floyd in May 2020 sparked protests for racial justice around the country, more and more people within and outside Penn began to see the Morton collection as a present-day perpetuation of racism and its harms, rather than just a historic example.”
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
This week, we’re sharing stories from Josefa Velasquez, Wufei Yu, Tom Foster, Tim Requarth, and Ellen Ruppel Shell.
Best of 2023: The Audience Awards
The 10 editor picks that stood out to our readers.
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
This week, we’re sharing stories from Kathryn Miles, Briohny Doyle, Taran Khan, Stephen J. Lyons, and Adam Rogers.
The Cult That Promises to Cure Addiction
For 50 years, Enthusiastic Sobriety programs have offered to help teenagers kick drugs and alcohol. But former followers say ES doesn’t save lives—it destroys them.
Best of 2024: All Our Number Five Story Picks
Every story that appeared in the number five slot in our Weekly Top 5, all in one place.

