The world in coins (The New Yorker)
by Casey Cep
From biblical understandings of the state to the modern nuisance of the penny, coins have helped shape our political and economic world, as a historian’s new book reveals.

Maybe we don’t need to take antibiotics for so long (Scientific American)
by Claudia Wallis
Everyone knows that it’s important to take antibiotics for the full length of a prescription, often a couple of weeks, to prevent the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria. But what if everyone is wrong?

What’s the matter with written English? (Aeon)
by Arika Okrent
English spelling is notoriously inconsistent and disconnected from actual pronunciation compared with many other languages that use the same alphabet. The reason comes down to historical accidents.

The Olympic fad for reshaping muscle (The Cut)
by Maggie Lange
A number of Olympic competitors this year have been training using a technique known as blood-flow restriction. But jumping on the fad may not be wise for most athletes.

Immigration and identity in Norway (Black Perspectives)
by Matthew Teutsch
Is it possible to be a Norwegian of African or Pakistani descent? To many “ethnic Norwegians” the answer is no, which leaves children of immigrants uncertain about their place in the country.

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