A Nation of Cats (Sapiens)
by Gideon Lasco
Across Turkey, cats are welcomed into homes, hotels, cafes, and bars, often owned by no one but cared for by many. The deep human-feline bonds go back centuries and cross boundaries of religion, ethnicity, and age.

The Evolution of Pie (Slate)
by Rachel E. Gross
If you were offered pie in medieval Europe, you might find yourself with a dish of inedible crust holding a bounty of crow meat. It was only in America that pie became a sweet dessert, with enough adaptability to accommodate everything from rhubarb to Ritz crackers.

The Sacrificial Kings of the Solar Eclipse (Atlas Obscura)
by Rebecca Boyle
In ancient Assyria, a solar eclipse could herald the king’s death. The solution? Replace him with a substitute who could enjoy royal comforts for a very brief time.

When AI is Your DJ (The Conversation)
by Beatriz Ilari and Lynne Snyder
The music today’s teenagers listen to is often chosen for them by an algorithm and may not be anything their peers know about. As music becomes less of a communal experience, it’s also turning into a much more eclectic one.

Can China Achieve its Grand Energy Vision? (Yale Environment 360)
by Isabel Hilton
China leads the world in installing renewable energy—and in burning coal. The country’s green energy transition is a key to addressing climate change globally. But transforming the way an enormous country handles electricity is no easy task.

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