The Best of Vox
20+ most popular Vox articles, as voted by our community.
Our world, explained.
New this Week
These are fresh off the press.
Why it’s important to remember that AI isn’t human
ChatGPT can talk like a person. You shouldn’t think of it as one.
«If we want to make real headway in evaluating the capacities of AI systems, we ought to resist the very kind of dichotomous thinking and comparative biases that philosophers and scientists strive to keep at bay when studying other species.»
You can’t even pay people to have more kids
These countries tried everything from cash to patriotic calls to duty to reverse drastically declining birth rates. It didn’t work.
Wages are rising. Jobs are plentiful. Nobody’s happy.
It’s a good time to be a worker and a bad time to be a consumer — the problem is most people are both.
Trending
These are currently making the rounds on Refind.
The surprising scientific weirdness of glass
Three mind-bendy conversations about glass later, I see the sublime in my windowpanes.
«(That’s because the closer a glass is to the ideal state, the less it’s able to reconfigure itself, and the longer it takes to reconfigure itself. And a system that takes a long time to move is “stiff,” as Ediger says — a.k.a. solid. )»
The case for inviting everyone to everything
In a time when loneliness is more pervasive than ever, why not extend an invitation?
«study found that people who mingled with more loose acquaintances or strangers in a day reported better moods and a higher sense of communal belonging»
How TikTok profits off dangerous health trends
On TikTok Shop, influencers are profiting by promoting sketchy health trends in order to sell products.
Your phone is the key to your digital life. Make sure you know what to do if…
Preparing yourself for the worst is easier than you might think — and it’s never been more important.
Vox on Climate Crisis
There’s a climate solution hiding in our walls
Buildings waste a lot of energy. One low-tech solution could fix that.
The terrible paradox of air pollution and climate change
Some types of air pollution slow global warming — but at the cost of millions of deaths a year.
Vox on Economy
The Great Resignation is becoming a “great midlife crisis”
Older, more tenured people are increasingly quitting their jobs.
“I’ve read the plans to reopen the economy. They’re scary.”
Over the past few days, I’ve been reading the major plans for what comes after social distancing. You can read them, too. There’s one from the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute, the left…
Vox on Facebook
How to delete what Facebook knows about your life outside of Facebook
The "Off-Facebook Activity" tool lets you see — and somewhat control — what other sites and apps tell Facebook about you
What Meta employees really think about their company’s brutal year
Recode obtained a recording of a Mark Zuckerberg Q&A and internal survey results that show how Meta’s struggles are impacting staff.
Vox on Friendship
Men have fewer friends than ever, and it’s harming their health
The "male friendship recession" is having dire consequences.
How to handle a lopsided friendship
If you think a pal is way less (or way more) invested than you are, here’s what to do.
«A lopsided friendship happens when one friend is more active in maintaining contact and the other friend is more passive about keeping the connection going»
Vox on Inflation
Inflation, explained by eggs
Inflation is a tough egg to crack. We gave it a try anyway.
How the Fed ended the last great American inflation — and how much it hurt
Forty years ago, the Fed pushed the economy into a recession to stop inflation. Here’s how it played out.
Vox on Philanthropy
Effective altruism’s most controversial idea
Longtermism is influencing billionaires and politicians. Should it guide the future of humanity?
Is booking Airbnbs really the best way to help Ukrainians?
People want to help Ukrainians, and Airbnb has emerged as one way to do it. But is it the most effective?
Vox on Russia
Could Putin actually fall?
What history teaches us about how autocrats lose power — and how Putin might hang on.
The Ukrainian resistance isn’t just on the front lines
From feeding troops to answering hotlines, volunteers are mobilizing for the war effort.
Vox on Silicon Valley
The layoffs at Airbnb cast a dark shadow over Silicon Valley
Airbnb is laying off a quarter of its staff.
Dopamine fasting is Silicon Valley’s hot new trend. Is it backed by science?
How dopamine fasting works — and doesn’t
Vox on TV
Can TV take down the cult of the tech founder?
The Dropout, Super Pumped, and WeCrashed try to break up our love affair with tech founders. They don’t totally succeed.
Colors: Where did they go? An investigation.
Why do so many TV shows and movies look like they were filmed in a gray wasteland?
Popular
These are some all-time favorites with Refind users.
Why we need rituals, not routines
How rituals can help you approach basic tasks more mindfully.
«Currey describes a ritual as an activity that eases a person into a focused mindset, a liminal state that is conducive for thinking, creating, or just being. “Rituals create and mark a transition towards a different kind of mental or emotional state,” he said. This can look different for every person, but it’s helpful to approach rituals as a soothing, meditative activity that allows the participant to be physically and mentally present»
How to get better at making every type of decision
Here’s what to do if you regularly wish you could hire someone to make all your choices for you.
«Keeney advises asking yourself, “What do I hope to achieve by addressing this choice?” and focus on aspects that aren’t easily quantifiable.»
Money is emotional — but personal finance advice rarely accounts for that
Budgeting tips won’t get you very far if you don’t address the elephant in the room.
What is the point of crypto?
Crypto is a solution in search of a problem — or problems.
«there’s no situation in which a hyper-capitalist, unregulated system will just sort of naturally trend toward a more equitable society.”»
How to admit you’re wrong
Admitting wrongdoing isn’t a failure, it’s an opportunity.
«Fetterman’s research shows admitting wrongness actually improves our reputation. By owning up to our errors, others see us as friendlier and more agreeable.»
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Vox on Social Media
Trends are dead
Everything and anything can be a trend on the internet. Why are we so determined to name them?
Why some biologists and ecologists think social media is a risk to humanity
One of the real challenges that we’re facing is that we don’t have a lot of information