There was a big human element contained in those tiny boxes — The way we communicate is constantly changing. We don’t write letters like we used to, but we do have GIFs and rainbow-vomit selfies. The latest trend is automation. Apps routinely suggest what you should say next or complete your sentences after a couple words. These suggestions come from crunching billions…

Lessons from fortune cookies, fairy tales, and neuroscience — The fortune cookie is no ordinary cookie. It eschews the gooey chunks, decorative frosting, and other cheap thrills typical of the confectionary genre. It carries a certain dignity and grace. A gentle arch and intimate fold tell you how to hold it and how to snap it in two. It…