Everything you need to know about bubbly water and your body — This story is part of The Elemental Guide to Water, a five-part special report on the health benefits of water, the science behind seltzer, the truth about fancy H2O, the safety of tap water, and how much water you really need to drink. Sparkling mineral water, seltzer, club soda —…

On platforms like Reddit, people are seeking opinions on anything from skin conditions to syphilis — From Baltimore to Beverly Hills, cases of the most commonly reported STDs have reached an all-time high. And in bathrooms and bedrooms across America, people are responding by dropping their pants, sliding a smartphone down there, and uploading photos of their private parts to the internet. “Is this herpes?” asked…

Plant-based patties are great for the environment. But what about for your body? — A few years ago, chef Paul Canales was curious about the new and mysteriously meaty meatless burgers that were creeping onto the food scene. …

Who is allowed to rest in American society? Activists and “nap ministers” are embracing sleep as a political act — The Elemental Guide to Napping is a three-part special report. Read here about the science of napping and how to take the perfect nap. It’s a chilly Sunday morning at an art gallery on Atlanta’s north west side. The stark room is dark except for the light thrown off by…

Emerging evidence suggests a daytime snooze has powerful health benefits — The Elemental Guide to Napping is a three-part special report. Read here about how to take the perfect nap and how people are napping as a form of resistance. As long as there’s been civilization, there’s been disagreement about the value of a nap. Plato viewed sleep as anti-social, writing…

10 science-backed tips for more productive shut-eye — The Elemental Guide to Napping is a three-part special report. Read about the science of napping and why napping should be more egalitarian. My life to this point is marked off in two epochs: Before Nap and After Nap. From birth until about age 30, I had no patience for…

For over 100 years, the bubbly beverage has gone in and out of vogue as a wellness tonic — “Three or four or five years ago, a man looked more or less ashamed of himself when he ordered ginger ale, lemon soda, or seltzer,” a bartender noted. “Nowadays, however, everything is changed. [Soft] beverages are the taste of the day.” It’s a pretty astute summary of today’s craze for…

Is she crazy? Or crazy like a fox? A financial illiterate investigates. — The envelope arrived in my mailbox on a Tuesday. I recognized the block-lettered handwriting on the front as my mother’s. Inside was a typewritten missive addressed to my sister and me. …

Studies show that “nine-enders” are prone to do more ambitious and extreme things. Does the same hold for countries? — There’s something different about the number nine. We know this intuitively, right? It’s why everything on late-night infomercials is priced at $999.99 instead of a cool thou, and why a dress marked up to $39 sells better than the same dress sells at $34. …