Millions in the United States, from the Midwest to the Northeast, prepare for a weeklong heat wave. / axios
People explain what it's like to live through a 121 degree day. “I can't complain. Other people have it harder.” / Goats and Soda
Researchers say they've found a way to turn wool into graphite, a key component in lithium batteries. / ABC News
Related: A supplier for Apple's batteries claims an “insane” breakthrough in storage. / Ars Technica
Can an AI system that is non-biological be embodied in a meaningful way—is “an open question.” / Vox
A new AI company is paying famous authors a lot of money to help people read classic literature. / The New York Times [+]
What is a so-called “creative?” According to Jessa Crispin, it's an artist without the art. / The Culture We Deserve
Remembering MTV's The Real World, which gave birth to reality television. / The New Yorker
A long report from the Microsoft Excel World Championship in Las Vegas. “I can be normal if I need to be.” / The Verge
A month spent in Julia Child's home in southern France. A day in the life of a Southern California fast-food manager. / Condé Nast Traveler, The Wall Street Journal [+]
From 1993, remembering the man who spent 42 years playing cards at the Beverly Hills Hotel pool. / Metafilter