29 December, 2023

Hello. As we approach the end of 2023, we sifted through a whole year of stories to handpick some truly rewarding reads for you. This is our selection of some of the most entertaining and informative pieces published over the past 12 months. We hope you delight in discovering them for the first time, or revisit stories you've already enjoyed. Happy New Year from The Essential List. ESSENTIAL FEATURES How I rewired my brain in six weeks These brain hack techniques drove powerful results – including being our most-read feature of the year. Read more The rise of the 'no-wash' movement There's a growing cohort of people who believe in washing clothes less – or not at all. Read more > A Dutch solution to busyness that captivated the world The wellness trend Niksen — a way to recover from burnout — took hold at just the right time. Read more > How a dose of MDMA transformed a white supremacist To the surprise of scientists, the drug radically transformed his extremist beliefs. Read more > The 113-mile 'floating' US highway An engineering marvel, the Overseas Highway links the far-flung Florida Keys to the mainland. Read more > ESSENTIAL INSIGHTS The most striking images of 2023 A selection of the most powerful photos from this year are compared with iconic artworks. Read more > How bosses won back their power in 2023 The years-long power struggle seems to have settled – and it’s not great news for workers. Read more > Where no humans will tread for 100,000 years Deep under Finland lies a tomb for nuclear waste, where it will remain for millennia. Read more > ESSENTIAL WATCHLIST The only piece of US land in the UK Find out why the only plot of American land in Britain is found in the rural idyll of Runnymede. Watch now > A shipwreck worth billions on the ocean floor For decades, many have been laying claim to the riches of the 'holy grail' of shipwrecks. Watch now > Is 'separation marriage' key to a healthy relationship? How some Japanese couples are combining the benefits of marriage and being single. Watch now > ESSENTIAL LISTENING Believe in Magic Charity, celebrity, illness and control – how a leading cancer charity was not all it seemed.