Future Perfect’s most-read articles of 2025 reveal a clear pattern: readers are intensely focused on the immediate realities of daily life—what we eat, how we think, and what happens to our bodies—while simultaneously grappling with the far-reaching implications of rapidly advancing technology. The common thread across these pieces isn’t simple optimism or doom-mongering, but rather a cautious curiosity about incentives, ethical boundaries, and the often-unforeseen consequences of innovation.
Here are the ten stories that resonated most with readers this past year.
1. De-Extinction Isn’t Resurrection: It’s Engineering
The hype around “de-extinction” often overshadows the messy realities of genetic engineering. Marina Bolotnikova’s piece, sparked by the gene-edited wolf pups Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi, punctures this illusion. Bringing back species isn’t a romantic revival; it’s a complex and ethically fraught process with real welfare costs – failed embryos, surrogate animals, and the risk of distorting conservation efforts.
The danger isn’t just losing species in the first place; it’s convincing ourselves that we can simply undo extinction, making it easier to ignore the underlying causes.
2. The Protein Myth Debunked
In 2025, protein became less a nutrient and more a status symbol. Marina Bolotnikova cut through the noise with a physiology-based analysis: the recommended daily intake is around 0.36 grams per pound, with muscle-building benefits plateauing at 0.73 grams. Beyond that, you’re mostly paying for branding. Data, not influencers, dictates reality.
3. The Quiet Decline of Drinking
Gallup data shows a historic low in American alcohol consumption: 54 percent of adults drink, down from 75 percent in 1997. Teen drinking has also plummeted. Bryan Walsh’s analysis points to health concerns as a major driver, though the social trade-off – less alcohol, potentially less socializing – remains a consideration. Your liver may be grateful, but the social landscape is shifting.
4. Tech’s Alignment with Anti-Democratic Ideologies
Sigal’s analysis connects the tech industry’s political alignment with a broader worldview: a winner-take-all ethos that flirts with anti-democratic ideas. She traces the intellectual roots of this “broligarch” moment, from Peter Thiel’s power politics to the network-state dream of private, corporate governance. The true concern isn’t influence itself, but what these actors intend to do with it.
5. How Meditation Rewires Your Brain
Oshan Jarow’s piece moves beyond superficial claims about mindfulness and cortisol levels. He explores how meditation practices loosen rigid mental frameworks by treating the brain as a prediction machine. This process can reduce suffering, but also destabilize one’s self-perception – a brutal honesty that many avoid.
6. The Hidden Politics of Your Chicken Dinner
Kenny’s investigation reveals the political influence of Mountaire Farms, a major US chicken producer that most consumers have never heard of. CEO Ronald Cameron has donated tens of millions to right-wing causes, including Trump-aligned groups, illustrating how our food supply chains are deeply entangled with political agendas.
7. The GLP-1 Revolution in Obesity Rates
For the first time in decades, US obesity rates showed a sustained decline in 2025, driven largely by the rise of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Over 12 percent of adults reported using these medications, signaling a potential shift in how we approach weight management. While caveats remain – self-reporting bias, cost, unequal access – this could mark the beginning of a new era.
8. The Ethical Distance of Industrial Agriculture
Fairlife, a protein-boosted dairy brand, promotes a veneer of ethical reassurance. However, Kenny’s reporting exposes repeated allegations of severe animal abuse at supplier farms and misleading claims about humane treatment. This highlights a systemic problem: industrial agriculture excels at creating distance between consumers and the realities of production.
9. Mirror Life: The Next Existential Threat?
Kelsey’s piece explores the chilling implications of “mirror bacteria” – organisms built from the opposite molecular chirality of life as we know it. These could be indigestible, unrecognizable to immune systems, and spread unchecked. The alarm is justified: while still theoretical, the potential risks warrant proactive safeguards.
10. Predicting the Future: Our 2025 Forecasts
Future Perfect’s annual predictions package, now partnered with Metaculus, offers a brutally honest look at our forecasting abilities. From tariffs to Ukraine to H5N1, our team made 25 explicit predictions with assigned probabilities. Revisiting these forecasts at year-end exposes overconfidence and provides a humbling reality check.
Finally, Sigal’s advice column, featured in Vox’s membership program, became a top motivator for new subscribers. Her question — “Who do you want to be?” — cuts straight to the heart of difficult choices and ethical self-assessment.
The Future Perfect’s 2025 reads demonstrate a growing appetite for honest, skeptical analysis. Readers aren’t seeking simple answers, but a deeper understanding of the complex forces shaping our world—from the food we eat to the technologies we create.
