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Edition #18 · Wednesday, May 13, 2026 · 1272 positive stories
Science & Breakthroughs

Friction-maxxing and the case for a less convenient life

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Friction-maxxing and the case for a less convenient life

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Something about the phrase “friction-maxxing” struck a nerve. When Kathryn Jezer-Morton, a columnist for New York magazine’s The Cut, published an essay in December 2025 naming the feeling of wanting to push back against frictionless technology, the response was immediate. She has spent the months since watching the idea spark a small cottage industry of follow-ups: people who love the concept, people who hate it, and many who want it reduced to a simple chec

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About Science & Breakthroughs coverage

The science section covers breakthroughs in medicine, physics, biology, and technology. We surface discoveries that expand what humanity can do, from new treatments reaching clinical trials to engineering feats that seemed impossible a decade ago. Every link goes to the original publisher so you can read the full study or press release yourself.

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