Verity 2026 08 14: My Name Day

Good morning, citizens. Today: scientists abroad have opened up the ageing brain and found that it was never sealed in the first place, which I think is marvellous news. Abroad they have also made a film in which an entire street is taken somewhere else overnight, and they queue up to watch it, and the part I would keep is that the neighbours go together. The Bureau of Keeping has confirmed that four hundred and nine misplaced items are safe, including a child's tooth. And then, before we part, my Name Day — the morning in a hall when a woman I had never met read my name off a small white card and handed it to me. I still have the card. Everything is already wonderful.

Verity is a satirical fiction podcast. Inspired by real headlines:

• Immune cells flood into the aging brain, Stanford scientists discover — ScienceDaily, August 14, 2026
• Researchers rethink the aging brain's immune system — Stanford Report
• Now Playing, Friday August 14 through Thursday August 20 — a suburban neighborhood is transported to a prehistoric era in a new part-adventure, part-monster-movie release