Behind the Cover: Fall 2026

The thinking behind a cover image that makes the toll of our digital habits feel visceral.

A smartphone, partially decaying and turning to soil, is displayed against a blue background. The screen shows a glowing brain graphic with the text: "Scroll, Swipe, Rot: UCSF scientists are researching how the digital environment affects our minds -- and what to do about it."
Photo Illustration: Justin Metz

“Our collective lack of attention and the erosion of our ability to focus because of the digital environment are such major issues right now. I think humans will look back at this moment in a hundred years and marvel that we created a technology we ultimately couldn’t control.

“I think it’s so timely because I have an 18-year-old daughter who spends the majority of her waking hours glued to her phone. That’s what drew me to this story and to finding a cover image that would get to the visceral, emotional heart of it in a startling, unforgettable way. I recommended photo-illustrator Justin Metz for the job, and I think he delivered exactly that.”

— DJ Stout, Cover design adviser