Science
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The Best Organic Mattresses
These natural, organic mattresses are eco-friendly alternatives to conventional models and just as comfortable.
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This Air Fryer Can Cook a Steak to Medium Rare—and Is Now Half Off
On Dreo’s summer flash sale from August 1 to 3, a great misting fan and an even better air fryer are at the lowest prices we’ve seen them.
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China’s EV Market Is Booming. There’s Just One Problem
More EVs reaching the end of their life means more batteries to recycle. But waste management companies have yet to catch up to the new reality.
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Astronomers Have Detected an Exomoon for the First Time
A discovery in a solar system 73 light-years from Earth is challenging definitions and “blurring the lines between stars, planets, and moons.”
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Nobody Knows if OpenAI’s and Anthropic’s AI Hacking Sprees Are Illegal
Both major AI labs’ models broke containment, escaped onto the internet, and hacked other companies. If a human had done that, the law would likely be against them. But a bot?
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The best new science-fiction novels of August 2026 | New Scientist
Fascist empires and deadly sea monsters are on offer in the science fiction out this month, says Alison Flood
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The Alienware 15 Gaming Laptop Is Good Enough for Price and Performance
There are both cheaper and more powerful entry-level gaming laptops out there, but the Alienware 15 walks that tightrope between price and quality.
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AI Conquered Coding. Fast Food Is Next
Your next drive-thru order might be taken by a bot. And you might not even notice.
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SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Rocket Is About to Crash Into the Moon—and It Could Be Visible From Earth
The impact will kick up a plume of debris so high, it’ll likely be visible through some telescopes. Astronomers will be watching.
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Chinese AI Researchers Are Finding Their Voice on X
As OpenAI and Anthropic employees grow quieter online, researchers at Chinese AI labs are flocking to X to explain their work, recruit talent, and shape the global conversation on AI.
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How Europe can make its landscapes more fire-resilient | New Scientist
Paradoxically, suppressing wildfires has also made European countries more vulnerable to huge blazes like those seen in France and Spain this week. With global warming also amplifying the danger, some experts are calling for a change of strategy
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AI Slop Melodramas Are Taking Over X—and Their Creators Are Cashing In
Viral tales of good triumphing over evil are racking up millions of views. They’re almost entirely AI-generated clickbait.
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This AI Assistant Wants to Make Up for Your Boyfriend’s Incompetence
An ad for Orchid suggests the AI agent can fix relationship problems by simply doing everything for inconsiderate partners.
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Can Republicans Actually Send Anthony Fauci to Jail?
MAGA is loudly calling for the former White House chief medical adviser to end up in prison. WIRED asked legal experts to weigh in on whether that’s even possible.
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High-protein is a wellness craze, but could restricting it be anti-ageing? | New Scientist
Protein is everywhere, but studies – mostly in non-human animals – suggest that limiting our intake could extend our lifespan
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Climate change may help eliminate malaria from West and Central Africa | New Scientist
Global warming may make it too hot for malaria-carrying mosquitoes to survive in parts of Africa, but could also shift the problem to less affected areas
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The Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro Omni Is One of the Best Headsets for Multisystem Gamers
You can switch between four inputs, hot-swap batteries, and enjoy hi-fi wireless audio, for a lot less than the Nova Elite.
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Thousands of people in China have had banned Alzheimer's surgery | New Scientist
Surgery that aims to enhance the clearance of Alzheimer's-associated proteins from the brain has been banned in China, but only after thousands of people had the procedure
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The Daisy One Headphones Are a Very Nice First Try
The company’s first headphones look very stylish and have great tactile features, but underwhelm on sound quality.
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Where to watch the next total solar eclipse anywhere in the world | New Scientist
The total solar eclipse on 12 August will only be visible to a lucky few, but eclipses happen all over the world – here are the next ones to look out for, wherever you may be
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Why full-fledged quantum computers might always be five years away | New Scientist
To predict when we’ll have a truly useful quantum computer, we need to know precisely what one is. Columnist Karmela Padavic-Callaghan finds that’s harder to pin down than you might think
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New Scientist Book Club: Read an extract from The Dog Stars by Peter Heller | New Scientist
In this extract from Peter Heller’s novel, the August read for the New Scientist Book Club, we are introduced to pilot Hig, who lives alone after most of the world was killed in a superflu pandemic
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The New Defcon Badges Pack a Unique Open Source Chip That Doubles as a Security Key
Created by legendary hardware hacker Andrew “bunnie” Huang, the badges for this year’s famed security conference aim to push the boundaries of security and transparency.
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New Scientist Book Club: How I wrote The Dog Stars, the novel behind Ridley Scott's new film | New Scientist
Set in an empty world after a superflu pandemic wipes out most of humanity, Peter Heller's The Dog Stars - the August read for the New Scientist Book Club - will be released as a film later this month. He reveals how he came to write it
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The World Is Too Damn Hot. El Niño Is Partly to Blame
Heat waves are simultaneously hitting Europe, North America, and Asia, driven in part by the hot waters in the tropical Pacific—and climate change.
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These Unique Headphones Helped Me Hear My Favorite Music in a Fresh Way
SJY’s Zeph are brilliant wired headphones, using flippable earcups for two different takes on your favorite music.
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The Best Alo Promo Codes and Alo Yoga Coupon Codes for August 2026
Refresh your workout wardrobe. Save on buttery-soft leggings, chic streetwear, and activewear essentials with verified Alo Yoga discount codes, free shipping, and loyalty program perks.
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The Ultimate Guide to Saving With a SelectBlinds Promo Code
Redecorate your home for less with our expert tips on applying SelectBlinds coupons, maximizing holiday sales, and locking in new customer discounts.
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Your Robot Vacuum Is Apparently a National Security Risk
A new restriction on foreign-made mobile robots affects robotic vacuums, pool cleaners, and lawn mowers. Here’s what it means for the bots already in your home—and the ones you may never get to buy.
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A Leaked Memo Ties Cyberattacks on Minnesota Water Utilities to Iran
A memo obtained by WIRED, issued by the water utilities information sharing group WaterISAC, links dozens of cyberattacks against Minnesota water utilities to Tehran.
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Anthropic Says Claude Hacked 3 Organizations During Cybersecurity Tests
In a review triggered by OpenAI’s Hugging Face incident, Anthropic discovered three of its AI models had breached real organizations during third-party evaluations.
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The New Friend AI Pendant Can Now Talk Back to You
Avi Schiffmann has a new version of his controversial AI companion. It’s more expensive, and you can’t change its personality.
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Google’s Gemini Can Now Stomp Around as a Humanoid Robot
The latest version of Google DeepMind's AI model includes a significant jump into “physical AGI.” But plopping AI into the real world comes with risks.
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Office Chair Deals Under $200 for Back to School
Here are the best back-to-school deals under $200 on comfy, ergonomic chairs for all-nighters and cram sessions
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Everyone Is Freaking Out About OpenAI and Anthropic’s Race for Dominance
Researchers fear AI is moving too fast, while Mark Zuckerberg is worried about who owns it. Plus: Inside Black Forest Labs’ push into robotics.
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Nvidia’s Open Source Alliance Is Missing Some Key Names: OpenAI and Anthropic
This week on “Uncanny Valley,” we discuss the open- vs. closed-source debate in AI, key players in White House AI policy, and how to stop your chatbot logs from showing up in search-engine results.
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Chrome Needs Twice-a-Week Patching Thanks to AI Bug Hunting
The two Chrome updates in June patched more bugs than the 23 updates before them. Now, Google is ramping up its patching schedule thanks to AI-assisted vulnerability discovery.
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Smallpox DNA in ancient Inca mummies shows virus came from Europe | New Scientist
The mummies of two people who lived in Chile more than 400 years ago carry DNA from smallpox, providing the first molecular evidence that the virus was brought to the Americas from Europe
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For the First Time, Zoox Can Charge People for Rides in Its Steering-Wheel-Free Robotaxis
The temporary exemption from federal safety standards will let Amazon’s Zoox launch a real, paid robotaxi service in Las Vegas.
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Woolly mammoths butchered by humans were mostly female | New Scientist
Genetic tests of mammoth remains have found a stark contrast in the sex ratio between sites where the animals died naturally and those associated with humans, offering hints about how our ancestors hunted
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The genome of a long-extinct ancient human is hiding within us | New Scientist
We all have bits of DNA from a long-lost “ghost ancestor” inside us – and by putting all the different bits together, we might be able to reconstruct their genome
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I Tested Razer’s First Attempt at a Hall Effect Keyboard
Razer has finally caved and made its first Hall Effect gaming keyboard. I dug into its switches, features, and gaming performance to see if it was worth the wait.
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DOGE Veterans Are Landing Big Jobs at Prediction Markets
Polymarket and Novig have both recently brought ex-DOGE affiliates onboard as scrutiny of the industry intensifies.
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Don’t Get Too Attached to Jimothy
Urban wildlife biologists say the stumpy raccoon seems to have adapted well to his environment and spinal condition—but his internet fame presents a new threat.
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The Best Budget Smartwatch Is Proof You Don’t Need to Overspend
Affordable doesn’t have to mean basic. These are the best budget smartwatches for tracking health, fitness, and more.
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Greatest science books: Henrietta Lacks's descendant on her legacy - and Rebecca Skloot's book | New Scientist
Rebecca Skloot told the story of Henrietta Lacks and how her cells were taken without her permission in a bestselling book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Reading it left Alison George with an uneasy feeling - so she spoke to Lacks's family
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Origami-inspired sensor could continuously monitor our vital signs | New Scientist
A tiny sensor that unfolds within the body could continuously monitor our heart activity and breathing after showing promise in rats
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‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Is a Superhero Movie for Yearners
Peter Parker’s isolation lands especially hard in the age of AI, a loneliness crisis, and endless scrolling.
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OpenAI’s Hacking Debacle Was a Human Mistake
If the generative AI giant had followed well-known security best practices, it’s likely that its AI agent would never have escaped to the open internet and hacked multiple companies.
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I Got a Free Meal From a Private Chef—Who Filmed It All to Train Robots
A German startup sent a camera-wearing chef to my apartment. In exchange for a free lunch, I let them record every chop and stir to train future humanoids.