Wired
-
There Are No Trans Women in the WNBA, so Right-Wingers Are Making Some Up
As culture warriors continue to stoke the flames of a gender panic in professional sports, wild conspiracy theories are coming into play.
-
The Meta Settlement Will Put Limits on Instagram for Teens. They’re Still Vulnerable
Child safety groups and former Meta employees welcome proposed changes to how the company’s platforms will work for teens. They also think states should have demanded more.
-
Waffle House Teleporter Gregg Phillips Is Still on the Trump Administration’s Payroll
In June, a FEMA official infamous for claiming to have teleported to a Waffle House was reportedly ousted. He’s still employed by the government, though—and meeting with a Trump fixer.
-
Candidates Are Signing a Pact Promising Action on Data Centers and AI Safety
More than 15 politicians from across the country have signed on to the AI Pact, vowing to regulate data centers and AI. “We’ve got to get this right,” says Senate candidate Dan Osborn of Nebraska.
-
What We Still Don’t Know About OpenAI’s Hugging Face Hack
The AI giant acknowledges that it could have done far more to prevent its AI agents from going rogue. But it still fails to explain why it didn't see this fiasco coming.
-
Democrats Just Might Win the Senate
Strategists in both parties have long thought that everything would need to go right for Democrats to take over Congress this fall. Their map, though, is becoming more forgiving.
-
FBI Disrupts Chinese Proxy Tools Used in Mass Hacking of US Agencies and Infrastructure
China’s hacking campaign targeted NASA, the Federal Reserve, the US Senate, the Justice Department, and more, according to the DOJ.
-
The Humanoids at China’s Robot Games Were Faster Than Usain Bolt—but I’m More Impressed by Their Tweezer Mastery
Beijing’s endlessly delightful Robot Games featured tons of impressive stunts. But the most mind-blowing tricks challenged the humanoid’s brain, not its brawn.
-
How Rising Temperatures Likely Contributed to Nepal’s Deadly Flood
Climate change is causing glaciers to retreat and become less stable, upping the odds of catastrophic collapses.
-
Meta Will Pay Up to $16.7 Billion to Settle Its Social Media Harms Case—and That’s Not All
In addition to sending billions of dollars to states, Meta will make substantive changes to its platforms as part of a landmark settlement.
-
AI Slop Is Ruining Cute Animals on the Internet
Pet owners, rescue agencies, and wildlife groups are calling for new safeguards as AI makes it harder to tell whether animals, from polar bears to house cats, are real or fake.
-
How Ikea Turned a Controller Thumbstick Into the Star of its Xbox Gaming Range
Xbox and Ikea collab alert! This unique nine-piece collection for gamers arrives this fall and has a slew of Easter eggs.
-
A Mutation Is Making It Easier for Drug-Resistant Malaria to Spread
New findings shed light on what’s making the parasite less treatable using the drug that’s considered a first line of defense.
-
PeopleFinders’ New Website Runs Background Checks on Your Dates
The site, called Stud or Dud, helps daters dig up dirt on potential paramours. It’s fueled by the same public data as PeopleFinders.com—and comes with many of the same concerns.
-
The Best Early Labor Day Kitchen Deals for Busy Fall Days
I found discounts on WIRED-tested tools that make school mornings, weeknight meals, and cool-weather baking a little easier.
-
‘Darth Vader’ Wants You to Know He Definitely Supports Flock Surveillance
Anthony Ralphs was frustrated by the San Diego City Council's support for Flock. He decided it would take something more than reasoned argument to get their attention.
-
The US Just Recorded Its First 2 Measles Deaths This Year
The fatalities come amidst declining vaccination rates and calls from President Donald Trump to split up the MMR vaccine.
-
Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Fold Is Better, but Not the Best
A polished update to Google’s foldable brings real improvements, but the price bump and rampant competition make it a tough sell.
-
The Supreme Court’s Mail-In Ballot Ruling Is a Step Toward Chaos in the Midterms
The Supreme Court has removed one roadblock from the Trump administration’s attempts to impose severe restrictions on voting.
-
Apple Refreshes the Mac Mini and Mac Studio, Both With New AI-Ready Chips
Apple’s Mac Mini and Mac Studio have been tough to buy for months, but updated versions have arrived. Both include new chips optimized for AI, with the M6 Mac Mini getting a $200 price bump.
-
I Road-Tripped With 12 Car Phone Mounts This Summer. This One Wins
The best car phone holders keep your phone firmly in place while never getting in your line of sight. I took a dozen on road trips this summer to find the best.
-
It Should Be Harder to Apply for a Job. No, Really
Thanks to a dwindling supply of open roles, “one-click” applications, and the rise of artificial intelligence, it’s easier than ever to apply for a job. We’re all paying the price.
-
This Projector Is a Hole-in-One as a Golf Simulator, but Subpar for Anything Else
The Optoma GT2400HDR laser projector is great for setting up a driving range in your living room, but mediocre video quality makes it less appealing for home entertainment.
-
The County Prosecutors Who Became ICE Informants
Illinois prosecutors shared defendants’ personal data with federal immigration agents without criminal warrants, public disclosure, or legislative oversight.
-
Border Wall Construction Threatens 6,000 Years of History on Private Lands
Archeologists are confronting an “unfathomable” loss as border wall construction is set to cut across ranches that are home to unique historical sites, many of which haven’t been fully studied.
-
Spirit Airlines Wants to Sell Its Data to Google. Former Flight Attendants Are Freaked Out
“It never crossed my mind that they would be so bold as to sell our private data for AI,” says one former Spirit Airlines flight attendant.
-
Omega Just Released a Mini Moonwatch
Say hello to a revamped collection of perfectly proportioned 38-mm Speedmasters.
-
Data Centers Are Driving an Alarming Gas Power Expansion in the US
There’s no clearer sign of the data center boom than rampant gas projects that have been proposed or that are already under construction.
-
Your Eggs Could Have Salmonella. Here’s How to Make Them Safer
I used a sous vide machine and guidance from infectious disease experts to pasteurize eggs without hard-boiling them.
-
This Is the One Food Safety Item You Need to Prevent Salmonella
Salmonella outbreaks are seemingly everywhere right now. A good temperature probe is the last and best line of defense.
-
The Best Gaming Headset Is Close to Its Best Price
I love this multi-device headset, and right now it’s cheaper than what I paid for it in March.
-
NASA’s New Space Telescope Is Poised to Discover Hidden Facets of the Universe
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is expected to discover as many as 200,000 new planets and reveal details about the elusive nature of dark matter and dark energy.
-
The Best Multiuse Air Purifiers Do More Than Just Clean the Room
These WIRED-tested dual-purpose air purifiers also function as heaters, fans, art pieces, and more, offering the best of both worlds.
-
They Dedicated Their Lives to Teaching. Then the Deepfakes Started
The deepfake epidemic in schools is affecting more than students. Four teachers tell WIRED about becoming targets of sexualized, AI-generated content—and how difficult it was to find accountability.
-
I Watched a Family of Chickadees Grow Up in This Smart Birdhouse
The dual-camera Birdfy Nest Duo gave me an astonishingly intimate look at everything from nest building to fledging.
-
These Home Theater Projectors Give the Cinema Some Tough Competition
I tested the latest models from XGIMI, Hisense, Leica, and BenQ to find the best of the best.
-
This Asus Monitor Fixes One of the Main Gripes Over OLED
The Asus PG27UCWM brings a new sub-pixel layout to the world of OLED gaming monitors, and in my testing, I appreciated the improvements it brings to the table.
-
Transistors Changed Everything. Here’s How They Work
How a tiny little electronic switch sparked the computer revolution.
-
Is Expensive Bottled Water Actually Better for You?
Luxury water can contain different minerals and taste noticeably different. But a remote source, alkaline pH, and high price do not necessarily mean better hydration.
-
7 Basic iPhone Tricks I Built With iOS 27’s Revamped Shortcuts App
From halting my doomscrolls to automating air-quality checks, Apple’s streamlined Shortcuts app is my favorite iOS 27 feature.
-
Forget Meta Ray-Bans. These Dorky-Looking Virtual Display Glasses Are Way More Useful
Tethered display glasses are truly practical face computers. They trade bulky spatial computing for simplicity: Plug in, recline, and get a massive screen right in front of your nose.
-
The Saily Ultra eSIM Is a Great, Perk-Packed Choice for Globetrotters
For uninterrupted service as you country-hop, the Saily Ultra eSIM works well and comes with plentiful perks. It’s pricey though.
-
Set Up a Separate Work Profile on Your Android Phone
It is possible to achieve your desired work-life balance on your smartphone. Just set up separate accounts using this built-in Android feature.
-
NASA Cancels Its Rescue Mission for the Aging Swift Telescope
The LINK probe was supposed to use robotic arms to capture Swift and lift it into a safe orbit. Problems with its control system forced NASA to call off the attempt.
-
Your Expired Visa Card Could Be ‘Zombified’ to Make Contactless Payments
Plus: Apple sends out an “unprecedented” number of spyware warnings, Ukraine hits a Russian ecommerce giant with cyber and drone attacks, and more.
-
Tesla’s Door Handles Lead to Its Biggest Recall Yet
A Chinese agency says the two recalls affecting some 3 million vehicles can mostly be fixed by over-the-air updates—but they will also require physical warning stickers and camera-related updates.
-
The Unlikely Place at the Center of China’s AI Boom
Cheap energy, abundant land, and proximity to Beijing have turned a city in Inner Mongolia into a crucial hub for data centers.
-
Meta’s Big Reckoning Is Here
Meta is in court again over child safety, and this time it’s a landmark case that could force significant changes to core features of Facebook and Instagram.
-
The Patrick Clancy Conspiracy Theories Are Rooted in the Harsh Realities of Motherhood
Lindsay Clancy’s defense argues she killed her three kids because of postpartum psychosis. But armchair detectives, including many fed-up mothers, are laying blame with her ex-husband.
-
The Super El Niño Won’t Fix the West’s Water Crisis
“People have talked about the Colorado River crisis for decades—we’re now in it,” says one expert. “Everyone you talk to is like, ‘Shit, man.’”
