A Senate Bill Would Radically Improve Voting Machine Security
This year’s Intelligence Authorization Act would mandate penetration testing for federally certified voting machines and allow independent researchers to work on exposing vulnerabilities. ⌘ Read more
The Purple Track at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games Has a Secret Ingredient
Recycled shells of mollusks native to the Mediterranean Sea were used to manufacture the synthetic floor of the athletics track, as part of the Games’ commitment to sustainability. ⌘ Read more
The 17 Best Barefoot Shoes for Running or Walking (2024)
Our favorite zero-drop, minimalist footwear will let you feel the ground beneath your feet. ⌘ Read more
The 17 Best Laptop Stands We’ve Tried and Tested (2024)
Raising your computer screen is a simple fix for healthier posture. These stands, lap desks, mats, and risers may help. ⌘ Read more
Coros Dura Solar GPS Bike Computer Review: Battery Life for Days
Coros’ debut cycling gadget has a battery life that beats all comers. ⌘ Read more
Elgato Prompter Review: No iPad Required for This Teleprompter
Elgato has built the simplest way to read from scripts while recording for YouTube. ⌘ Read more
The Untold Story of How Ridley Scott Saw ‘Star Wars’—and Ended Up Making ‘Alien’
In 1977, Ridley Scott was considering making a medieval period piece. Then he saw Star Wars and set about making two sci-fi classics, Alien and Blade Runner. ⌘ Read more
The New Gods of Weather Can Make Rain on Demand—or So They Want You to Believe
In a gold-trimmed command center on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, scientists are seeking to wring moisture from desert skies. But will all their extravagant cloud-seeding tech—planes that sprinkle nanomaterials, lasers that scramble the atmosphere—really work at scale? ⌘ Read more
How a Secret BJP War Room Mobilized Female Voters to Win the Indian Elections
A sophisticated effort used technology to identify women who could bring other women out to vote—and offered a glimpse of the future of campaigning in India. ⌘ Read more
Lime’s New Rideshare Ebikes Are More Approachable—Throttle and All
The LimeGlider and LimeBike, currently in pilot programs, have smaller frames and wheels and are equipped with throttles. ⌘ Read more
Instagram Will Let You Make Custom AI Chatbots—Even Ones Based on Yourself
Meta’s AI Studio will let users build virtual characters, with a few limitations. ⌘ Read more
The Bird Flu Threat Keeps Growing
Human cases keep ticking up, are very likely to be underreported, and offer the virus the opportunity to learn how to spread from person to person. ⌘ Read more
The Top New Features in Apple’s iOS 18 and iPadOS 18
Apple Intelligence has arrived in the iOS 18.1 developer beta, bringing features like the updated Siri and Writing Tools. Here’s how to access it, plus the top new features in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. ⌘ Read more
How to Buy an Air Purifier in 4 Easy Steps
Know thy room—you’re fitting your space with an air purifier, not the other way around. ⌘ Read more
8 Best Electric Toothbrushes We’ve Tested and Reviewed in 2024
These rechargeable and battery-powered models put better oral hygiene within easy reach. ⌘ Read more
Saboteurs Cut Internet Cables in Latest Disruption During Paris Olympics
Long-distance cables were severed across France in a move that disrupted internet connectivity. ⌘ Read more
People Are Using Memecoins to Bet on the US Election
While a fight over betting on US elections plays out in court, the tech-savvy are gambling hundreds of millions of dollars on cryptocurrencies inspired by politicians. ⌘ Read more
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge Copilot+ PC Review: A Powerful Laptop
Slick, svelte, and sharp. This is the best-performing Copilot+ PC we’ve tested to date. ⌘ Read more
How Infostealers Pillaged the World’s Passwords
Infostealer malware is swiping millions of passwords, cookies, and search histories. It’s a gold mine for hackers—and a disaster for anyone who becomes a target. ⌘ Read more
People Are Using Memecoins to Bet on the US Election
While a fight over betting on US elections plays out in court, the tech-savvy are gambling hundreds of millions of dollars on cryptocurrencies inspired by politicians. ⌘ Read more
Back to BASIC—the Most Consequential Programming Language in the History of Computing
Coding was a preserve of elites, until BASIC hit the streets. ⌘ Read more
TikTok Has a Nazi Problem
Not only is TikTok’s algorithm promoting Neo-Nazi content, extremist organizations are also using the platform to recruit new members and encourage real-world action. ⌘ Read more
12 Best Smartwatches, Editor Tested and Reviewed (2024): Apple Watch, Wear OS, Hybrid Watches, Kids’ Watches
These WIRED-tested wearables reduce your reliance on a phone while keeping you connected. ⌘ Read more
You’re Probably Using Your Air Purifier Wrong
Placement, filter maintenance, and learning about your air purifier’s settings are all part of good air hygiene. ⌘ Read more
Bitcoin Bros Go Wild for Donald Trump
At Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville, Trump is finally telling crypto enthusiasts what they want to hear. ⌘ Read more
Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 (2024) Review: A Tried and True Laptop
This 2-in-1 machine is lightweight, has a screen that flips, and packs excellent speakers. ⌘ Read more
Uncovering Magnetism’s Mysterious Role in the Galaxy
Susan Clark is helping to unravel the mysterious workings of the Milky Way’s magnetic field, a critical missing piece of the galactic puzzle. ⌘ Read more
Escaping Gravity Takes a Brutally Honest Look at NASA
Lori Garver’s new memoir details her struggles to get NASA colleagues to embrace SpaceX and Blue Origin. ⌘ Read more
Donald Trump Backs ‘Strategic Bitcoin Stockpile’ in Speech to Crypto Faithful
Appearing onstage at the Bitcoin 2024 conference, Trump also promised to “fire” SEC chair Gary Gensler, set up a crypto advisory council, and make the United States the “crypto capital of the world.” ⌘ Read more
The Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers in 2024, Tested and Reviewed
If you’re a side sleeper, you need a mattress that provides support and relieves pressure. I’m a side sleeper, and I tested the top foam, cooling, and firm mattresses to find the best. ⌘ Read more
Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Review: Cybertruck AirPods
Samsung’s third-generation earbuds copy Apple’s dated plastic-tipped design, cost more, and have shoddy noise canceling. ⌘ Read more
Stop X’s Grok AI From Training on Your Tweets
Plus: More Pegasus spyware controversy, a major BIOS controversy, and more of the week’s top security news. ⌘ Read more
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 Review: A Pretty Chromebook
Asus puts all the gray, boring Chromebooks out there to shame with the sleek and all-white CX34. ⌘ Read more
Project 2025 Wants to Propel America Into Environmental Catastrophe
Tracking emissions, managing pollutants, responding to natural disasters—even accurately predicting the weather—would all be trampled in a wave of privatization, deregulation, and unfettered fossil-fuel exploitation. ⌘ Read more
Open Source AI Has Founders—and the FTC—Buzzing
DC went to YC to talk OS. ⌘ Read more
Dengue Fever Threatens to Gate-Crash the 2024 Summer Olympics
Measles, bedbugs, and dengue have all been cited as concerns for tourists and athletes at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, with the tropical virus in particular forcing authorities into action. ⌘ Read more
Drew Afualo Will Never Stop Making Fun of Misogynist Men
The TikTok influencer and podcast host amassed millions of followers for her roasts—and swears she’ll keep doing it even if TikTok goes away. ⌘ Read more
The 20 Best Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now (August 2024)
The Idea of You, Brittany Runs a Marathon, and American Fiction are just a few of the movies you should be watching on Amazon Prime Video this week. ⌘ Read more
2024 Summer Olympics: A Self-Healing Pole Vault Pole Is One Great Leap for Sports Tech
Pole vaulting is a spectacular, dangerous sport. Modern poles could be drastically improved to make them more reliable, with healable tech being developed that could also be used in surfing and cycling. ⌘ Read more
Steve Jobs Knew the Moment the Future Had Arrived. It’s Calling Again
In a recently uncovered 1983 speech, Steve Jobs predicted the ubiquity of personal computers. In 2024, AI has brought us to another inflection point. ⌘ Read more
Teenage Engineering TX-6 Review: A Pocket-Sized Audio Mixer
This adorable piece of pocket tech acts like a USB-C audio interface and mixing board. ⌘ Read more
A North Korean Hacker Tricked a US Security Vendor Into Hiring Him—and Immediately Tried to Hack Them
KnowBe4 detailed the incident in a recent blog post as a warning for other potential targets. ⌘ Read more
The Best Android Phones of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
Shopping for a phone can be an ordeal. That’s why we’ve tested almost every Android phone, from the smartest to the cheapest—even phones that fold—to find those worth your money. ⌘ Read more
The Week of Brat Summer Will Go Down in Internet History
After Charli XCX declared that Vice President Kamala Harris “IS brat,” nothing was the same. ⌘ Read more
No, You Can’t Have a Solar-Powered Passenger Plane
Guilt-free air travel is a beautiful dream, but there’s simply no way to get enough solar energy to keep a cabin full of people in the air. ⌘ Read more
Europe Is Pumping Billions Into New Military Tech
The European Commission is allocating €7.3 billion for defense research over the next seven years. From drones and tanks of the future to battleships and space intelligence, here’s what it funds. ⌘ Read more
7 Best Cheap Smartphones (2024): iPhone, Android, 5G
There’s little reason to pay top dollar for a smartphone. These iPhones and Android devices—ranging from $150 to $500—stood up to WIRED’s testing. ⌘ Read more
Sonos Admits Its Recent App Update Was a Colossal Mistake
Owners of the company’s wireless speakers will have to endure the pain of broken software for several more months. ⌘ Read more
Video Game Performers Are Going on Strike Over AI
The union representing the voice and motion-capture actors who work in video games authorized the strike after talks with gaming companies stalled over the use of AI. ⌘ Read more
Class Action Lawsuit Alleges T-Mobile Broke Its Lifetime Price Guarantee
Customers of the uncarrier want T-Mobile to pay up after switching their legacy phone plans for something more expensive. ⌘ Read more