The author of the code that built the WWW will donate the proceeds to charity. But the auction raises questions about the transformative impact of non-fungible tokens.
Month: June 2021
Crucial Tech Like Email Is Still Failing Trans Employees
If companies truly want to support their LGBTQ+ colleagues, they’d make inclusivity the default setting.
El Salvador’s Race to Be the Bitcoin Capital of the World
After China’s crackdown, the cryptocurrency crowd is looking for a new haven. The Central American nation thinks it’s the answer.
Perk Up With the Best Latte and Cappuccino Makers
Tired of plain espresso and pour-over? Add some milk to your mornings with one of these barista-worthy makers.
This OnePlus Phone Is a Good Deal—Except for the Cameras
The Nord N200 5G has many features you don’t often find in a cheap phone, but should you settle for lackluster photos?
The Experimental African Houses That Outsmart Malaria
A field test of custom-designed homes proves that when carbon dioxide can flow out, mosquitoes stay out too.
Black Scientists Find Community—and Plan for the Road Ahead
The Black in X network mobilized last summer to bring attention to racism in STEM. This week, they’re holding their first conference to talk about what’s next.
The Antitrust Case Against Facebook Is Very Much Alive
A judge dealt the Federal Trade Commission a setback this week in its quest to break the company up—but also provided a roadmap for how to proceed.
BetterDiscord Lets Users Mod the App to Their Heart’s Content
For almost as long as the popular chat app has been around, volunteer devs have been adding their own features and customizations.
A Space Laser Shows How Catastrophic Sea Level Rise Will Be
Scientists calculate that by 2100, over 400 million people could live in low-lying, at-risk areas—and that’s a conservative estimate.
Mario Golf: Super Rush Takes Way Too Big a Swing
The sport probably needs some reinvention. But not this much.
A New Type of Supernova Unlocks Old Stellar Mysteries
The discovery of a rare “electron-capture” supernova provides crucial insight for understanding the Crab Nebula.
Lakes Are Losing Oxygen—and Their Inhabitants Are in Danger
Hundreds of temperate lakes around the world are showing trends toward anoxia, becoming warmer, murkier, and less hospitable to cold-water species.
Emily Is Away Re-Creates Social Media’s Awkward, Early Days
The newest game in the trilogy immerses you in the nostalgia of poke wars and Nyan Cat.
After Years of Searching, I Found the Perfect Camera Bag
The updated Wandrd Prvke is burly, comes in a lot of sizes, has a lot of pockets and compartments, and most importantly—it’s pretty!
Alondra Nelson Wants to Make Science and Tech More Just
The deputy director of the White House science office plans to tackle algorithmic bias and start candid conversations about the past.
How to Get Windows 11’s Best New Features Right Now
A handful of free apps and downloads can bring some of the biggest perks of the new operating system to your Windows 10 PC—no waiting required.
SolarWinds Hackers Continue Assault With New Microsoft Breach
The company says the Nobelium hacking group compromised a support agent’s computer and levied brute-force attacks against some of its customers.
How Underground Fiber Optics Spy on Humans Moving Above
Vibrations from cars and pedestrians create unique signals in cables. Now scientists have used the trick to show how Covid-19 brought life to a halt.
The Wild Spread of Drug Wars, From Calculators to Phones
Originally a DOS game, it found a secret life on Texas Instruments calculators everywhere in the ’90s, Now the game is available for a whole new generation.
The Science and Spirituality of Looking for Life on Mars
Pamela Conrad is a NASA scientist working on the Perseverance mission—and a priest. She spoke to WIRED about how her two worlds help her make sense of the universe.
The Race to Put Silk in Nearly Everything
The fiber has been considered a “miracle material” for anything from body parts to food. Has the revolution finally arrived?
America’s ‘Smart City’ Didn’t Get Much Smarter
Columbus, Ohio, won a $50 million grant five years ago to use tech to solve old problems. But technical hurdles, bureaucracy, and the pandemic dashed many plans.
24,000 Years in Ice Still Didn’t Kill These Ancient Critters
The hardy rotifer can live through all manner of conditions, but this is a historic feat even for this tiny creature.
The Secret Workings of Smell Receptors, Revealed At Last
Researchers have finally seen how some of them bind to odor molecules—yielding new insights into one of the most mysterious and versatile senses.
Gaming With My Husband Made Our Marriage Stronger
All it took was buying a Nintendo Switch.
How to Make Sure Your Browser Extensions Are Safe
As useful as all those add-ons can be, don’t get complacent when it comes to making sure they’re also secure.
Hackers Are Erasing Western Digital Hard Drives Remotely
Amazon acquires Wickr, the Senate holds up CISA, and more of the week’s top security news.
A $26 Billion Plan to Save the Houston Area From Rising Seas
Lawmakers are poised to decide the fate of a massive project to protect the Texas coast from surging seawater.
What Gaming Does to Your Brain—and How You Might Benefit
Here are some ways to think about addiction, improved neurological function, and your overall relationship with video games on a better, more intuitive level.