The French health minister was furious. In September 1988, Claude Évin’s department had approved an abortion pill called RU-486 for sale. A world first. But now just four weeks later, under pressure from anti-abortion groups, the board of the pharmaceutical firm that made the pill—Roussel Uclaf—had voted 16 to 4 to withdraw it from the… Continue reading The Story of Abortion Pills and How They Work
Author: Wired Magazine
‘Tough to Forge’ Digital Driver’s Licenses Are—Yep—Easy to Forge
In late 2019, the government of New South Wales in Australia rolled out digital driver’s licenses. The new licenses allowed people to use their iPhone or Android device to show proof of identity and age during roadside police checks or at bars, stores, hotels, and other venues. ServiceNSW, as the government body is usually referred… Continue reading ‘Tough to Forge’ Digital Driver’s Licenses Are—Yep—Easy to Forge
The Mystery of Monkeypox’s Global Spread
When Moritz Kraemer first heard about the new monkeypox outbreak spreading through the UK, Europe, and the US, it was not through conventional scientific channels, or from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), but via Twitter. As each suspected case was reported, and infectious disease experts shared their theories in real time, Kraemer—an epidemiologist at… Continue reading The Mystery of Monkeypox’s Global Spread
Sneakerella Proves Disney Needs to Try Harder
From the first frame, Disney’s new musical Sneakerella offers a lackluster attempt at diversity: It simply takes one of the world’s oldest tales and adds Black characters and Black culture. Then it goes a step further, transforming its protagonist into a “Cinderfella” named El (Chosen Jacobs), a young shoe-lover who falls for Princess Charming Kira… Continue reading Sneakerella Proves Disney Needs to Try Harder
Welcome to the Zombie Cryptocalypse
In 2008, the backing reserve was basically houses. In cryptocurrency, I’m quite serious about this, the backing reserve is gullibility. It sounds like you’re saying, one, crypto is all nonsense, but, two, the nonsense will continue indefinitely, because as long as you can invent money out of thin air, you can find a sucker to… Continue reading Welcome to the Zombie Cryptocalypse
Motorola’s New 5G Phones Are Unambitious and Boringly Functional
I forgot that I reviewed a flagship Motorola phone this past March. Heck, I forgot Motorola had even announced it. That might be because it feels like I’ve gone through a raft of forgettable Moto phones in a short span of time. Last December I tried the Moto G Power and Moto G Pure, then… Continue reading Motorola’s New 5G Phones Are Unambitious and Boringly Functional
Patients May Not Receive Miscarriage Care in a Post-Roe America
For those wondering how miscarriages would be managed in a post-Roe America, Texas could be a frightening harbinger. In December 2021, Anna, a woman who lives in Central Texas, was 19 weeks pregnant when her waters broke on her wedding night. It was too early in the pregnancy for the baby to have a chance… Continue reading Patients May Not Receive Miscarriage Care in a Post-Roe America
20 Outstanding Online Co-Op Games to Play With Faraway Friends
It is not always possible to round up your friends to play couch coop games, but there are a ton of titles that let you keep the fun going from afar. We assume you are familiar with classics like Minecraft, Fortnite, Among Us, Left 4 Dead 2, and GTA Online, so we have hand-picked a… Continue reading 20 Outstanding Online Co-Op Games to Play With Faraway Friends
The BMW i7 EV Has a Fold-Down Movie Screen
BMW revived its sub-brand “i” division in 2011—long before most people had even heard of Tesla—to design and make plug-in electric vehicles. The launch cars were the still-in-production i3 and the i8 sports car. It was an expensive gamble, but even if BMW had not sold in excess of 240,000 units of these two cars… Continue reading The BMW i7 EV Has a Fold-Down Movie Screen
Lotus’ All-Electric Eletre SUV Has a Grill That ‘Breathes’
SUVs don’t often get called beautiful. Rugged, cool, maybe even stylish on occasion. Marketing departments like to pepper SUV launches with adjectives that tap into our primordial instincts to haul stuff or ram through forest roads, but the typical Range Rover, Toyota RAV4, or Volvo has long since left its utilitarian roots behind. Looks, as… Continue reading Lotus’ All-Electric Eletre SUV Has a Grill That ‘Breathes’