The Monitor is a weekly column devoted to everything happening in the WIRED world of culture, from movies to memes, TV to Twitter. Throughout history, there has been no shortage of Batman adaptations: movies, TV shows, animated series. Caped Crusaders, and the villains who irk them, fill screens every year. It’s overkill. But this week,… Continue reading The People’s Joker: A New Take on the Batverse You May Never See
Author: Wired Magazine
The Best Fitness Trackers and Watches for Everyone
Like every piece of gear you wear on your body day in and day out, fitness trackers are incredibly personal. They have to be comfortable and attractive, sure, but they must also fit your lifestyle, as well as when and how you like to work out. Do you bike, row, or do strength training? Do… Continue reading The Best Fitness Trackers and Watches for Everyone
Neal Stephenson Named the Metaverse. Now, He’s Building It
Hi, everybody. Elizabeth is mourned, Ukraine is battling back, and new Covid vaccines are here. But this week will be remembered for the Merge, making crypto more useful and maybe advancing it beyond the con-game era. The Plain View Neal Stephenson invented the metaverse. At least from an imagination standpoint. Though other science fiction writers… Continue reading Neal Stephenson Named the Metaverse. Now, He’s Building It
A US Rail Strike Was Averted—but the Crisis Is Far From Over
In the early hours of Thursday morning, major US freight railroad companies reached a tentative agreement with unions, narrowly averting a nationwide rail shutdown less than 24 hours before a strike deadline. A work stoppage would have heaped devastating consequences on the nation’s economy and supply chain, nearly 30 percent of which relies on rail.… Continue reading A US Rail Strike Was Averted—but the Crisis Is Far From Over
NASA’s Perseverance Rover Digs Up Organic Molecules on Mars
After trundling around the Jezero crater for 550 Martian days, NASA’s Perseverance rover has amassed nearly half its planned rock collection—including some containing organic molecules, a possible sign that life could have thrived there more than 3 billion years ago. These are compounds that contain carbon, and often hydrogen or oxygen, which are likely crucial… Continue reading NASA’s Perseverance Rover Digs Up Organic Molecules on Mars
Satellite Data Shows How Russia Has Destroyed Ukrainian Grain
Almost 10 million metric tons of Ukrainian grain has been affected by the Russian invasion, according to a new analysis of satellite imagery. One in six of Ukraine’s grain storage facilities— which have a total capacity of 58 million metric tons—have been impacted by the conflict, either through damage, destruction, or falling under Russia’s control.… Continue reading Satellite Data Shows How Russia Has Destroyed Ukrainian Grain
Monkeypox Cases in the US Are Falling. No One Knows Why
Add to that: There’s little past experience with the vaccine, known as Jynneos in the US, being used against this disease. It was only approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2019, primarily for the prevention of smallpox in case that virus—eradicated from circulation by an earlier vaccine, but retained in two labs—was… Continue reading Monkeypox Cases in the US Are Falling. No One Knows Why
Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds II Boast the Best Noise-Cancelling
According to Bose, this bravura performance is thanks to its CustomTune technology. When the earbuds are taken from their charging case and placed in the user’s ear, a brief tone burst assesses the specific properties of the ear canal. In under half a second, the QCE II take the information and set themselves up, for… Continue reading Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds II Boast the Best Noise-Cancelling
What Modern Humans Can Learn From Ancient Software
Did you know that you can, right now, for free, go to Archive.org, the great online library of all things, and load up within your web browser an ancient, decrepit emulated computer—a DOS box from 1991, a black-and-white Mac, a green-and-black Apple II—and run the WordPerfect of yore, boot old HyperCard stacks, or use 1979’s… Continue reading What Modern Humans Can Learn From Ancient Software
The Twitter Whistleblower’s Testimony Has Senators Out for Blood
Many of Silicon Valley’s fiercest watchdogs on Capitol Hill are now snarling. Yesterday’s arresting testimony by Twitter’s former security chief, Peiter “Mudge” Zatko, has lawmakers in both parties redoubling their efforts to rein in the tech titans. Zatko’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee follows a detailed report he submitted to the US Department of… Continue reading The Twitter Whistleblower’s Testimony Has Senators Out for Blood