Author: Wired Magazine

Polarization Isn’t America’s Biggest Problem—or Facebook’s

Last week was a telling time in America. In Minneapolis, tearful Black eyewitnesses, some as young as nine, described George Floyd’s last moments before police killed him. In Georgia, Republican state lawmakers passed a law restricting access to the polls that is expected to disproportionately affect Black voters. Efforts to restrict voter participation are also… Continue reading Polarization Isn’t America’s Biggest Problem—or Facebook’s

The Best Electric Toothbrushes for Your Pearly Whites

It’s time I came clean: I hate brushing my teeth. I do it because I have to, but it’s a time-consuming, uncomfortable process—two minutes standing in front of the mirror can feel like an eternity. My dentist says I brush too harshly as well. And don’t even get me started on flossing. Electric toothbrushes make… Continue reading The Best Electric Toothbrushes for Your Pearly Whites

The Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid Birthed Today’s Rainforests

Colombia’s rainforest looked very different 66 million years ago. At present, the humid and biodiverse ecosystem is jam-packed with plants and is covered in a thick, light-blocking canopy of leaves and branches. Notably, there are no dinosaurs. But prior to the dinosaurs going away with the Chicxulub impact, signaling the end of the Cretaceous period,… Continue reading The Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid Birthed Today’s Rainforests

The UK Is Trying to Stop Facebook’s End-to-End Encryption

The UK is planning a new attack on end-to-end encryption, with the Home Office set to spearhead efforts designed to discourage Facebook from further rolling out the technology to its messaging apps. Home Secretary Priti Patel is planning to deliver a keynote speech at a child protection charity’s event focused on exposing the perceived ills… Continue reading The UK Is Trying to Stop Facebook’s End-to-End Encryption

Myanmar’s Internet Shutdown Is an Act of ‘Vast Self-Harm’

From June 2019 until this February, 1.4 million people in Myanmar’s Rakhine state dealt with the longest government-mandated internet shutdown in history, targeted at the Rohingya ethnic minority that makes up most of Rakhine’s population. The connectivity blackout finally ended at the beginning of February, days after Myanmar’s military deposed democratically elected officials and seized… Continue reading Myanmar’s Internet Shutdown Is an Act of ‘Vast Self-Harm’

The ‘Lamborghini’ of Chariots Was Just Unearthed Near Pompeii

Archaeologists in Italy have unearthed an elaborately decorated, intact four-wheeled ceremonial chariot near the ruins of the Roman city of Pompeii, famously destroyed when Mount Vesuvius catastrophically erupted in 79 CE, BBC News reports. The archaeologists believe the chariot was likely used in festivities and parades—possibly even for wedding rituals, such as transporting the bride… Continue reading The ‘Lamborghini’ of Chariots Was Just Unearthed Near Pompeii

The Biden Administration Weighs the Social Cost of Carbon

Here’s how the costs and benefits work out on paper: Suppose the Department of Energy proposed new regulations for air conditioners at a projected cost of $40 million, and economists estimated that the regulation would cut carbon emissions by 1 million tons at a rate of $51 per ton. That would mean about $51 million… Continue reading The Biden Administration Weighs the Social Cost of Carbon

Chinese Hacking Spree Hit an ‘Astronomical’ Number of Victims

When news hit earlier this week that Chinese hackers were actively targeting Microsoft Exchange servers, the cybersecurity community warned that the zero-day vulnerabilities they were exploiting might have allowed them to hit countless organizations around the world. Now it’s becoming clear just many email servers they hacked. By all appearances, the group known as Hafnium… Continue reading Chinese Hacking Spree Hit an ‘Astronomical’ Number of Victims

McAfee Is Indicted for Altcoin Pump-and-Dumps and ICO Schemes

On the evening of December 20, 2017, the controversial cybersecurity pioneer John McAfee tweeted that he would embark on something of an educational blitz. “Beginning tomorrow, I will each day talk about a unique altcoin,” McAfee wrote. “Most of the 2,000 coins are trash or scams. I’ve read every white paper. The few I’m connected… Continue reading McAfee Is Indicted for Altcoin Pump-and-Dumps and ICO Schemes