The Vampire Bat Is Moving Closer to the US. That’s a Problem
As the climate changes, the bloodthirsty creatures are moving north from Latin America, bringing the threat of rabies with them.
https://www.wired.com/story/the-vampire-bat-is-moving-closer-to-the-us-thats-a-problem/
How to Measure the Calories in a Candy Bar—With Physics!
Step one: Trick or treat. Step two: Get out your bomb calorimeter. (Yes, that is a real thing.)
https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-measure-the-calories-in-a-candy-bar-with-physics/
These Plants Change Color When Exposed to a Pesticide
Genetically engineering plants to change colors when they encounter a contaminant could help scientists better understand their needs—and the environment.
https://www.wired.com/story/these-plants-change-color-when-exposed-to-a-pesticide/
A Personalized Brain Implant Curbed a Woman’s OCD
A device in her brain delivers jolts of electricity when it detects abnormal neural activity associated with obsessive thoughts.
https://www.wired.com/story/a-personalized-brain-implant-curbed-a-womans-ocd/
Alan Turing and the Power of Negative Thinking
Mathematical proofs based on a technique called diagonalization can be relentlessly contrarian, but they help reveal the limits of algorithms.
https://www.wired.com/story/alan-turing-and-the-power-of-negative-thinking/
Bird Flu Reaches the Antarctic for the First Time
As the first known cases of H5N1 are detected in the region, scientists fear for the isolated penguin and seal populations that have never been exposed.
https://www.wired.com/story/bird-flu-reaches-the-antarctic-for-the-first-time/
If You Didn’t Care About Antarctica’s Icy Belly, You Will Now
Scientists are getting an ever-clearer picture of the undersides of deteriorating glaciers. It’s not looking good.
https://www.wired.com/story/if-you-didnt-care-about-antarcticas-icy-belly-you-will-now/
Here’s the Truth Behind the Biggest (and Dumbest) Battery Myths
Yes, charging your phone overnight is bad for its battery. And no, you don’t need to turn off your device to give the battery a break. Here’s why.
https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-improve-battery-life-tips-myths-smartphones/
The Physics of Faraday Cages
You can't block electromagnetic waves, but there's still a way to keep electronic devices like cell phones in stealth mode.
Here’s the Truth Behind the Biggest (and Dumbest) Battery Myths
Yes, charging your phone overnight is bad for its battery. And no, you don’t need to turn off your device to give the battery a break. Here’s why.
https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-improve-battery-life-tips-myths-smartphones/
Why Antidepressants Take So Long to Work
A clinical trial reveals the first evidence of how the brain restructures physically in the first month on SSRIs—and the link between neuroplasticity and depression.
https://www.wired.com/story/why-antidepressants-take-so-long-to-work/
The Mystery of Cosmic Radio Bursts Gets Bright New Clues
New research from two teams shows that these fleeting blips can be faster and brighter, and come from much further away, than previously thought.
https://www.wired.com/story/the-mystery-of-cosmic-radio-bursts-gets-bright-new-clues/
How to Spot Abortion-Related Misinformation
Between pregnancy “crisis centers” and “abortion pill testing,” there's a lot of questionable info out there. Here's how to tell what's evidence-based and what's not.
https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-spot-abortion-misinformation/
Glacial Lakes Threaten Millions in a Warming World
A Himalayan lake fed by melting ice just released a devastating flood in northern India. Thousands of other unstable lakes are getting bigger every year.
https://www.wired.com/story/glacial-lake-outburst-flood-glof-india-sikkim/
The Surprising Way Clean Energy Will Help Save the Snowpack
As if we needed another reason to quickly ditch fossil fuels: Cleaner snow melts much more slowly.
https://www.wired.com/story/the-surprising-way-clean-energy-will-help-save-the-snowpack/
History Says the 1918 Flu Killed the Young and Healthy. These Bones Say Otherwise
A study of bones held in a Cleveland museum reveals a new side to the pandemic’s story—and a new way to think about pandemics to come.
This Contest Put Theories of Consciousness to the Test. Here’s What It Really Proved
A five-year “adversarial collaboration” of scientists led to a stagy showdown in front of an audience. It crowned no winners—but it’s still progress.
Why Have Climate Catastrophes Toppled Some Civilizations but Not Others?
Researchers are honing in on what helps societies survive climate shocks, like the volcanic eruptions that helped fell the Roman Empire or the drought that plagued the ancient Mayans.
https://www.wired.com/story/why-have-climate-catastrophes-toppled-some-civilizations-but-not-others/
New Trials Aim to Restore Hearing in Deaf Children—With Gene Therapy
For the first time, researchers are testing an approach that involves replacing a mutated gene in the inner ears of children with severe hearing loss.
https://www.wired.com/story/new-trials-aim-to-restore-hearing-in-deaf-children-with-gene-therapy/
Things Are Looking Up for Asteroid Mining
Asteroids are rich with the metals used in clean energy technologies. As demand soars, advocates argue that mining them in space might be better than mining them on Earth.
https://www.wired.com/story/things-are-looking-up-for-asteroid-mining/