The Precarious Rise of Disposable Vapes
Disposable vapes from brands like Elf Bar and Lost Mary have taken over the ecigarette market and become a hit among young people. Governments are trying to figure out what to do.
https://www.wired.com/story/disposable-vapes-elf-bar-lost-mary-regulation/
SpaceX’s Starship Lost Shortly After Launch of Second Test Flight
This is SpaceX’s second attempt at sending Starship on a round-the-globe trip, following an April test flight that failed after only four minutes. This one lasted a few minutes longer.
https://www.wired.com/story/spacex-starship-second-orbital-test-flight/
California’s Giant Sequoias Are in Big Trouble
Ancient sequoias are facing an existential threat from increasingly intense wildfires linked to climate change. The question of how to save them has sparked a fierce debate.
https://www.wired.com/story/californias-giant-sequoias-are-in-big-trouble/
You Need a Heat Pump. Soon You’ll Have More American-Made Options
The Biden administration is announcing $169 million to supercharge domestic production of a device beloved by climate and energy nerds.
https://www.wired.com/story/you-need-a-heat-pump-soon-youll-have-more-american-made-options/
Dr. Jessie Christiansen Wants to Help You Discover the Next Exoplanet
As project scientist on NASA’s Exoplanet Archive, Dr. Christiansen is a huge advocate for citizen science—and making sure anyone can be a planet hunter.
https://www.wired.com/story/women-in-science-jessie-christansen/
The First Crispr Medicine Just Got Approved
The gene-editing therapy, called Casgevy, uses Crispr to prevent debilitating pain in patients with sickle cell disease. It also eliminates the need for regular blood transfusions in people with beta thalassemia.
https://www.wired.com/story/crispr-gene-therapy-approved-sickle-cell-casgevy/
A Surge in Babies Born With Syphilis Is a Warning Sign
Although transmission of syphilis to newborns can be prevented with a single shot for pregnant women, cases in the US rose tenfold in a decade.
https://www.wired.com/story/a-surge-in-babies-born-with-syphilis-is-a-warning-sign/
Dr. Alison Todd’s Inventions May Save Your Life
An inventor, molecular biologist, and diagnostic scientist, Dr. Todd cofounded SpeedDx, which serves communities worldwide. And that’s just the beginning.
Insiders Say Eat Just Is in Big Financial Trouble
Vegan egg and lab-grown-meat startup Eat Just is being sued for more than $100 million. Former employees allege that’s just the start of its problems.
The Mystery of Iceland’s Non-Erupting Volcano
Since 2021, lava has sporadically oozed out of various fissures crisscrossing southwest Iceland. Now, a huge sheet of magma could erupt at any minute. But where, and how severe will the eruption be?
https://www.wired.com/story/iceland-volcano-explode-eruption-when/
Dr. Michelle Wong Brings the Science of Skincare to New Audiences
Misinformation about skincare runs rampant on social media. The chemist behind the Lab Muffin Beauty Science blog is here to clear things up.
Why I’m (Cautiously) Optimistic About COP28
In a year of record heat waves and rising global emissions, it would be easy to write COP28 off before it even starts. But that would be a mistake.
https://www.wired.com/story/wired-impact-hannah-ritchie-cop28-optimism-pessimism/
Fermi’s Paradox Proves There’s No Government Alien Conspiracy Around Roswell
Roswell, New Mexico, remains synonymous with the “discovery” of alien life on Earth—and a US government coverup. But history shows the reality may be far less out of this world—and still fascinating.
A Single Infusion of a Gene-Editing Treatment Lowered High Cholesterol
It’s still early days for a novel form of gene therapy called base editing, but this small study in people with extremely high cholesterol shows striking results.
https://www.wired.com/story/a-single-infusion-of-a-gene-editing-treatment-lowered-high-cholesterol/
Ann McKee Is on a Quest to Save Humanity’s Brains
The medical community's leading authority on traumatic brain injuries wants to make contact sports—which she loves—safer for everyone.
Here’s How Bad Climate Change Will Get in the US—and Why There’s Still Hope
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The nation’s Fifth National Climate Assessment paints a dark portrait of worsening disasters. But it also points toward accelerating progress and a cleaner future.
It’s Time to Get Serious About Carbon Removal
If the world is to reach net zero, billions of tons of carbon dioxide need pulling from the air every year. At the moment, the global carbon removal system extracts less than 0.01 percent of that.
https://www.wired.com/story/wired-impact-michelle-you-supercritical-carbon-offsetting/
The Incredible Women Making Strides in Science
In this series, we’ll highlight a few of the women changing the fields of astronomy, medicine, physics, psychology, healthcare, and science communication.
https://www.wired.com/story/women-in-science-introduction-editor/
Delhi Plans to Unleash Cloud Seeding in Its Battle Against Deadly Smog
Hazardous air pollution is once again choking Delhi. City officials want to use cloud seeding to wash the problem away.
https://www.wired.com/story/delhi-smog-air-pollution-cloud-seeding/
Nearly Everyone With Mild Cognitive Impairment Goes Undiagnosed
Millions of older adults likely have minor memory issues that can later become dementia. But only a fraction of them are diagnosed early enough for new treatments to stand a chance.
https://www.wired.com/story/nearly-everyone-with-mild-cognitive-impairment-goes-undiagnosed/