The Titan Submersible Disaster Shocked the World. The Exclusive Inside Story Is More Disturbing Than Anyone Imagined
A year after OceanGate’s sub imploded, thousands of exclusive leaked documents and interviews with ex-employees reveal how the company’s CEO cut corners, ignored warnings, and lied in his fatal quest to reach the Titanic.
https://www.wired.com/story/titan-submersible-disaster-inside-story-oceangate-files/
The Science of Having a Great Conversation
Forming meaningful bonds with others can improve your health, make you mentally sharper, and fuel creativity. Making friends can feel daunting, but research shows there are many ways to build better connections.
https://www.wired.com/story/the-science-of-having-a-great-conversation-research-social-connection/
With So Much Bird Flu Around, Are Eggs, Chicken, and Milk Still Safe to Consume?
A food microbiologist explains why you shouldn’t worry about consuming poultry or dairy—so long as you take the right precautions.
https://www.wired.com/story/bird-flu-how-safe-are-eggs-chicken-milk-h5n1-h5n2/
The End of El Niño Might Make the Weather Even More Extreme
The shift from El Niño to La Niña will see temperatures drop, but when one weather system swings to the other, summers tend to be hotter than average—meaning 2024 could be even warmer and wilder than last year.
https://www.wired.com/story/el-nino-la-nina-extreme-weather-heat-2024/
Each of the Past 12 Months Broke Temperature Records
Last June was the warmest in recorded history. It kicked off an alarming streak with no end in sight.
https://www.wired.com/story/record-temperature-months-full-year/
The World’s Largest Fungarium May Unlock the Mysteries of Carbon Capture
Research is uncovering the key role that fungi play in getting soils to absorb carbon, and how humanity’s actions aboveground are wreaking havoc in the mysterious fungal world below.
https://www.wired.com/story/mushrooms-fungi-carbon-capture-kew/
The Case for MDMA's Approval Is Riddled With Problems
The FDA is considering approving MDMA alongside psychotherapy as a treatment for PTSD. But evidence of the drug’s effectiveness isn’t clear cut.
https://www.wired.com/story/mdma-approval-problems-fda-lykos-psychedelic-therapy-mental-health-ptsd/
Starship’s Successful Test Moves SpaceX One Step Closer to Mars
The vehicle mostly survived launch and reentry—key stepping stones toward operational flights of the largest rocket in history.
https://www.wired.com/story/spacex-starship-superheavy-mars-launch-elon-musk/
Boeing’s Starliner Has Finally Launched a NASA Crew Into Space
Seven years behind schedule, this month Starliner will send two astronauts to space on a mission for NASA. The troubled company still has lots of catching up to do.
https://www.wired.com/story/boeing-starliner-launch-spacex-international-space-station/
Woman Who Received Pig Kidney Transplant Has It Removed
Surgeons at NYU took out the pig kidney because it wasn’t getting enough blood flow.
https://www.wired.com/story/woman-who-received-pig-kidney-has-it-removed/
The Hunt for Ultralight Dark Matter
Perhaps dark matter is made of an entirely different kind of particle than the ones physicists have been searching for. New experiments are springing up to look for these ultra-lightweight phantoms.
https://www.wired.com/story/the-hunt-for-ultralight-dark-matter/
Zombie Fire Season Is Here in the Arctic
Every year, peatlands in the Arctic suddenly ignite. Smoldering subterranean fires from the previous summer were thought to be to blame, but now modeling suggests a worrying new cause.
Gene-Edited Salad Greens Are Coming to US Stores This Fall
Biotech giant Bayer plans to distribute mustard greens that have been genetically altered to make them less bitter to grocery stores across the country.
https://www.wired.com/story/gene-edited-salad-greens-fall-pairwise-bayer-crispr-gmo/
Ecuador Is Literally Powerless in the Face of Drought
Drought-stricken hydro dams have led to daily electricity cuts in Ecuador. As weather becomes less predictable die to climate change, experts say other countries need to take notice.
https://www.wired.com/story/ecuador-energy-crisis-water-shortage-hydro/
WTF Is With the Pink Pineapples at the Grocery Store?!
Using DNA from tangerines and tobacco, food scientists have made a familiar fruit tastier—and more Instagrammable—than ever. We looked into pink pineapples so you don’t have to.
https://www.wired.com/story/pink-pineapples-grocery-store-pinkglow-genetically-modified/
The Auroras Should Be Spectacular This Summer, Thanks to Solar Maximum
Increasing solar activity over the next year could bring more opportunities to see fantastic displays of the northern lights.
https://www.wired.com/story/solar-maximum-aurora-northern-lights-2024-cme-sunspots/
Does String Theory Actually Describe the World? AI May Be Able to Tell
Using machine learning, string theorists are finally showing how microscopic configurations of extra dimensions translate into sets of elementary particles—though not yet those of our universe.
https://www.wired.com/story/ai-starts-to-sift-through-string-theorys-near-endless-possibilities/
US Offshore Wind Farms Are Being Strangled With Red Tape
This year has seen wind farm costs rise and many projects canceled as developers struggle with opaque regulations and determined opposition—but the industry is far from dead.
https://www.wired.com/story/why-us-offshore-wind-power-is-struggling/
The Sea Is Swallowing This Mexican Town
Las Barrancas, in the state of Veracruz, has struggled for 10 years against the rising Gulf of Mexico waters. Its best hope may lie in mangrove trees.
https://www.wired.com/story/the-sea-is-swallowing-this-mexican-town/
Only the Hardiest Trees Can Survive Today’s Urban Inferno
In a rapidly warming world, cities need more tree cover to stay cool—but only certain species can handle soaring temperatures, and often they aren’t native species.
https://www.wired.com/story/hardiest-trees-urban-inferno-heat-cities/