(((Proof positive that "robots," which were invented as stage props by Karel Capek, still excel at theater. A good thing, because that's pretty much all that humanoid robots have ever been good for. Still, they've never been so good at strutting the boards for human amusement as they are now, so that's saying something.)))
Your Vape Wants to Know How Old You Are
Companies hope that biometric age-verification tech in cartridges could put flavored vapes back in business. But it's unlikely to solve the real problems.
Boone Ashworth
A Hot-Air Balloon Landed in a California Backyard. The Owner Says It's a 'Very Rare' Event
The CEO of Magical Adventures Balloon Rides tells WIRED how the pilot made a safe landing after they got stranded over a neighborhood.
Brian Barrett
The Last Airbender Leaked Online. Some Fans Say Paramount Deserves the Fallout
After the full movie leaked, animators mourned the chance to release their work as intended. Others feel the leak is justified in light of Paramount’s marketing blunders and association with Trump.
Miles Klee
US Special Forces Soldier Arrested for Polymarket Bets on Maduro Raid
The master sergeant allegedly used classified intel to profit on the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, marking the first US arrest for insider trading on a prediction market.
Kate Knibbs
Anduril Wants to Own the Future of War Tech. Mishaps, Delays, and Challenges Abound
From drones to missiles to submarines, the $30.5 billion defense startup wants to transform how the tools of war are made. It’s not all going as planned.
Paresh Dave
Nobody Knows How to File Taxes on Prediction Market Wins
Americans flocked to prediction markets last year. Now, it’s time to pay taxes on winnings. How do you do that? Great question.
Kate Knibbs
The Trajectory of the Artemis II Moon Mission Is a Feat of Engineering
The astronauts will arrive about 10,300 kilometers beyond our satellite, breaking all previous records for distance from Earth. But how was their route chosen?
Luca Nardi
Uncanny Valley: OpenAI and Musk Fight Again; DOJ Mishandles Voter Data; Artemis II Comes Home
In this episode, the hosts discuss the fight between OpenAI and Elon Musk, the misuse of voter data, and Artemis II’s moonshot.
Brian Barrett
Opposing ICE Might Save the Country. It Could Also Ruin Your Life
For months, lone vibe coder Rafael Concepcion has obsessively built tools to counter the federal immigration crackdown—pivoting as he’s been outmatched. He’s also lost his job and become a target.
Brendan I. Koerner
The Internet's Most Powerful Archiving Tool Is in Peril
As major news outlets cut off the Wayback Machine, journalists and advocacy groups are rallying to protect the Internet Archive’s vast collection of web pages.
Kate Knibbs
Bremont Is Sending a Watch to the Moon’s Surface
Bremont’s Supernova Chronograph will be attached to the chassis of Astrolab’s FLIP rover, which will land on the moon later this year.
Tim Barber
Even Artemis II Astronauts Have Microsoft Outlook Problems
The mission commander’s email inbox failed during the journey to the moon. Have they tried turning the computer off and back on again?
Jeremy White