The Big Story

Racehorses and Climate Change

  • OBST machine
    Photograph: Ryan Young
    01
    Mick Peterson created the Orono Biomechanical Hoof Tester, a hulking piece of machinery meant to simulate the power of a thoroughbred’s front leg.
  • Bottom of OBST hoof that goes into the ground
    Photograph: Ryan Young
    02
    When the horseshoe-shaped weight hits the track, eight embedded sensors collect data on the impact, cushion depth, and moisture levels. 
  • OBST horse shoe mold in ground after dropping to simulate a hoof
    Photograph: Ryan Young
    03
    The wiring diagram, source code, and operating manual for the hoof tester are all publicly available online, though it costs more than $75,000 to make.
  • hoof print in the dirt track
    Photograph: Ryan Young
    04
    The team sticks a moisture probe into the ground beside each faux hoofmark to get another, clearer moisture readout.
  • back of the van with OBST machinery
    Photograph: Ryan Young
    05
    The OBST hitches up to a van or truck.
Read More
The Best Apple Watch Is Back to Its Cheapest Price
Our top Apple Watch recommendation fluctuates in price. If you're in the market, now's a good time to buy.
Louryn Strampe
Hyundai's New Ioniq 3 Has Hot-Hatch Looks, but Can It Beat BYD?
The brand’s new 300-mile urban EV has great interior space and driving smarts, but a lot of competition. And, yes, there's a chance it is US-bound.
Jeremy White
The Best 360 Cameras Let You Look Behind Your Own Back
It’s a small world after all, and these cameras can capture all of it at once, giving you a 360-degree view.
Scott Gilbertson
These Are the Best Casio Watches Right Now
From calculators to simple daily beaters, these are my favorite Casio watches on sale today.
Parker Hall
The Best WiiM Streaming Devices to Expand Your Sound
Lookout, Sonos. WiiM is the new star in whole-home audio, and these are the best WiiM devices you can buy.
Ryan Waniata
The Best Noise-Canceling Buds to Bring Silence
Everyone needs a good pair of ANC earbuds. These are the best of the bunch.
Ryan Waniata
Kick Back and Watch the Robot Mower Do Your Yard Work
These smart mowers are expensive alternatives to some good old-fashioned yard work, but they’re finally good enough to consider if you’d rather sip an iced tea and watch the robot go by.
Simon Hill
Prego Has a Dinner-Conversation-Recording Device, Capisce?
The pasta-sauce company has partnered with the nonprofit StoryCorps on a device designed to record family conversations around the table and save them for all time.
Boone Ashworth
The Broken System That Keeps Shipping Crews Stranded in the Strait of Hormuz
Vessels are increasingly being abandoned during the war on Iran, revealing a hidden failure in the global systems that keep goods—and people—moving.
Ruchi Kumar
The Best E-Readers, As Tested by Readers
These WIRED-tested ebook readers let you take your library anywhere.
Nena Farrell
Allbirds Is Pivoting to AI Compute. Sure, Why Not
Once a $4 billion apparel juggernaut, Allbirds will rebrand as NewBird AI, a “GPU-as-a-Service” company. Hey, if you can't beat ’em, join ’em.
Brian Barrett
AI Slop Is Making the Internet Fake-Happy
A new study examines the impact of the rise of AI-generated websites on the internet—and found some surprising results.
Kate Knibbs