Gallery: Banishing Drug Lords From Rio de Janeiro's Favelas in Pre-Olympic Sweep
Rafael Sanchez Fabrés01PACIFICATION
*A UPP soldier reacts to the distant sound of a gunshot by taking out his gun in the Sao Carlos shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. March 7, 2012.*
Rafael Sanchez Fabrés02PACIFICATION
*UPP soldiers on patrol in the Sao Carlos shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. March 7, 2012.*
Rafael Sanchez Fabrés03PACIFICATION
*Several teenagers play soccer in Rocinha, the largest shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Nov. 26, 2012.*
Rafael Sanchez Fabrés04PACIFICATION
*View from the recently installed cableway that runs above a group of shantytowns knowns as Complexo Alemao, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. April 29, 2012.*
Rafael Sanchez Fabrés05PACIFICATION
*A youth jumps down a stairway with the word* peace *written on the wall in Rocinha, the biggest shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Feb. 22, 2012.*
Rafael Sanchez Fabrés06PACIFICATION
*UPP soldiers from the 2nd UPP of the 4th Military Police Battalion look at the Sao Carlos shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Feb. 28, 2012.*
Rafael Sanchez Fabrés07PACIFICATION
*Rocinha, the biggest shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Nov. 26, 2012.*
Rafael Sanchez Fabrés08PACIFICATION
*Rocinha, the biggest shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 2012.*
Rafael Sanchez Fabrés09PACIFICATION
*Different indigenous ethnic groups dance in a ritual ceremony after a protest against the demolition of the Instituto del Indio building (Indian Institute) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Nov. 23, 2012. With the arrival of the World Cup and the Olympics, evictions and removals are becoming more frequent in affected communities.*
Rafael Sanchez Fabrés10PACIFICATION
*Several people playing soccer in the sunset on the beach of Ipanema, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Feb. 10, 2012.*
Rafael Sanchez Fabrés11PACIFICATION
*A resident of the Vidigal shantytown smokes marijuana in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. March 14, 2012.*
Rafael Sanchez Fabrés12PACIFICATION
*Andre Lima, who lives in the Vidigal shantytown, observes a military police patrol car from the window of his hostel in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Feb. 15, 2012.*
Rafael Sanchez Fabrés13PACIFICATION
*UPP soldiers take a break to eat during a 12-hour night patrol in the Sao Carlos shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Feb. 25, 2012.*
Rafael Sanchez Fabrés14PACIFICATION
*A model of the Vidigal shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. March 6, 2012.*
Rafael Sanchez Fabrés15PACIFICATION
*A resident of Rocinha, the largest shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 2012.*
Rafael Sanchez Fabrés16PACIFICATION
*Several people dance during the 2012 Carnival festivities in the Vidigal shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Feb. 18, 2012.*
Rafael Sanchez Fabrés17PACIFICATION
*A night view of the Rocinha shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Dec. 4, 2012.*
Rafael Sanchez Fabrés18PACIFICATION
*UPP soldiers look out at Rio's beaches from the top of the Vidigal shantytown. Feb. 13, 2012.*
Rafael Sanchez Fabrés19PACIFICATION
*UPP soldiers in the trunk of a police car while patrolling in the Vidigal shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Feb. 22, 2012.*
Rafael Sanchez Fabrés20PACIFICATION
*A UPP soldier holding bags of crack found after a search in the São Carlos shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. March 7, 2012.*
Rafael Sanchez Fabrés21PACIFICATION
*A UPP soldier searches a person suspected of having drugs in the São Carlos shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. March 10, 2012.*
TDS80 capsule. Altitude 50 km, Mach 3.5. Image: Jonas B. Bjarnø22PACIFICATION
*UPP soldiers handcuff a man suspected of rape in the Vidigal shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Feb. 18, 2012.*
Rafael Sanchez Fabrés23PACIFICATION
*A UPP soldier interrogates a man suspected of rape in the Vidigal shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Feb. 18, 2012.*
Breathe Easy Thanks to the Best Air Purifier for Every Home
Protect your home against dust, pets, allergens, and more with the best air purifiers, tested firsthand.
Molly Higgins
The Best Automatic Litter Boxes Tested by Our Spoiled Cats
With these high-tech automatic litter boxes, gone are the days of scooping and smells. Welcome to the future.
Molly Higgins
The Best Qi2 and MagSafe Wireless Chargers for Your Phone
Top up your Qi2 Android phone or MagSafe iPhone with a magnetic wireless charging stand, pad, car charger, or power bank.
Simon Hill
The Best Mattresses You Can Buy Online in 2026
WIRED has tested 100-plus bed-in-a-box mattresses for a week each. Our top pick, the Helix Midnight Luxe hybrid, is the best bed you can buy online.
Julia Forbes
The 10 Best WIRED-Tested Pet Cameras
Whether you’re near or far, keep an eye on your fur baby with our favorite pet cameras.
Molly Higgins
The Best Meal Kits of 2026, Tested by a Former Restaurant Critic
Here are the best delivery services and meal kits in 2026, including Martha Stewart’s meal service, a GLP-1–supportive plan, and a budget-friendly option.
Matthew Korfhage
23 Gift Ideas for the Cook in Your Life
From the best air fryer to frying pans to knife sharpeners anyone can use, these ideas will keep the curious home chef in your life tinkering away.
Matthew Korfhage
The Best iPad to Buy (and a Few to Avoid)
Apple just raised its prices. Here’s an updated breakdown of the brand’s tablets to find the best one for your needs.
Luke Larsen
Stop Playing Monopoly and Scrabble. These Board Games Will Elevate Your Family Game Night
From monsters to kittens to strategy games, these sets will liven things up on nights when everyone is tired of screens.
Simon Hill
The Best Pet Hair Vacuums We Tried at Home
Cordless, handheld, robot, and traditional—we tested them all to find the vacuum that’s fantastic for fur.
Molly Higgins
The Best iPhone 17 Cases and Accessories—We’ve Tested More Than 100
Protect your expensive iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone Pro, or iPhone 17e with our favorite cases and screen protectors.
Julian Chokkattu
28 Amazing STEM Toys Approved by WIRED Kids
We found lots of math-filled and science-rich toys for tiny nerds to assemble, bake, squish—or even tear apart and rebuild.
Simon Hill