Gallery: The Great Barrier Reef's Best Hope Is a Killer Robot

  • Image may contain Construction Crane
    Grant Harvey
    01

    starfishkiller-full.jpg

    The COTSbot is a 4.5-foot-long autonomous sub that hunts down coral-eating crown-of-thorn starfishes—and kills them.
  • Antenna When the bot surfaces it trans­mits its GPS loca­tion and other details via WiFi.
    Grant Harvey
    02

    starfishkiller1-antenna.jpg

    Antenna: When the bot surfaces, it trans­mits its GPS loca­tion and other details via Wi-Fi.
  • This image may contain Machine Transportation Vehicle Airplane Aircraft and Propeller
    Grant Harvey
    03

    starfishkiller2-propulsion.jpg

    Propulsion system: five thrusters for five-axis mobility. “We are hunting on the seabed,” Dunbabin says. “We need movement.”
  • Image may contain Wheel Machine Tire and Spoke
    Grant Harvey
    04

    starfishkiller4-camera.jpg

    Camera: The bot recognizes its prey by comparing suspects to an onboard database of images.
  • This image may contain Vehicle Transportation Aircraft Airplane Adventure and Leisure Activities
    Grant Harvey
    05

    starfishkiller3-velocitylog.jpg

    Doppler velocity log: This acoustic sensor measures depth and velocity so the bot can navigate the reef.
  • Articulating arm extends up to 3 feet to deliver a deadly sting.
    Grant Harvey
    06

    starfishkiller5-arm.jpg

    Articulating arm: extends up to 3 feet to deliver a deadly sting.
  • Image may contain Adapter
    Grant Harvey
    07

    starfishkiller6-injection.jpg

    Injection system: Two pods mounted near the thrusters each hold 1 liter of bile salts. Once a target is ID’d, 10 ml of the liquid is sent to the needle and then—prick!—into the starfish.
Read More
Is the Electric Trike the Next Big Thing in Shared Micromobility?
Veo is launching accessibility-focused electric tricycles in Denver, with plans to put its e-trikes on the streets nationwide.
Boone Ashworth
What WIRED Writers Would Actually Give Their Moms
Your mom never gets you a thoughtless gift, so you shouldn’t get her one, either. Here’s every cool gift WIRED writers would give their mothers.
Nena Farrell
Which Apple Watch Should You Buy?
Should you splurge on the new Series 11, or will the SE 3 do? Let us help you figure out which version to get (and which to avoid).
Boutayna Chokrane
12 Adventurous Gifts for Hikers, Backpackers, and Outdoorsy People
Let them pick out their own hiking boots. Instead, try gifting a useful blade or a nature journal to delight your outdoorsy friend.
Scott Gilbertson
A Two-Person Startup Has Fixed One of the Most Hated Sounds in Modern Life
Beeeep. Beeeep. Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.
Jeremy White
Can the New York Times Save Journalism From Our AI Overlords?
In 2023, the Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement. They’ve since spent more than $20 million on the case, and publisher A.G. Sulzberger has no plans to stop fighting it.
Katie Drummond
Silicon Valley’s Next IPO Billionaires Are Coming. Nonprofits Are Ready for Them
Anthropic and OpenAI employees are expected to give generously after their companies go public. “It’s going to be a wild ride,” says one nonprofit leader.
Paresh Dave
The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Can Do It All
Dyson’s new stick vacuum can vacuum and mop in a single cordless device—if you’re willing to really splurge.
Nena Farrell
‘They’re Fucking a Lot of People’: 7-OH Users Brace for DEA Ban
The opioid-like compound, which is found in kratom, can cause brutal withdrawal symptoms and will soon be a controlled substance. Some users tell WIRED it has relieved their pain and anxiety.
Manisha Krishnan
An Extreme Solar Storm May Be Even More Devastating Than Previously Imagined
Scientists have long assumed that there’s an upper limit to the intensity of the solar winds that reach Earth. New research suggests there’s not—and the implications are alarming.
Javier Carbajal
Hugging Face Has a Deepfake Nudes Problem
Researchers tested top image editing models on Hugging Face and found they could easily create explicit deepfakes—and 1,000 image editing prompts show how people use the software.
Matt Burgess
Top Ulta Beauty Promo Codes: 50% Off
Shop the latest beauty trends and save big using an Ulta promo code for beauty tech, makeup, and more.
Boutayna Chokrane