AI Has a God Problem Stretching From the Vatican to the Baptist Pulpit
Religious leaders are weighing in, creating a new political risk for the creators of the technology.
Technology
Why the LeapPad couldn’t survive the iPad
For multiple years, the hottest toy in the United States was a book. But not just any book: a smart book that could play sounds and respond to taps and help kids learn to read. It was the kind of gadget seemingly any parent could get behind, but it came with a high price -…
Horror is big business
This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on how pervasive horror has become, follow Andrew Webster. The Stepback, arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes on Sunday at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started Resident Evil has been around for 30…
13 Best Gifts for Every Traveler Should Have (2026)
Travel smarter with gifts packed by WIRED’s globe-trotting staffers.
Inside the Muslim Manosphere Policing Women Online
From Red Pill coaches to “Dawah Bros,” influencers are dressing up hypermasculinity and misogyny in religious language—and finding audiences across social platforms.
These Midterm Races Will Decide Data Centers’ Political Fate
From the Senate to governors’ mansions, candidates are trying to outcompete each other to be the most anti–data center in races across the US.
How the 2026 Super El Niño and Climate Change Are Related
Here’s what we know about the record-setting El Niño on a record-hot planet, and the most important questions scientists are trying to answer.
California’s Tallest and Most Iconic Trees Are Getting Heatstroke
Redwoods adapted to a cool, foggy climate. Now a new study shows they slow down photosynthesis when their environment warms.
NASA dumped over 800GB of Artemis II data online
If you thought you’d seen all there is to see from the Artemis II mission, you’re wrong. This week NASA posted over 800GB worth of science data, images, and videos on the Artemis II: Sights & Sounds of Science site. The archive includes over 11,000 photos and videos, over 8.5 hours of audio, and crew-annotated…
Vurt wants you to look at vertical videos as a genre of their own
From Disney Plus to HBO Max, almost every major established streaming service is experimenting with ways to get into vertical content. It’s clear that these companies see video-focused social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram as existential threats. In this arms race for viewers’ attention, it has often felt like everyone is trying to find…