What the Pentagon’s New UFO Report Reveals About Humankind

The document says less about the search for life in the universe, and more about our current cultural climate and distrust of expertise.

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US Vaccinations Slow, Americans Venture Out, and More News

Catch up on the most important updates from this week.

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Bubble Is a Sci-Fi Comedy About Monsters and Hipsters

The popular podcast dares to ask the question: How far would you go to live in a cool neighborhood?

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US Takedown of Iranian Media Sites Extends a Thorny Precedent

Free speech advocates raised concerns after the Justice Department seized more than 30 domains this week.

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In Africa, Content Moderation Is a Dangerous Game

Platforms are finally taking action in African countries, but in Uganda and Nigeria's case, it’s led to an even worse outcome: citizens losing access.

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The Enduring Power of #FreeBritney

The hashtag kept Britney Spears’ conservatorship in the public eye—even when she wasn’t.

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The Unfortunate Punkonomics of Cryptocurrency

Plus: The early days of digital cash, the slow death of IPv4, and social distancing in the Black Sea.

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How to Break Into the Hex From 'WandaVision'—With Physics!

Want to safely pass through the radiation field surrounding the town of Westview? You're going to need some lead—and some handy equations.

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The Alarming Blind Spots in Healthcare AI

Artificial intelligence promises to make medicine smarter. But what happens when these software systems don't work as advertised?

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How to Return and Exchange Your Unwanted Gifts or Purchases

You can’t always get what you want. But there are smarter, more sustainable ways to get cash (or store credit) instead.

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These Retro Gaming Consoles Deliver a Dose of Nostalgia

From the stylish Evercade to the old-school Sega Genesis Mini, these machines will have you bleeping and blooping and blasting back to the good old days.

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Tiny Satellites Could Help Warn of the Next Big Hurricane

A constellation of nanosats could improve our understanding of the world’s most dangerous storms.

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The Most Important Things Microsoft Announced Today

After leaks and rumors, we got our first look at Windows 11, and the future of Windows as a platform, today. Here's what you have to look forward to this fall.

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The Biggest Windows 11 News Is an App Store Overhaul

By playing nice with Android and letting developers use their own payments system, Microsoft has fashioned itself as the anti-Apple for developers.

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NFC Flaws Let Researchers Hack ATMs by Waving a Phone

Flaws in card reader technology let a security firm consultant wreak havoc with point-of-sale systems and more.

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Before Guitar Hero, Gamers Rocked Out to Gitaroo Man

Sure, you can play the guitar and be a star, but what if you could play the guitar, be a star, and save the universe? Twenty years ago, you could.

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The Delta and Gamma Covid-19 Variants Are Taking Over the US

The two variants are threatening Alpha’s reign—and country's path out of the pandemic.

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The World Needs Deepfake Experts to Stem This Chaos

A crisis over a suspicious confession video in Myanmar underscores why we need a coordinated response to discern fact from fiction.

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Trick Out Your iPhone 12 With These Cases and Accessories

Whichever new model you get, we’ve rounded up the cases, chargers, and other extras you’ll want to snag.

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Volunteers Digitized Centuries of Handwritten Rain Data

As the UK went into lockdown, 16,000 volunteers put their spare time to good use, transcribing 350 years of archival records for use by modern climate scientists.

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Andreessen Horowitz Goes Ham on Crypto with a New $2.2B Fund

After its wildly successful Coinbase exit, the VC firm signals its commitment to cryptocurrencies with a third fund.

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The Untold Story Behind Lev's Voice in The Last of Us Part II

The game's creator and the teen who voiced the character talk to WIRED about bringing Lev to life and the importance of trans voices in video games.

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How to Survive the Worst Tornado in US History

It blew an entire town to pieces, flipping trains and flattening banks. But there’s one place you might try to hide.

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A Well-Meaning Feature Leaves Millions of Dell PCs Vulnerable

Flaws in a firmware security tool affect as many as 30 million desktops, laptops, and tablets.

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How to Watch Microsoft's Windows 11 Event—and What to Expect

The next version of Windows will finally be unveiled—officially, at least. Here's how to watch live, and the features that will be on their way to your PC soon.

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John McAfee Dies in Spanish Prison After Extradition Order

The antivirus pioneer and alleged cryptocurrency scammer was 75 years old.

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French Spyware Executives Are Indicted for Aiding Torture

The managers are accused of selling tech to Libya and Egypt that was used to to identify activists, read private messages, and kidnap, torture, or kill them.

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Prime Day 2021 Is Over: Here Are the 48 Best Remaining Deals

A few of our favorite things are still on sale, like laptops, soundbars, air purifiers, and more.

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Stop Putting Pressure on Developers to Rush Games to Market

If you hate buggy new releases, then you’re just going to have to learn to wait.

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Help! How Do I Make My Workplace More Diverse?

Megan offers advice for casting your net—because there's no excuse for a hiring pool where everyone looks the same.

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Can Some Classy Cookware Zap the Microwave's Bad Rap?

Anyday's cooking bowls—and their companion recipes—are meant to help you harness the time-saving power of the microwave you already have in your kitchen.

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Google Launches a New Medical App—Outside the US

The dermatology AI app won approval for use in the EU but not with the FDA, an odd twist on Europe's reputation for tough rules on tech.

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The Coelacanth May Live for a Century. That’s Not Great News

Scale markings reveal that this weird fish's lifespan is double what scientists first estimated. That also means they’re closer to extinction than we thought.

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These Startups Are Betting on a Remote-First World

As people redefine their relationship to the office, some entrepreneurs see an opportunity to reimagine everything from housing to education.

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What if Shopping on Amazon Was Just … Better?

From reselling old purchases to shipping new ones more efficiently, Amazon’s shopping model needs improving. These two visionaries have some fresh ideas.

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Why Utilities Want to Control Your Smart Thermostat

Don’t mess with Texans’ air conditioning. Here’s why some customers in the state had their thermostats remotely controlled.

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12 Best Coffee Maker Deals for Amazon Prime Day (2021)

Need a new French press, burr grinder, or scale? We've found discounts on WIRED-tested gadgets.

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The Best Electric Toothbrush is Half Off ($25) for Prime Day

The Colgate Hum has all the best features of a vibrating brush. Its buzz-worthy discount likely ends tonight.

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All the Ways Amazon Tracks You—and How to Stop It

The retail empire is obsessed with your data. But is the convenience worth your personal information?

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This Agency Wants to Figure Out Exactly How Much You Trust AI

The National Institute of Standards and Technology measures how many photons pass through a chicken. Now, it wants to quantify transparency around algorithms.

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Zoom Nearly Broke My Body. Here’s How to Protect Yours

During a year of teaching over Zoom, I developed some preventable injuries and a new outlook on what it means to stay healthy at home.

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An Observatory Spied on LA’s Carbon Emissions—From Space

The instrument reads sunlight intensity to determine carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere. Its findings could help reduce our carbon footprint.

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How to Safely Stay Connected When You Travel

No matter where or how you roam this summer, these tips can help you navigate or stay in touch with friends and family—when you want.

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Changes Are Coming to Google Chat and Meet. Here's What's New

So long, Hangouts. Hello, revamped apps for instant messaging, video calls, and collaboration.

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The Joy and Liberation of Customizing Your Avatar

The act of personalizing the character you'll play in a game is more than fun, it empowers you—and pulls you into the fantasy you're about to enjoy.

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Ranked Choice Voting Reveals the Weird Math of Elections

The New York City mayoral race could show whether a new way of measuring voter desires can actually be an alternate timeline for democracy.

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He Thought He Could Outfox the Gig Economy. He Was Wrong

Jeffrey Fang was a ride-hailing legend, a top earner with relentless hustle. Then his minivan was carjacked—with his kids in the back seat.

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25 Prime Day Deals for Your Post-Vax Summer Adventures

Seeking some safe fun in the sun? Head outside with deals on speakers, luggage, and more.

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Amazon Prime Day 2021 Phone Deal: The OnePlus 8 Is Only $350

The powerful device launched more than a year ago for double the price. This deal makes it one of the cheapest Android phones around.

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11 Prime Day PC Parts Deals to Build Your Own PC (2021)

Can you build almost an entire PC with just Amazon Prime Day deals? Yes. Yes, you can.

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An Algorithm That Predicts Deadly Infections Is Often Flawed

A study found that a system used to identify cases of sepsis missed most instances and frequently issued false alarms.

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Amazon Prime Day 2021: 25 Best Outdoor and Fitness Deals (Camping, Hiking, and More)

Prep yourself for summer with these Prime deals on camping gear, hiking gear, fitness trackers, biking accessories, and more.

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A New Wave of Dating Apps Takes Cues From TikTok and Gen Z

Online dating exploded in popularity during the pandemic, and the number of new startups has grown. But will they last?

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20 Best Gaming Gear Deals for Prime Day 2021: PC, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox

Amazon's big sale event is here, and it's hot out. Let's build an indoor oasis with these video game peripherals.

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Transit Agencies Are Trying Everything to Lure You Back

Systems in Boston, Cleveland, Las Vegas, and the San Francisco Bay Area are offering reduced fares or free rides. Others are considering abolishing fares altogether.

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20 Best Prime Day Deals on Amazon Devices: Kindle, Echo, Fire (2021)

Many of Amazon's best discounts are on its own devices, including Kindles, Echo speakers, Fire tablets, and more.

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Northern Farms Are Releasing Massive Amounts of Carbon

Humans have been draining peatlands to grow crops for centuries. It's a huge, underestimated source of greenhouse gas, scientists say.

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Amazon Prime Day 2021: 37 Best Kitchen, Home, Kids Deals

(Check for Updates!) Do you need a hair dryer, robot vacuum, or smart rice cooker? We can fill all your homebody needs here.

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Loki Has Always Been Marvel’s Most Queer Character

The character’s identity—rooted in sexually fluid Norse mythology—goes far beyond any form of queerness TV has ever seen.

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No, Covid-19 Vaccines Won't Make You Magnetic. Here's Why

No matter how many videos you’ve seen of people sticking spoons to their faces, that’s just not how magnets work.

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On Prime Day, Organizers Want You to Think of the Workers

Amazon’s annual sales event this year is unfolding against a backdrop of mounting pressure from labor activists.

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The 47 Best Prime Day Deals if You Work From Home

We've found discounts on webcams, laptops, monitors, and standing desks to kit out your home office.

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35 Awesome Prime Day Deals for $50 or Less

Don't break the bank in the name of a sale. We found a bunch of budget-friendly discounts on Amazon.

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The 51 Absolute Best Prime Day Deals

The best stuff! From Instant Pots to Echo Dots, here are all the greatest tech deals at Amazon's big sale.

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Walmart 'Deals for Days' 2021: The 18 Best Deals We've Found

Prime Day is more than Amazon now. Here's the best deals we've found at Walmart's "Deals for Days" event.

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Target 'Deal Days' Sale: The 22 Best Deals So Far (2021)

Amazon's Prime Day event has a lot of rival sales this year. From pet products to board games, here are the spoils of Target's discounts.

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Your Favorite Mobile Apps That Can Also Run in a Web Browser

Break free from the confines of your phone screen for messaging, music, and more.

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The Mystery at the Heart of Physics—That Only Math Can Solve

The full picture of quantum field theory has long eluded physicists. Calling in mathematicians will have profound consequences for both fields.

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Tech Companies Want to Tackle Harassment in Gaming

But Riot, Microsoft, Intel, and others have made clear that they're doing it on their terms.

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Catch Some Shut-Eye With Our 7 Favorite Sleep Sounds

From rain forest sounds to video game soundtracks, here are the WIRED Gadget Lab's favorite noises to fall asleep to.

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A Bug in the Android Google App Put Privacy at Risk

Plus: Airbnb's safety squad, a fake pharmacy crackdown, and more of the week's top security news.

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Your TV Sounds Terrible. A Soundbar Can Fix That

Every television deserves a dedicated row of speakers to call its own. These are our favorites.

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Let Users Own the Tech Companies They Help Build

Startups typically either go public or get acquired. But a more sustainable, accountable option would be to give the user base a stake.

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M.O.D.O.K. Is How Marvel Can Master the Multiverse

By untethering from the main canon, Hulu's madcap stop-motion spectacle can be as weird as it wants.

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Samsung’s New Galaxy A52 5G Is a Reliable Droid

The new $500 handset does everything a phone needs to do, though it's plagued by the same flaws as its predecessor.

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What's With All This Ooey, Gooey Sea Snot?

A phlegmy film is coating the coast around Istanbul—and warmer water could be to blame.

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These Are Our Favorite Smart Displays Right Now

Ever wish you could smash a tablet and smart speaker together? These devices try to offer the best of both worlds.

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Games Don't Just Let You Escape. They Also Help You Remember

Video games aren't unique in the way they make us nostalgic, but those memories do seem to persist more than other forms of entertainment. Here's why.

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The US Government Is Finally Moving at the Speed of Tech

Lina Khan’s ascendance to the top of the FTC, and a set of bipartisan antitrust proposals, shows just how much has changed in Washington—and how suddenly.

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This Low-Tech Habit Kept Me Connected in the Lonely Pandemic

Going on my runs just wasn't the same in a locked-down city. It was time to phone a friend.

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Some Practical Advice for Living With a Writer

It's not always easy, but fantasy author Jane Lindskold's book Wanderings on Writing provides some honest tips.

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The 9 Best Turntables for Your Vinyl Collection

Looking for fresh indoor hobbies? Why not start a record collection? These entry-level turntables will help you enjoy analog audio at home.

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The Mystery of Betelgeuse's Dimming Has Finally Been Solved

Astronomers say a cold patch and a stellar burp are behind the star's strange dip in brightness.

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A New Tool Wants to Save Open Source from Supply Chain Hacks

Sigstore will make code signing free and easy for software developers, providing an important first line of defense.

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A Quick and Dirty Agenda for Congress to Curb Big Tech

Plus: A fair-use summit with Girl Talk, how to explain consciousness, and a pre-summer bake.

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The Sex Lives of Superheroes

This week the internet dared to ask: What does Batman do in bed?

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Beware Smokescreen Trolling, Trump Followers' Favorite Tactic

Trumpists have weaponized a new technique to win the ideological war. How pro-democracy voices respond to it matters.

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As the Nation Reopens, Americans Are on the Road Again

With Covid-19 travel restrictions relaxing, citizens are boarding planes, trains, busses, and rideshares in increasing numbers. This week, we look at how that’s going.

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Which Amazon Echo or Alexa Speaker Is Best for You?

From the newest Echo Dot to a voice-enabled Yamaha soundbar, we've rounded up our favorite speakers from Amazon and its partners.

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How to Practice Emergency Preparedness as Self-Care

It's not just about buying a lot of stuff from a list. The key to being ready is all about framing your planning with gratitude, rest, and community.

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Baltimore May Soon Ban Face Recognition for Everyone but Cops

The measure would make private use of the technology illegal, but would not apply to police. It awaits the mayor's signature.

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The Cl0p Bust Shows Exactly Why Ransomware Isn’t Going Away

Ukrainian authorities managed to make some high-profile arrests. But nothing’s going to change until Russia does the same.

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Real Diplomacy is a Start, but the US Needs to Make Putin Pay

Biden's summit with Putin marked a quantum leap forward, but there's still little standing in the way from Russia interfering in future US elections.

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GPS III’s Long Journey Is Picking Up Speed

With the launch of a fifth new-generation satellite, the US finally has a constellation able to globally beam M-Code signals that are tough to spoof or jam.

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The Best Kindles to Take Your Library Anywhere

Amazon has four different ebook readers. Here's how they stack up—and which may be right for you.

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Test Out Next-Gen Space Tech in Kerbal Space Program

Sure, a real-life Epstein drive is still a few breakthroughs away. But the rocket-building game lets you pilot a fusion-propelled craft right now.

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On Microphones, Music, and Our Long Year of Screen Time

Pianist Glenn Gould proved long ago that an existence heavily mediated by technology is not nonexistence.

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The Lithium Mine Versus the Wildflower

The deposit could power 400,000 clean-energy car batteries. There’s just one roadblock: a rare, fragile species of buckwheat, which for a mine might mean extinction.

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18 Last-Minute Father's Day Gifts on Sale Now

Don't panic. You can still grab Dad a present with these deals on electronics, cooking gear, and more.

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The Efforts to Make Text-Based AI Less Racist and Terrible

Language models like GPT-3 can write poetry, but they often amplify negative stereotypes. Researchers are trying different approaches to address the problem.

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