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What's New

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The latest in-depth coverage covering the intersection of technology and culture will help you make sense of a world in constant transformation. Join us as we explore the ways technology is changing our lives.

Episodes

The White House Just Announced a $623 Million EV-Charging Bonanza

Electric vehicle charging stations are still scarce in many parts of the US. The White House announced grants totaling $623 million to top up electric cars, bikes, and scooters. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...

Jan 12, 20247 min

Air Pollution Is Ruining Your Skin

Wildfire smoke and exhaust fumes are triggering spikes in eczema and other skin conditions. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Jan 11, 20246 min

In Defense of AI Hallucinations

​​Chatbots’ habit of spewing untruths is a big problem—but we should also celebrate these hallucinations as prompts for human creativity and a barrier to machines taking over. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...

Jan 10, 202410 min

Spying on Beavers From Space Could Help Save California

A group of scientists taught an algorithm to spot beaver ponds in satellite imagery, which has the potential to help drought-ridden areas like California bounce back. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...

Jan 09, 202411 min

They Had PTSD. A Psychedelic Called Ibogaine Helped Them Get Better

Ibogaine, a plant-based psychoactive drug, drastically reduced symptoms of depression and PTSD in veterans with traumatic brain injuries. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Jan 08, 20248 min

The Plan to Put Pig Genes in Soy Beans for Tastier Fake Meat

Molecular farming company Moolec has inserted pig genes into soy beans to generate meaty-tasting proteins that can be grown in plants. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Jan 05, 20246 min

This Ultrasound Bra Could Detect Cancer Sooner

Inspired by her aunt’s battle with cancer, Canan Dağdeviren developed a wearable ultrasound monitor that can screen women between regular checkups. She says it could save 12 million lives a year. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...

Jan 04, 20245 min

What Are ‘Missed Period Pills,’ and How Do They Work?

Menstrual regulation—sometimes referred to as “missed period pills"—is a new front in women's battle for bodily autonomy. Here's how it works and what you need to know. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...

Jan 03, 20248 min

Your Money Is Funding Fossil Fuels Without You Knowing It

Banks use your deposits to make loans to carbon-intensive industries. A new analysis finds that $1,000 in your account creates emissions equal to a flight from NYC to Seattle. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...

Jan 01, 20246 min

How to Stop Another OpenAI Meltdown

OpenAI designed its governance structure to protect humanity—and it imploded. The company could take pointers from Mozilla and other projects combining lofty goals with for-profit ventures. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...

Dec 25, 202313 min

Sorry California, Amazon Will No Longer Sell You Donkey Meat

As part of a settlement with a horse welfare nonprofit, Amazon will no longer sell products containing “ejiao,” which is made with donkey skin. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Dec 22, 20235 min

What Happens When Facebook Heats Your Home

Big Tech data centers are not only being used to power the internet but also to heat people’s homes. But who’s really winning when Facebook keeps you warm at night? Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Dec 21, 20238 min

Google’s App Store Monopoly Ruled Illegal as Jury Sides With Epic

A jury in San Francisco unanimously found that Google stifled competition for its app store. A judge will now decide on what fixes to require at the company, but appeals could delay the impact of the case for years. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...

Dec 20, 20234 min

My Surprisingly Unbiased Week With Elon Musk's 'Politically Biased' Chatbot

Some Elon Musk fans are concerned that Grok, xAI's answer to ChatGPT, is too politically liberal. The nature of the underlying AI technology will make “fixing” its outlook difficult. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...

Dec 19, 20236 min

In a World First, a Patient’s Antibody Cells Were Just Genetically Engineered

B cells are prolific producers of antibodies, but for the first time, scientists have modified them to make other proteins to counteract a serious genetic disease. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Dec 18, 20237 min

OpenAI’s Ilya Sutskever Has a Plan for Keeping Super-Intelligent AI in Check

The “superalignment” team led by OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever has devised a way to guide the behavior of AI models as they get ever smarter. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Dec 15, 20237 min

Stop Planting Trees, Says Guy Who Inspired World to Plant a Trillion Trees

Ecologist Thomas Crowther’s research inspired countless tree-planting campaigns, greenwashing, and attacks from scientists. Now he’s back with a new plan for nature restoration. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...

Dec 14, 202310 min

YouTube Is Now Hiding Which Channels Get a Cut of Ad Revenue

YouTube removed a snippet of code that publicly disclosed whether a channel receives ad and subscription payouts, obscuring which creators benefit most from the platform. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Dec 13, 202310 min

Can Rock Dust Soak Up Carbon Emissions? A Giant Experiment Is Set to Find Out

The idea that sprinkling rock dust on farmland can soak up atmospheric carbon will be tested at large scale thanks to a $57 million purchase from corporations including Stripe and Alphabet. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...

Dec 12, 202310 min

Google Just Launched Gemini, Its Long-Awaited Answer to ChatGPT

Google says Gemini, launching today inside the Bard chatbot, is its “most capable” AI model ever. It was trained on video, images, and audio as well as text. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Dec 07, 20239 min

Spotify Is Screwed

Spotify is the world’s biggest music streamer, but rarely turns a profit and just cut 17 percent of its workforce. Its business model looks increasingly precarious. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Dec 06, 20236 min

OpenAI Committed to Buying $51 Million of AI Chips From a Startup Backed by CEO Sam Altman

Documents show that OpenAI signed a letter of intent to spend $51 million on brain-inspired chips developed by startup Rain. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman previously made a personal investment in Rain. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...

Dec 05, 202310 min

The Race to Find What’s Making America’s Dogs Sick

Hundreds of dogs across multiple states have been struck down with a severe respiratory illness. Veterinarians suspect a mystery bacteria but are still grasping for clues. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...

Dec 04, 20239 min

A Life-Extension Drug for Big Dogs Is Getting Closer to Reality

The FDA has yet to approve any drugs for life extension. But biotech company Loyal is now a step closer to bringing one to market—for dogs. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Dec 01, 20237 min

The Weirdest Reason the Poles Are Warming So Fast? Invisible Clouds

Clouds way up in the stratosphere act like a blanket, trapping heat in the Arctic and Antarctica. That could help explain why models keep underestimating how fast they’re warming. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...

Nov 30, 20237 min

A Damning Report Claims a Major Gig Economy Union Had a Culture of Abuse and Toxicity

An independent report obtained by WIRED claims a UK union that won a major case against Uber mistreated its staff and grappled with incidents of racism. Two of its most senior figures have now stepped down. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...

Nov 29, 20238 min

The US Wants Vietnam to Be Its New Tech Best Friend

Teaming up with Vietnam may help the US lessen its dependence on China’s tech supply chain. But decoupling from a chipmaking giant like China won’t be easy. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Nov 28, 20239 min

Here’s What’s Next for SpaceX’s Starship

A second Starship test flight advanced a bit further than the first, with the rocket reaching the edge of space but blowing up soon after. Industry experts say it’s still a step forward. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Nov 27, 20239 min
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