DOGE’s Chaos Reaches Antarctica
Daily life at US-run Antarctic stations has already been disrupted. Scientists worry that the long-term impacts could upend not only important research but the continent’s delicate geopolitics.
A Deadly Unidentified Disease Has Emerged in the DRC
More than 50 people have died in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, most within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. Initial analysis suggests neither Ebola nor Marburg is the cause.
Something Unexpected Is Spewing Stars Into the Milky Way
Fast-moving stars in the Milky Way indicate there could be a supermassive black hole in the neighboring Large Magellanic Cloud—something that has never been detected in a smaller galaxy.
Costa Rica Is Saving Forest Ecosystems by Listening to Them
Monitoring the noises within ecosystems reveals their health—allowing researchers to monitor changes in biodiversity, detect threats, and measure the effectiveness of conservation strategies.
DOGE Is Inside the National Institutes of Health’s Finance System
At least three people linked to Elon Musk’s DOGE task force have access to NIH systems that control budgets, procurement, and more, according to records and internal documents viewed by WIRED.
Nearly 100 Measles Cases Have Been Reported in Texas
The virus has spread in areas with low vaccination rates, and most of those affected are minors.
A Jumping Lunar Robot Is About to Explore a Pitch-Black Moon Crater for the First Time
Packed with instruments and rovers, the soon-to-launch IM-2 mission will explore the lunar south pole and attempt something never done before—to enter a shadowed moon crater to look for ice.
The Saw-Toothed Function That Broke Calculus
In the late 19th century, Karl Weierstrass invented a fractal-like function that was decried as nothing less than a “deplorable evil.” In time, it would transform the foundations of mathematics.
Microsoft’s New Majorana 1 Processor Could Transform Quantum Computing
The processor uses qubits that can be measured without error and are resistant to outside interference, which the company says marks a “transformative leap toward practical quantum computing.”
Why Is Chocolate So Expensive Right Now?
Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and other climate impacts are throttling cocoa production and driving up chocolate prices.