Science, Spoken

Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop Soon, hundreds of new top-level domains, including .meow and .fart, could be added to the internet. WIRED goes inside the backroom shenanigans of ICANN, the organization at the helm. Written by Pete Millspaugh. Originally published on October 6th, 2026. For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from ou...

Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop Right now, there are no rules to keep you from owning a bitchin’ corporate name as your own internet address. Written by Joshua Quittner. Originally published on October 1st, 1994. For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://...

Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop Our most powerful 21st-century technologies—robotics, genetic engineering, and nanotech—are threatening to make humans an endangered species. Written by Bill Joy. Originally published on April 1st, 2000. For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Sto...

Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop Lost time. Lost jobs. Lost friends. Lost family. Lost Lives. How Israeli checkpoints suffocate Palestinian life in the occupied West Bank. Written by Lama Rabah, Sabrina Slipchenko, Charles Boutaud, Firas Tawil and Elena DeBre. Originally published on September 30th 2026. For more of the most ambitious, future-defin...

Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop Digging through manuals for security cameras, a group of gearheads found sinister details and ignited a new battle in the US-China tech war. Written by Amos Zeeberg. Originally published on April 4th, 2023. For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big...

Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop Dispatches from the New American Holiday: Writer Bruce Sterling takes the kids to the Temporary Autonomous Zone, where survival is a personal choice. Written by Bruce Sterling. Originally published in WIRED on November 1st, 1996. For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers...

Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop No IVF. No surrogacy. No polygenic tests. Emma Waters is leading a national fight against fertility tech—with her hot husband’s permission, of course. For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-b...

Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop The novelist makes the Earthly rituals of sex, marriage, childbirth—and all of human life—appear delightfully outlandish. For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story Learn more about you...

Although we paused on publishing narrated versions of WIRED articles in this feed, you will still hear the latest in tech and politics from the WIRED team. Join host Leah Feiger and a rotation of guests as they guide you through the exciting, challenging, and sometimes entertaining vortex of internet extremism, conspiracies, and disinformation on WIRED Politics Lab. You can find the information ne...

Although we paused on publishing narrated versions of WIRED articles in this feed, you will still hear the latest in tech from the WIRED team. On WIRED's Gadget Lab, you'll find hosts Lauren Goode and Michael Calore tackling the biggest questions in the world of tech with knowledgeable WIRED reporters. You can expect the best of WIRED's breaking news and tech analysis right here in this feed. List...

Human cases keep ticking up, are very likely to be underreported, and offer the virus the opportunity to learn how to spread from person to person. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Measles, bedbugs, and dengue have all been cited as concerns for tourists and athletes at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, with the tropical virus in particular forcing authorities into action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Guilt-free air travel is a beautiful dream, but there’s simply no way to get enough solar energy to keep a cabin full of people in the air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Researchers believe they have discovered oxygen being produced 4,000 meters below the sea surface, and think polymetallic nodules—the sought-after bounty of deep-sea miners—could be the source. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The next wave of obesity drugs could help people lose even more weight—and make some pharma companies a fortune. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Activists believe that the vice president, who is already the leading voice for reproductive rights in the Biden administration, will champion their cause. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Doctors find themselves without critical systems and diagnostic tools—and face the daunting reality that a full recovery could take days—after CrowdStrike’s botched deployment of a software update. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Analysis of lunar imagery has ended a longstanding debate over whether there are accessible underground areas on the Moon; an emptied lava tube in the Sea of Tranquility is of particular interest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Missions to explore other worlds, like Mars or Saturn’s moon Titan, could disrupt or destroy extraterrestrial life in the process of seeking it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Legislation in coming years will set up a publicly owned clean power company and leverage the Crown Estate for investment in green infrastructure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Improperly discarded batteries leak toxic chemicals and are prone to exploding. A new program funded by the Department of Energy will prop up battery drop-off sites across the US. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Robotics researchers are exploring how large language models can give physical machines more smarts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a livestreamed update on X, Elon Musk and Neuralink executives gave an update on the company's next study participant—and its next-generation brain implant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Generative artificial intelligence tools, now part of the everyday user experience online, are causing stress on local power grids and mass water evaporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Deepfake scam services. Victim data. Electrified shackles for human trafficking. Crypto tracing firm Elliptic found all were available for sale on an online marketplace linked to Cambodia’s ruling family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices