Steven Pinker Thinks Pope Francis Is a Problem, Nuclear Power Is a Solution, And We All Need Enlightenment Now!
The author of The Better Angels of Our Nature is back with a bold new book defending humanism, progress, and capitalism.
Science & Technology
California Bill Offers Phony Solution to Fake News Problem
Proposal to verify online "bots" is security theater that will make it harder for small online firms to compete with the likes of Facebook.
University of Virginia Hires 'Social Sentinel' to Monitor Students' Social Media Posts
"They are being watched, and that's a problem."
Social Media Beats Censorship in Iran
The vigorous debate over censorship shows how much Iran has changed in recent years.
Cambridge Analytica Was Doing Marketing, Not Black Magic
There's no reason for alarm (yet) over a Facebook data "breach" that benefited a firm with ties to Trump's campaign.
5 Reasons Not to Feed the Russian Troll Hysteria
"If voters are making [stupid] decisions," says Senior Editor Jacob Sullum, "that's not the Russians' fault."
Will the New '100 Percent Fatal' Mind-Uploading Service Work?
Do you want to be in control group or the experimental group?
Iconic Physicist Stephen Hawking Has Died
The world was a better place because he was in it.
Florida Government Employee Arrested for Mining Cryptocurrencies at Work
Florida man accused of ripping off government agency that rips off taxpayers.
Facebook Bans Nationalist Anti-Muslim Group Britain First
"We do not do this lightly, but they have repeatedly posted content designed to incite animosity and hatred against minority groups."
Climate Change Problems Will Be Solved Through Economic Growth
"How bad will climate change be? Not very."
Does That JAMA Study Really Show That Advil Is Just As Effective As Opioids?
Since responses to pain treatment vary widely, it is hazardous to draw broad conclusions from a single study.
Want to Hack Your Own Body? Neo.Life's Jane Metcalfe Is Making It Easier Than Ever
Wired's co-founder talks about the "Neobiological Revolution" and what happens when computer science and engineering meet evolution.
Judge Tells Trump to Pretend to Listen to Twitter Haters
A lawsuit leads to a suggestion that the president engage in a kinder, gentler ignoring.
Free Yourself From the Soft Tyranny of Nutrition Studies
Chances are, you already know what you need to do to be healthier.
A Jailed Model Claims to Have Evidence of Russian Meddling in U.S. Elections. Her Story Is Even Weirder Than You Think.
Rybka has spent the past several years as a protegee of pickup artist and seduction coach Alex Lesley-and picked up a plausible claim to 2016 election dirt along the way.
Malthusian Specter Pushed Back Further: Crops Engineered to Use 25 Percent Less Water
Yet another limit to growth recedes into the distance
$20 Fee for Porn Access Proposed in Rhode Island
Device makers would be required to block porn, prostitution hubs, and all content that fails "current standards of decency."
Victor Frankenstein Is the Real Monster
Mary Shelley's misunderstood masterpiece turns 200.
Guns, Code, and Freedom
Cody Wilson on his war against power, the irreversible course of the 3D-printed gun, and America's Weimar moment
Are We Experiencing Peak Gun Rights?
A look into a more restrictionist future for the Second Amendment.
Stone Age Statue Was Too Racy for Facebook
How can a company be expected to arbitrate "fake news" when it can't even tell ancient artifacts from porn?
How Government Lost the Crypto Wars (At Least for Now)
Public-key encryption has brought a drastic shift in power from the state to individuals.
No, Being Fat Won't Help You Live Longer
A decade or more of "obesity paradox" research is just plain wrong.
This Hacker Is Making a Driverless Car in His Garage
George Hotz wants to remake everything from your car to your phone, cheaper and faster than Google or Tesla.
House Passes 'Anti Sex-Trafficking' Bill Opposed by Both DOJ and Trafficking Survivors
The bill makes "promoting prostitution" a federal crime, holds websites legally liable for user-posted content, and lets states retroactively prosecute offenders.
Balaji Srinivasan: Technology Will Lead to a Borderless World
The Silicon Valley entrepreneur says cryptocurrencies, virtual reality, and mobile devices are helping individuals escape failed institutions.
New York Times Columnist Is Worried About What's in His Urine
The FDA debunks his fears.
Jacobson Dismisses Defamation Lawsuit Against Other Scientists
After an initial hearing, Stanford's Mark Jacobson thinks better of pursuing a scientific disagreement in court.
Trump Recycles False Claim that Video Gaming Causes School Shootings
Attacking violent video games is useless political theater.
'Crisis Actors,' Conspiracy Theories, and the Fear of Social Media
Yes, kooky rumors can spread quickly online. In this case, the angry reactions to those rumors may be spreading even faster.
Countering the Threat of the Malicious Use of Artificial Intelligence
Are smart Roombas booby-trapped with bombs in our future?
Don't Feed the Russian Troll Hysteria
The "information warfare" described in Friday's indictment is not an existential threat to American democracy.
Feds Announce Indictments of Russian Nationals for Attempting to Influence American Elections
Thirteen individuals and three companies accused of conspiracy against the U.S., wire fraud, and identity theft.
Put 'Humanity First,' Demands 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang
No robots need apply.
Maybe the Government Won't Screw Up Bitcoin After All
Regulators seem to recognize the need for restraint.
Trump Wants to Privatize the International Space Station
Which would be cool. But it probably won't happen anyway. So everybody chill.
Consumers Are Open to Superhuman Vision and Cognitive Enhancements. Are Regulators?
The first comprehensive survey on attitudes about human enhancement finds Americans are open to some crazy new technologies.
Governments Hate Bitcoin and Cash for the Same Reason: They Protect People's Privacy.
Officials want to track every financial transaction you make, and they see cryptocurrencies and cash alike as barriers to achieving that goal.
Want to Make an Untraceable Handgun at Home? Cody Wilson Can Help.
His Ghost Gunner and 3D printing are destroying the concept of gun control.
What's Hot in Porn Tech: Blockchain, Cam Girls, and Snapchat
New technologies are helping the adult industry adjust to government regulations and give more power to performers.
