Toronto Wants to Manage Storms and Floods—With a Rain Tax

Outcry reached such a crescendo last week that the city canceled public hearings on the tax,…

The US Has Big Plans for Wind Energy—but an Obscure 1920s Law Is Getting in the Way

The Biden administration aims to deploy offshore wind turbines capable of generating 30 gigawatts of power…

These Plants Change Color When Exposed to a Pesticide

Genetically engineering plants to change colors when they encounter a contaminant could help scientists better understand…

These Plants Change Color When Exposed to a Pesticide

Genetically engineering plants to change colors when they encounter a contaminant could help scientists better understand…

The Wild World of Extreme Tourism for Billionaires

The Titan tragedy highlights the burgeoning trend of cavalier high-net-worth individuals exploring some of the most…

Nature Can Save Humanity From Climate Doom—but Not On Its Own

By restoring ecosystems, conservationists can help the land sequester carbon. But it's still no substitute for…

Plastic Is Falling From the Sky. But Where’s It Coming From?

At any given time, 1,100 tons of microplastic are floating over the western US. New modeling…

Boston Dynamics’ Robots Won’t Take Our Jobs … Yet

On this week’s Get WIRED podcast, writer Matt Simon talks about Spot the dog and SpaceX…

A Wisconsin City Experiments With a Faster, DIY Covid-19 Test

In a former boxing gym in Racine, firefighters are trying out a spit test that’s simpler…

Space Photos of the Week: Earth Looks Peaceful From up Here

Let us gaze down upon our dear pale blue dot.