Recent editors’ picks
A Hockey Dad, a Cartel, and a $12 Million Fraud
“Kota Youngblood told his neighbors there were hits out on their lives — and only he could save them.”
This Is the Worst Thing That Could Happen to the International Space Station
“There’s a good way to throw out the ISS. And then there’s a really bad way.”
Why Conservationists Are Making Rhinos Radioactive
“Rapid DNA tests, x-ray fluorescence guns, and other technologies are being deployed in the fight against wildlife trafficking.”
Why You’re More Likely to Develop AI-Psychosis than to Join a Cult
“Philosopher Lucy Osler on the insidious appeal of AI Chatbots.”
The Man Who Stole Infinity
“In an 1874 paper, Georg Cantor proved that there are different sizes of infinity and changed math forever. A trove of newly unearthed letters shows that it was also an act of plagiarism.”
The Long Now of the Web: Inside the Internet Archive’s Fight Against Forgetting
“A comprehensive engineering and operational analysis of the Internet Archive.”
Say Goodbye to the Undersea Cable That Made the Global Internet Possible
“History was unmade last year, as engineers began the massive project of ripping the first-ever transoceanic fiber-optic cable from the ocean floor. Just don’t mention sharks.”
Lords of the Ring
“The cultural politics of sumo wrestling.”
Between the Sheets at the College Excel Championships
“One of the most unusual — and fun — events in college sports is a high-stakes spreadsheeting competition in Las Vegas.”
