“Powered by obsessed film buffs, it’s a crowdsourced juggernaut that’s older than Google and Wikipedia. Now AI is threatening to steal the starring role.”
wired
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
This week we have stories by Dan Kois, Matt Gallagher, Marina Benjamin, Caleb Daniloff, and Vauhini Vara.
The Out-of-Control Spread of Crowd-Control Tech
“Broken bones. Eye trauma. Brain injuries. How America’s sketchy “less-lethal” weapons industry exports its insidious brand of violence around the world.”
The Kremlin Has Entered the Chat
“Telegram has the capacity to share nearly any confidential information a government requests. Users just have to trust that it won’t.”
Welcome to Digital Nomadland
“A Portuguese island created a village for remote workers, promising community to the newcomers and prosperity to the locals—then delivered on neither.”
The Hibernator’s Guide to the Galaxy
“Scientists are on the verge of figuring out how to put humans in a state of suspended animation. It could be the key to colonizing Mars.”
When a Houseplant Obsession Becomes a Nightmare
“Some of us just can’t resist the allure of the carnivorous Nepenthes. They’re beautiful, rare, and in every way life-consuming.”
Growing Old Online
“Millennials, the first generation to be online as kids, are starting to feel like we’ve aged out. Is there a way to age gracefully on the internet?”
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
This week, our editors recommend stories by Michael Wilson, Joseph Bien-Kahn, Jason Anthony, AC Shelton, and Tom Breihan.
