New Chemical History

Wired Top Stories

The Ink of War: Afghanistan Air Base's Best Tattoos

author: Spencer Ackerman-{ts '2010-09-04 15:50:00'}

Tattooing, an aggressive and intimidating mixture of endurance and art, is as old as warfare itself. But each generation, and each war, yields its own warrior body art. In Afghanistan, America's longest war, troop tats have matured alongside the culture's growing acceptance of ink.

Take Heed, Tech Giants: Edison's Failed Plot to Hijack Hollywood

author: Matthew Lasar-{ts '2010-09-04 14:35:00'}

Take heed, tech giants of today. Some of your companies or services aren’t much older than the Edison Trust Studios was when it collapsed. How much of your current business strategy is based on offering new and original products, and how much of it is based on laws, courts, and the fact that you got there first?

In Defense of Google, Or Why Consumer Watchdog is Full of It

author: Ryan Singel-{ts '2010-09-04 04:52:00'}

While there’s plenty of reasons to keep a critical eye focused on Google, Consumer Watchdog’s ad is a dishonest, factually inaccurate joke that shamefully got plenty of uncritical media attention. In the simplest terms possible, Consumer Watchdog is just wrong.

Censored! Craigslist Adult Services Blocked in U.S.

author: Evan Hansen-{ts '2010-09-04 04:32:00'}

The “Adult Services” listing on Craiglist was removed late Friday on its U.S.-based sites and replaced with the word 'censored.' The change comes as the service faces growing pressure in the U.S. over sex services advertised on its classifieds network, as well as allegations that it abets in human sex trafficking.

NASA Footage Sets Scene for Quantum Quest Movie

author: Hugh Hart-{ts '2010-09-03 20:15:00'}

Footage from seven ongoing NASA space missions provide hyper-realistic scenery for the 3-D animated film, while the voices of multiple Captain Kirks and Darth Vaders play the parts of space explorers.

'Earth-like' Exoplanet Could Have a Comet's Tail

author: Lisa Grossman-{ts '2010-09-03 20:15:00'}

When the super-Earth COROT-7b was discovered in 2009, it was heralded as the rockiest, most truly Earth-like exoplanet yet. But a new study suggests it's more like a comet.

Duke Nukem Forever Lives Again at PAX

author: Chris Kohler-{ts '2010-09-03 19:31:00'}

The presumed-dead videogame makes a splash appearance at Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle.

Hands-On With HDR Photos in the Next iPhone Update

author: Brian X. Chen-{ts '2010-09-03 19:13:00'}

A first look at iOS 4.1 Gold Master, the latest release of Apple's mobile operating system due out next week. A developer sent me a copy and I have it installed on my iPhone 4. Major new features are the HDR photo mode and Game Center.

Very Few Bones to Pick With Samsung's Big, Beautiful Phone

author: Christopher Null-{ts '2010-09-03 19:00:00'}

Just say "no" to be being an iClone. Get a device with an open OS, lightning-fast data connectivity and a network that won't drop calls every five minutes.

Smart Gear for the School Year

author: Wired Product Reviews-{ts '2010-09-03 19:00:00'}

Don't hit the books without getting the right gear. We've got all the kit you need from taking scrupulous notes, to working off campus, to being the most popular kid in your dorm.

Hot Helping of Rapid Wi-Fi Anywhere You Go? Yes, Please

author: Dan Havlik-{ts '2010-09-03 19:00:00'}

If you're even thinking of working off-campus without taking this Wi-Fi-spewing wonder card, you'll need to be fitted for a straight jacket.

Glint of Starlight Could Reveal Liquid Oceans on Exoplanets

author: Lisa Grossman-{ts '2010-09-03 19:00:00'}

The sparkle of starlight off water could be the clincher for finding oceans on extrasolar planets. And it could be observable with the tech that will be deployed in the next generation of space telescopes.

Digital Pen Gives Boring Note-Taking a Modern Kick

author: Bryan Gardiner-{ts '2010-09-03 19:00:00'}

Don't you wish there was a way to take notes with a pen and upload them to your computer? And don't you wish that pen had an infrared camera, a built-in speaker and mic? There is such a thing, and it's called the Livescribe Echo Smartpen.

Cruising Across Campus? Get This Cozy Commuter

author: Steven Leckart-{ts '2010-09-03 19:00:00'}

Unless you're majoring in spandex and minoring in too-cool-for-school at Steephill State, you may not need a road, fixed-gear or a mountain bike. Consider REI's Novara Fusion commuter. Sure this hybrid 8-speed won't get you anywhere in a mega-hurry, but you'll likely enjoy getting there.

Behind the Scenes at IndyCar

author: Darryl Siry-{ts '2010-09-03 19:00:00'}

As we go backstage at the IndyCar Grand Prix of Sonoma, we ponder what's more important to fans -- the drivers' skill, or the cars' technology?

By Losing Weight, Tennis Pro Quickly Gains Ground

author: Jeremy Repanich-{ts '2010-09-03 18:35:00'}

By losing 30 pounds in less than a year, tennis pro Mardy Fish has quickly become one of the top Americans to advance at this year’s US Open in New York. Fish opens up on how he pulled it off and revitalized his career.

Steve Jobs: iTunes 10 Icon Does Not 'Suck'

author: Brian X. Chen-{ts '2010-09-03 18:00:00'}

While winding down from Wednesday’s iPod announcements, Apple CEO Steve Jobs appears to have taken some time to respond to an e-mail criticizing the new look of the iTunes icon.

Video: Monster Truck Makes Monster Crash

author: Chuck Squatriglia-{ts '2010-09-03 17:30:00'}

Joe Sylvester wants to set a new record for longest jump by a monster truck. Clearly he's still got some work to do.

Travelling Around the World in a Gadget-Filled Ford Fiesta

author: Jeremy Hart-{ts '2010-09-03 17:30:00'}

Wired.com contributor Jeremy Hart is driving around the world in a Ford Fiesta. Along the way, he'll be testing gadgets from some of the most extreme — and amazing — locations.

NASA Flies First Drone Over Hurricane

author: Jason Paur-{ts '2010-09-03 17:30:00'}

In addition to the usual cadre of satellites, NASA is using a small fleet of unmanned aircraft into, over and around the hurricane as it tracks north from the Caribbean. While flying into a hurricane is nothing new, Earl is the first hurricane that NASA has observed using their unmanned Global Hawk observation aircraft.

EA Simulates 2010 NFL Season, Predicts Super Bowl Champs

author: Erik Malinowski-{ts '2010-09-03 17:06:00'}

EA Sports, publisher of the Madden NFL videogame franchise, has taken its latest game iteration, Madden NFL 11, and run through the upcoming 2010 NFL season, offering at least a simulated insight into who’ll be celebrating in Arlington, Texas, after Super Bowl XLV.

Six Apart Shuts Down Vox

author: Scott Gilbertson-{ts '2010-09-03 17:01:00'}

Six Apart is shutting down its Vox blogging service. Users have until Sept. 30 to export their data to another free blog publishing service like Six Apart's TypePad. After that, Vox will be gone.

Gadget Lab Podcast: iPods, Apple TV and Samsung's Galaxy Tab

author: Brian X. Chen-{ts '2010-09-03 17:00:00'}

This week's episode of the Gadget Lab podcast is heavy on fruits. High on vitamin A, Dylan Tweney gushes over the pluot, a plum-apricot hybrid, while Brian X. Chen dishes out this week's announcements of brand new Apple gear. They also share our impressions of Samsung's iPad rival, the 7-inch Galaxy Tab.

Baby Lion Cam Launches

author: Jess McNally-{ts '2010-09-03 17:00:00'}

This morning, the Smithsonian National Zoo launched a live webcam of the zoo's four new baby African lion cubs and their mother. The cubs were born during the late evening and early morning between Aug. 30 and 31 and will remain inside until late fall.

How Sheep Determined the Size of Your Gadgets

author: Tim Carmody-{ts '2010-09-03 15:34:00'}

It's easy to figure out why e-readers and tablets are the size that they are: They're all about the size of paperback books. But why are paperbacks that size? It all has to do with the sheep.

Feds Push 'Active Transportation' to Build Healthier Communities

author: Jason Kambitsis-{ts '2010-09-03 14:00:00'}

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is on a mission to promote walking, cycling and mass transit in an effort to build healthier communities.

From Washington to Mexico on 12.4 Gallons of Diesel

author: Jalopnik-{ts '2010-09-03 12:00:00'}

Craig Henderson achieved 119.1 mpg in a car he designed in 1984.

Best Exploitation Flicks: 'Machete' and Its Over-the-Top Ancestors

author: Hugh Hart-{ts '2010-09-03 12:00:00'}

From bad girls and zombies to circus freaks and killer cars, the shock-and-awful recipe for grindhouse movies' tasty cinematic sausage never fails to satisfy. As Robert Rodriguez's timely homage hits screens, we look back at several decades of surprisingly influential B movies.

Jargon Watch: Synthia, Teabonics, Flash Crash

author: Jonathon Keats-{ts '2010-09-03 11:00:00'}

Learn the nickname for the first synthetic organism and a derisive term for ungrammatical Tea Party signs.

Alt Text: Make a Nasty World Nice With Virtual Rewards

author: Lore Sjöberg-{ts '2010-09-03 11:00:00'}

Using Foursquare to stamp out sexually transmitted diseases is just the beginning of a brave new war on bothersome reality. Just think of all the amazing problems we can solve with the proper mix of badges, exclusive offers and unbridled optimism.