Designing the Dream House of an 87-Year-Old Tech Visionary

An icon of Silicon Valley’s counterculture, Stewart Brand is confronting his final years in a home that embodies the self-sufficient, DIY ethos of his famous Whole Earth Catalog.

Streamer IShowSpeed Is Gen Z’s ESPN

At 21, Speed has pushed the limits of streaming by transforming a distinctly solo format into a global group chat. His song for this year’s World Cup is becoming the tournament’s unofficial anthem.

The “steroid olympics” were a circus—and a window into our culture
The “steroid olympics” were a circus—and a window into our culture

Testosterone. Methenolone. Nandrolone. Human growth hormone and EPO. Meldonium, modafinil, and mixed amphetamine salts. Clomiphene, anastrozole, levothyroxine, and liothyronine. Patches and capsules, creams and pills. A whole galaxy  of steroids, metabolic modulators, and synthetic hormones coursing through the blood of a few dozen swimmers, sprinters, and weightlifters. And millions of dollars up for grabs for…

The Untold Story of the Google Buses That Took Over San Francisco

A decade ago, commuter buses attracted big protests in San Francisco. Years later, the city is still feeling the repercussions.

Alex Vindman Survived Trump’s Retaliation Machine. Now He’s Running for Senate

In 2019, Alex Vindman testified during President Trump’s first impeachment trial–a decision that ended his military career. Now he wants to challenge the president from the halls of Congress.

Anguished Parents, Crying Doctors: Life Amid Utah’s Measles Outbreak

The state’s outbreak means adapting to America’s new reality, in which vaccine-preventable diseases become common again.

Afroman Is Back—and He’s Bitcoin’s Latest Freedom Fighter

Earlier this year, the “Because I Got High” rapper went viral for winning a case against the cops. Now he’s crypto’s free-speech hero, even though he isn’t quite sure how the digital currency works.

Jeff Bezos Is Funding a Wild Hunt for the Brain’s ‘Core Algorithm’

With $500 million in funding and a reported $2.5 billion valuation, Flourish wants to reinvent AI by putting real neurons under the microscope.

Alpha School’s Ritzy New York City Campus Costs $65,000 a Year—but Isn’t Actually a School

A homeschooling center in Manhattan is part of the company’s nationwide expansion. Internal documents reveal its strategy: “Opening date > safety.”

The Romance Scammer Who Made a Small Fortune Posing as a WWE Superstar

In this excerpt from WIRED Book Club pick The Yahoo Boys, journalist Carlos Barragán traces one scammer’s journey from flop to fortune.