When Elon Musk Switches on ‘Insane Mode’
“Someone with his combination of character traits—you’re always going to get the good with the bad.”
The Benefits of a Foreign-Language Tattoo
Even when it goes wrong, body art in another tongue can be a good thing. An Object Lesson.
Humans Made Drones by Copying Birds. Birds Are Fighting Back.
As machines fill the skies, they meet resistance from the animals who already live there.
What Tumblr’s Porn Ban Really Means
The platform used to be a home for sexual subcultures that don’t always thrive elsewhere.
Finally, the Self-Driving Car
Google’s sister company Waymo built the self-driving car. Now it needs to bring it to life.
The AI That Knows Exactly What You Want to Eat
Can an app lead to better-tasting food by digitally measuring flavor?
What Venice Can Teach American Cities
The city of canals has been flooding for centuries. Others can learn from its adaptations.
Instagram Is the New Evite
For high schoolers, at least
The Bootleg Video Vans of the Soviet Union
I learned English—and Western culture—watching American movies in smoky minibuses. An Object Lesson.
What It Really Means to Be the Adult in the Room
Sheryl Sandberg, the “responsible” grown-up at Facebook, had one job: Make the company more and more money.
A Map That Tracks Everything
Blockchain-based mapping hopes to replace GPS. Can it be trusted?
The Strange Phenomenon of L.O.L. Surprise Dolls
“Mystery” toys that kids peel open and cast aside speak volumes about consumer culture.
The Infinite Weirdness of Never-Ending Chat Histories
A Facebook bug resurfaced old chats for users around the world, and things got awkward.
How Restaurants Got So Loud
Fashionable minimalism replaced plush opulence. That’s a recipe for commotion.
Everything on Social Media Is for Sale
Welcome to the age of micro-monetization.
The Star of Norwegian Knitwear
The selburose design wasn’t invented in Norway, but it became a symbol of the country. An Object Lesson.
Moneyball for Turkeys
After decades of making turkeys bigger, breeders are hoping new technologies can make them better.
Reefer Madness at NASA
The space agency has reportedly decided to review workplace culture at SpaceX and Boeing after Elon Musk smoked marijuana on a podcast.
Sports Stadiums Are a Bad Deal for Cities
But cities can fight back.
The Tyranny of ‘Sorry for My Delay’
A communications scholar reflects on what gets lost in a culture that prizes speed.