How Airlines Decide What Counts as a Near Miss
The aviation industry has an opaque process for sorting out forgettable mishaps and investigation-worthy mistakes.
I Dialed a Wrong Number and Stumbled Into International Phone Fraud
It started when I was trying to call Cuba.
How Algorithms Can Bring Down Minorities' Credit Scores
Analyzing people’s social connections may lead to a new way of discriminating against them.
How Should the Media Cover Trump's Tweets?
The president-elect’s inflammatory remarks on social media could be a distraction—or they could be deadly serious.
Searching for Lost Knowledge in the Age of Intelligent Machines
As search engines are radically reinvented, computers and people are becoming partners in exploration.
Is the White House Hiding Secrets About Russia's Role in the Election?
Seven senators have asked President Obama to declassify additional information about the Kremlin’s possible involvement.
A Wall-Crawling Roomba That Teaches Kids to Code
Harvard roboticists have created a robot that will gradually introduce children to programming skills by blending them with art.
Why Skee-Ball Doesn't Change
A century after its creation, the game is still a perfect balance of skill and chance. An Object Lesson.
A Website That Gives You Points as It Spies on You
Click, and a calm voice explains how easy it is to follow your cursor’s every move.
People Censor Themselves Online for Fear of Being Harassed
New research reveals that when tech companies don't police abuse, it can put a damper on free speech.
Watching the World Rot at Europe's Largest Tech Conference
Notes from a writer’s visit to Web Summit
The Toxic-Waste Drum Is Everywhere
Created by a globetrotter, the 55-gallon barrel became one of the best-traveled inventions in human history. An Object Lesson.
How Augmented Reality Will Change Tech Experiences
The CEO of the company behind Pokémon Go describes the future of what smartphones will be able to do.
How Well Can Computers Read Fiction?
Computational tools have the ability to analyze books’ emotional arcs, but it’s unclear what they can really find out about literature.
Trump’s CIA Director Wants to Return to a Pre-Snowden World
He’s called for a “fundamental upgrade” to U.S. spying powers.
Why Silicon Valley May Warm to Trump
The technology industry has resisted him, but a Trump presidency is compatible with its business goals.
How Light Bulbs Watch You Buy Groceries
The same technology that helps stores track shoppers may one day replace Wi-Fi.
Playing the Workaholic on Social Media
“Public displays of working” are part humblebrag, part cry for help.
The Alphabet That Will Save a People From Disappearing
As kids, two Guinean brothers invented a new script for their native language. Now they’re trying to get it on every smartphone.
Facebook and Google Won’t Let Fake News Sites Use Their Ad Networks
The changes still don’t stop the companies from enabling the spread of misinformation.