Americans Took Prevagen for Years—as the FDA Questioned Its Safety
From the memory supplement’s launch in 2007 through 2016, agency officials repeatedly raised concerns as the number of consumer complaints grew….
Backchannel
One Woman’s High-Touch Bid to Upend the Sex-Toy Industry
Lora DiCarlo said her company’s robotic vibrator, the Osé, would redefine the market. But her hyped-up personal brand would be the real master stroke….
Schools (and Children) Need a Fresh Air Fix
Classrooms have needed better ventilation for years. It took a pandemic to get us to pay attention….
The Man Who Speaks Softly—and Commands a Big Cyber Army
Meet General Paul Nakasone. He reined in chaos at the NSA and taught the US military how to launch pervasive cyberattacks. And he did it all without you noticing….
His Writing Radicalized Young Hackers. Now He Wants to Redeem Them
Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother series has been a young-adult sci-fi bible for teen hacktivists. But with the latest and darkest book in the trilogy, it’s all grown up….
Amazon Wants to ‘Win at Games.’ So Why Hasn’t It?
After brute-forcing its way to dominance in so many industries, the tech leviathan may finally have met its match….
The True Story of the Antifa Invasion of Forks, Washington
A false report on Twitter exploded into a call to arms. Then a bus, carrying a family and two dogs, rolled into a remote Northwestern town….
In a World Gone Mad, Paper Planners Offer Order and Delight
On Instagram and Facebook, members of a wonderfully obsessive community organize every aspect of their lives—through pandemics and protests—with binders and stickers….
A Poker Pro Accused of Cheating Wants $330M in Damages
Mike Postle claims he was the victim of an elaborate online campaign to tar him as a fraud—and he’s suing a dozen defendants….
The Dispersed Family Is Hurting
The dispersed modern family depends on easy travel. Now that it’s much harder, the question becomes: How long is too long to not see a parent?…
The West’s Infernos Are Melting Our Sense of How Fire Works
42,000-foot plumes of ash. 143-mph firenadoes. 1,500-degree heat. These wildfires are a new kind of hell on earth, and scientists are racing to learn its rules….
The Cyber-Avengers Protecting Hospitals From Ransomware
As medical facilities strain amid the pandemic, they’re especially vulnerable to cyberattacks. A global coalition of volunteer experts has stepped into the breach….
Scientists Found Phosphine on Venus—A Possible Hint of Life
A simple molecule floating in Venus’s atmosphere is now humans’ best bet for finding companionship in the galaxy….
How We’ll Know the Election Wasn’t Rigged
Whether you’re casting a ballot in person or by mail, there’s plenty to worry about. Mass voter fraud shouldn’t be on the list….
The Cheating Scandal That Ripped the Poker World Apart
Mike Postle was on an epic winning streak at a California casino. Veronica Brill thought he had to be playing dirty. Let the chips fall where they may….
How Work Became an Inescapable Hellhole
Instead of optimizing work, technology has created a nonstop barrage of notifications and interactions. Six months into a pandemic, it’s worse than ever….