Tech in the Classroom: A History of Hype and Hysteria

From calculators to ChatGPT, the introduction of new technology into schools has long inspired frenzied discourse: Will it revolutionize the system or rot kids’ brains? It often does neither.

How Microschools Became the Latest Tech Mogul Obsession

Between homeschool provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill and Trump’s attempts to gut the Department of Education, teaching kids looks different now. Silicon Valley’s answer? Microschools.

The Best Tech for Back to School

From laptops for any kind of coursework to scooters to get you to class on time, here’s everything you need to crush this school year.

WIRED Tests Dozens of Air Purifiers a Year. Here’s What We Look For (2025)

WIRED’s air quality expert breaks down what we—and you—should consider when assessing one of these popular appliances.

I Tried the Best At-Home Pet DNA Test Kits on My Two Cats (2025)

I sent my cats’ saliva to the lab to get health and genetic insights sent to my inbox—with very different results.

AI Is Designing Bizarre New Physics Experiments That Actually Work

Artificial intelligence software is designing novel experimental protocols that improve upon the work of human physicists, although the humans are still “doing a lot of baby-sitting.”

What Is the Electric Constant and Why Should You Care?

The force between electrical charges is kind of a big deal—without it, the universe would be a primordial soup and you would not exist. That force is determined by the electric constant.

Pebblebee Is Getting Serious About Personal Safety Tracking

The Bluetooth tracker maker is adding free and paid SOS features to its products, including emergency contact alerts, silent alarms, and real-time location sharing.

Camp Snap CS-8 Review: Simple Video Capture

Modeled on a 1960s home movie camera, this cheap, stripped-down digital Super 8 is a laid-back antidote to the spec-chasing rat race of modern videography.

Decoding Palantir, the Most Mysterious Company in Silicon Valley

This week on Uncanny Valley, we talk about one of the most notorious American corporations. So what does Palantir actually do?