This week, we discuss the growing trend of data from smart speakers and other connected devices being used to solve crimes.

Autocracies and democracies alike are suppressing information within their borders, which will affect public health and security around the world.

The videos are racking up millions of views. Meanwhile, for victims, the legal options aren’t keeping up with the technology

Whether your children are distance learning, in the classroom, or somewhere in between, we’ve got a school supplies list to make this year a little easier.

Shape memory alloys and a kind of plastic crystal chill quickly under force or pressure. They could lead to eco-friendly fridges and air conditioners.

Your laptop is a treasure trove of personal and sensitive information—make sure it's as secure as it can be.

The best way to unplug from all your digital kitchen gadgetry is to fire up a pair of propane burners in the middle of nowhere.

A proposed law would require the tech giants to negotiate with publishers. Similar attempts in Europe have largely failed.

Plus: ATM hacks, the Belarus internet shutdown, and more of the week's top security news.

A conversation with director Dean Parisot and writers Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson about how they updated the franchise for its third film.

The Great Flood of 1861–1862 was a preview of what scientists expect to see again, and soon.

Want 'Fall Guys'? It’s free if you have PlayStation Plus! We’ve also rounded up a ton of other sales, including discounts on robot vacuums and earbuds.

If it succeeds, AB979 would require Facebook, Netflix, Nvidia, Salesforce, and others to add directors of color.

Top health officials have issued contradictory statements, and the CDC’s newest guidance limiting testing comes just as the Trump Administration invests in rapid tests.

The adaptation of the 1987 arcade game didn't get the credit it deserved—and would probably fare much better with modern audiences.

After learning its own ethics lessons the hard way, the tech giant will offer services like spotting racial bias or developing guidelines around AI projects.

Plus: An unheeded red flag at Facebook, TikTok security questions, and this week’s once-in-a-century disaster.

We had really started to worry about James Corden, TBH.

A unique direct-sales program extends purchase invites to players based on "previous interests and PlayStation activities."

Optical illusions can be a useful tool for studying how we see stuff, but it’s hard to uncover just how they work. Unless, that is, you show them to flies.

This Intel-powered all-in-one desktop computer is back and retuned for working from home.

Tenants who get dragged to court are often at a disadvantage. But a new system, known as online dispute resolution, gives them a better shot.

Musk tweeted that his “V2” update will blow our minds. But how close is he to putting computer chips in them?

Elon Musk confirmed Thursday night that a ransomware gang had approached a Gigafactory employee with alleged promises of a big payout.

In China, the messaging platform blocked thousands of keywords related to the virus, a new report reveals.

'Halo Infinite,' the latest entry in the blockbuster franchise, has been delayed. But we'll always have 'Marathon.'

There's a lot going on with the USPS right now. Here's a complete state-by-state guide to how to get your ballot—and when it's due.

Formula has come a long way, but it still lacks many nutrients and takes a toll on the environment. A few companies are hoping to provide an alternative.

Research collected during the pandemic backs up the national calls for racial and criminal justice. So why are we still relying on punitive software?

Mozilla has rewritten the app to rely on its own infrastructure rather than Google’s. But will its privacy and UI tweaks convince people to make the switch?

This electric toothbrush nestles into a base station that also cleans and dries the brush head.

Lost funding, lab access, and publishing opportunities mean PhD students and postdocs are uniquely vulnerable. It doesn't bode well for the field's future.

The whole point of a smart speaker is to make your life easier. Here's how to take yours to the next level.

The musician BERA is the son of the country's former prime minister and richest man. When street protests arose in Tbilisi, I went to check on him.

Bathrooms are getting smarter, smelling nicer, making you sweat, cooling you down, and, of course, still graciously accepting your waste.

The deadliest aspect of a hurricane is the storm surge. And Louisiana and Texas are about to get hit with a massive wall of water.

The state’s apocalyptic blazes have burned 2,000 square miles in 10 days. Here’s how they almost claimed a 130-year-old astronomical icon.

Instead of launching into a costly trade war with China, we need to fully embrace the fastest, safest, and most democratic way of advancing technology.

It’s no exaggeration to say that emotional affairs of the male heart can influence technology and geopolitics.

New research from the Japanese Tanpopo mission adds to scientists' understanding of how living organisms can endure the hostile environment.

The DarkSide operators are just the latest group to adopt a veneer of professionalism—while at the same time escalating the consequences of their attacks.

It's already looking shaky and politicized on the subject of convalescent plasma. What will happen with vaccines?

It’s not that Korra is a bad protagonist. It’s that she isn’t Aang—and that’s fine to say.

A report from Hong Kong provides the first credible evidence that it’s possible to catch the virus twice. Some immunologists are breathing a sigh of relief.

Nomad’s Base Station Pro can charge multiple devices at once without needing to place them just so on the mat.

The newest update to this smart bicycle trainer improves—and futureproofs—the indoor riding experience.

The smart toothbrush perfects connected brushing tech—and costs a fraction of the price of its competitors.

Alphabet's DeepMind pioneered reinforcement learning. A California company used it to create an algorithm that defeated an F-16 pilot in a simulation.

Every data visualization is a story, a plot to be unraveled—but some are more approachable than others.

As K-12 students head back to school, epidemiologists are watching for clues about how kids spread the virus, and what can stop it.