NASA’s Photo Library Is Open (and Free)
Ever wonder where NASA stashes its best space photos? Turns out they don’t. They leave them out for anyone to take. And use. And share.
Decades of images. Stars. Planets. Moons. Galaxies. Most are free to use, meaning no copyright red tape if you want to slather that image onto a blog post or a poster. It is a goldmine, really.
iPhone As A Dumb Phone For Kids
Apple has this hidden feature. Built for people with cognitive disabilities. I found it by accident. It works perfectly for turning an iPhone into a basic kid-phone.
Apple doesn’t talk about it. No marketing campaign. No press release. But if you have a child who keeps losing their tablet in the pool or downloading Minecraft skins, this buried setting might just save your sanity. It strips the phone down to the basics. Call. Text. Map. Done.
Email Hiding Fails
Apple’s Hide My Email service sounds like privacy nirvana. It isn’t. A new report suggests it fails to actually hide your address in several scenarios. Oops.
“The promise of anonymity often clashes with the reality of data sharing.”
Also in tech news: an alleged Scattered Spider member was extradited. That’s good news for cybersecurity. Less good? Dozens of license plate readers are making errors, potentially framing innocent drivers for toll evasion. And in India, officials are wary about WhatsApp rolling out usernames, worried about what it means for tracking bad actors.
The Price Of Snacks Is Your Blood Pressure
Food preservatives. You eat them daily. Chips. Deli meat. Canned soups.
A large-scale study dropped some bad news: these common preservatives may raise the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Processed food is cheap. But your health might pay the toll later. The chemicals used to keep snacks fresh are exacerbating common health risks. It adds another layer to the “junk food makes you sick” argument.
Mattresses On Sale (Because It’s July)
The Fourth of July means discounts. If you sleep on a WIRED-tested bed, you are likely happy. We have tested these. We have slept on them.
Cooling hybrids. Organic latex beds. The prices have dropped for the holiday. Not everything is on sale, just the ones reviewers actually recommend. Check the deals. Sleep better.
Mexico Has Fossil Axolotls
Axolotls. You know the cute ones in science classes. They can regrow limbs.
Scientists in Mexico identified a new fossil species. Ambystoma quetzalcoatly. The first formal fossil salamander found there. It proves axolotls have been living in Mexico for millions of years, way longer than most people realize. The fossil record gets another cool piece filled in.
Nuclear Startups Are Celebrating (Too Soon?)
Three nuclear startups hit a major milestone this July. They have plans. Reactors coming online. Excitement.
Why it matters: clean energy potential is high.
Why it doesn’t: they are nowhere near delivering energy at a scale that actually changes the grid. The hype is outpacing the output.
“Building a prototype is not the same thing as building a power plant.”
There is still a very long road to travel. Do not bet your house on small modular reactors powering your neighborhood next year.
Googlers Want A Union (But It’s Rough)
Union talks at Google DeepMind started. And immediately went rocky. Employees are frustrated. They say executives won’t engage meaningfully. It feels performative, maybe?
Negotiations are happening, sure. But trust is low. It highlights a bigger cultural clash at Big Tech right now.
Everything Is Getting Expensive Again
Remember when tech got affordable? Yeah. Me neither.
AI-driven chip shortages are driving up prices. Phones. Computers. Game consoles. Prices are sky-high. And they keep climbing. If you were waiting to upgrade your laptop, you might be waiting for a long time. Or paying a lot.
ZYN Pouches: Less Harmful, Not Safe
The FDA made a ruling. ZYN nicotine pouches are safer than cigarettes. So you can market them to smokers. “Try this instead!”
But “less harmful” isn’t the same as safe. The best advice? Quit all tobacco. And nicotine. Entirely. Pouches keep the addiction loop open.
Carry A Quilt, Not A Sleeping Bag
Backpacking is heavy. Sleeping bags are heavy. Quilts are not.
Ultralight backpackers are ditching bags for quilts. It saves ounces. For those counting every gram to reach the trailhead without feeling crushed by gear, switching to a quilt makes sense. Pack lighter this summer. Leave the weight in the car.
Wait… Why Was All This Here?
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