Scientists Believe They’ve Witnessed ‘Planetary Suicide’ for the First Time

PLUS: States and Startups Are Suing the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and more.

View in browser   |  Your newsletter preferences 04.30.25 SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM: BECOME A WIRED SUPERFAN Scientists Believe They've Witnessed 'Planetary Suicide' for the First Time BY JORGE GARAY New data from the James Webb Space Telescope suggests a planet in a faraway solar system was consumed by a star by hurling itself into it. States and Startups Are Suing the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission BY MOLLY TAFT Critics of the NRC say its red tape and lengthy authorization timelines stifle innovation, but handing some of its responsibilities to states could undermine public trust and the industry's safety record. Trump's Policies Are Creating Uncertainty for Fossil Fuel Companies BY MOLLY TAFT The Trump administration aims to make fossil fuels cheap—so cheap they wouldn't be worth extracting. "'Drill, baby, drill' is nothing short of a myth," one oil executive has said. Grid-Scale Battery Storage Is Quietly Revolutionizing the Energy System BY UMAIR IRFAN This energy storage technology is harnessing the potential of solar and wind power—and its deployment is growing exponentially. A New Quantum Algorithm Speeds Up Solving a Huge Class of Problems BY STEPHEN ORNES It's been difficult to find important questions that quantum computers can answer faster than classical machines, but a new algorithm appears to do so for some critical optimization tasks.   ADVERTISEMENT As Measles Cases Surge, Mexico Issues a US Travel Alert BY JAVIER CARBAJAL  The border state of Chihuahua has recorded 713 confirmed cases, with its outbreak linked to the ongoing cluster of cases north of the border in Texas. Scientists Find Measles Likely To Become Endemic in the US Over Next 20 Years BY EMILY MULLIN  A new study forecasts more than 850,000 measles cases over the next 25 years if US vaccination rates stay the same. Millions of infections are possible if rates drop. The Agonizing Task of Turning Europe's Power Back On BY NATASHA BERNAL  A massive blackout affecting Spain, Portugal, and parts of France has been blamed on atmospheric conditions. Now engineers face the arduous task of getting the power back on. Europe's Devastating Power Outage in Photos BY ELENA CAPILUPI  A massive blackout hit Spain, Portugal, and southern France on Monday, causing disruptions to transportation, communications, and essential services.   NASA's Perseverance Rover Finds Strange Rocks on Mars BY SHIGEYUKI HANDO  A rock containing many smaller round stones could indicate that there was once a large amount of liquid water on the Red Planet.   Slate's $25K Electric Pickup Is Here BY JOHN VOELCKER  The modestly priced EV pickup goes 150 miles on a charge and is infinitely customizable. Deliveries start next year.   It's been a busy few weeks at WIRED, and we're just getting started. Many of you have asked how you can support our journalism in a bigger way, so we've introduced a new option for WIRED Superfans: $100 a year, because you really love us. ADVERTISEMENT Thanks for reading. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here. Plus, browse more newsletters from WIRED. You're receiving this email because you signed up for the Science newsletter from WIRED.   Manage your preferences  |   View our Privacy Policy  |  Unsubscribe   Have questions or comments? Send us a message. Need help? Contact us.   Copyright © Condé Nast {date("yyyy")}. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.