Wired News Digest
Wednesday, 4 February 2026
Measles Is Causing Brain Swelling in Children in South Carolina
In the ongoing measles outbreak in South Carolina that has infected more than 800 people, some children have developed a rare but serious complication called encephalitis.
Notepad++ Users, You May Have Been Hacked by China
Suspected Chinese state-backed hackers hijacked the Notepad++ update infrastructure to deliver a backdoored version of the popular free source code editor and note-taking app for Windows.
A New AI Math Startup Just Cracked 4 Previously Unsolved Problems
Axiom says its AI found solutions to several long-standing math problems, a sign of the technology’s steadily advancing reasoning capabilities.
Our Favorite Pixel Phone Is $100 Off
While the Pixel 9a isn’t the fanciest offering, it is the best value, and it gets even better with a discount.
Cozey Neptune Sofa Bed Review: Firm but Flexible
This modular sleeper sofa allows buyers to design any seating configuration they want, if they don’t mind a solid surface.
Inside the ICE Forum Where Agents Complain About Their Jobs
“I’m all for removing illegals, but snatching dudes off lawn mowers in Cali and leaving the truck and equipment just sitting there? Definitely not working smarter,” writes one forum user.
Mistral’s New Ultra-Fast Translation Model Gives Big AI Labs a Run for Their Money
“Too many GPUs makes you lazy,” says the French startup’s vice president of science operations, as the company carves out a different path than the major US AI companies.
Best Laptop Backpacks We’ve Tried and Tested (2026)
Whether you’re biking to the office or schlepping a camera to a shoot, a laptop bag is your constant companion. These WIRED-reviewed packs do the job.
What Is RGB LED TV? Everything You Need to Know About This Next-Gen TV Tech In 2026
With incredible colors, brightness, and contrast, RGB backlighting is the technology that will drive the next 10 years of innovation in televisions and displays.
The Best Cordless Vacuums for Your Whole House (2026)
Clean your house without the constraint of a power cord with these cordless stick vacuums.
9 Best Outdoor Security Cameras (2026): Battery-Powered, LTE, No Subscription
These weatherproof outdoor security cams keep a watchful eye on your property while you get on with life. Our list includes battery-powered and LTE cameras that need no subscription.
Forget Hinge or Bumble. This App Promises a Personal AI Matchmaker
Instead of using AI as a coach, our AI chatbots just began talking to each other, as we became human facilitators for an AI love story. Now that’s what I call dystopian.
The 2026 Winter Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies: What You Need to Know
From Heated Rivalry stars to the event’s iconic venues, here’s what you should be looking out for at the Winter Olympics 2026 opening and closing ceremonies.
Alpine Skier Ryan Cochran-Siegle’s Starter Pack: Winter Olympics 2026
From maple syrup packets to a latex pillow, these are his personal essentials that bring a taste of Vermont to Milan.
Winter Olympics 2026: Why I Love Watching Curling
Within the sports culture of more, bigger, and faster, the epically slow winter sport of curling is an entrancing watch.
Outdoor Vitals Vantage Alpine Puffer Jacket Review: Perfect Spring Puffer
Outdoor Vitals’ Vantage Alpine puffer jacket uses gold-embedded down to break up water molecules to keep you warm and dry.
Why Are Some Women Training for Pregnancy Like It’s a Marathon?
A growing legion of “zero trimester” influencers are convincing followers that healthy pregnancies are a choice—and that raw milk, watching sunsets, and pricey specialized courses can help.
AI Bots Are Now a Signifigant Source of Web Traffic
New data shows AI bots pushing deeper into the web, prompting publishers to roll out more aggressive defenses.
HHS Is Making an AI Tool to Create Hypotheses About Vaccine Injury Claims
Experts worry Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Health Department will use an internal AI tool to analyze vaccine injury claims in a way that furthers his anti-vaccine agenda.
An ‘Intimacy Crisis’ Is Driving the Dating Divide
In his book The Intimate Animal, sex and relationships researcher Justin Garcia says people have miscalculated their need for human intimacy, which is the real issue at the root of the loneliness epidemic.