The West’s infernos are melting our sense of how fire works

PLUS: The new Pixel 5, Facebook's DM merger, and protecting the photos on your phone. View this email in your browser  |  Manage newsletter subscriptions  09.30.20   COVER STORY The West's Infernos Are Melting Our Sense of How Fire Works BY DANIEL DUANE 42,000-foot plumes of ash. 143-mph firenadoes. 1,500-degree heat. These wildfires are a new kind of hell on earth, and scientists are racing to learn its rules.   SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook Merges DMs for Instagram and Messenger BY ARIELLE PARDES A new update allows for cross-platform messaging for the first time within the Facebook family of apps.   A TURNABOUT The Pixel 5 Is Banking on Its Price and Simplicity BY JULIAN CHOKKATTU Unlike competitors' more experimental phones, Google's new flagship doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles—but it's more affordable than its predecessor.   ELECTION 2020 Trump and the Limits of Content Moderation BY GILAD EDELMAN The president's televised encouragement of white supremacy and political violence was a reminder that social media didn't create these problems.   SPONSORED CONTENT Get a Free Security Camera and 24/7 Protection Most security companies send a technician to your home. SimpliSafe doesn't. Order online. Set it up in 30 minutes. After that, you're protected 24/7.   ELECTION 2020 Politics Is a Metaverse. The Trump-Biden Debate Was Metahell BY ANGELA WATERCUTTER The first 2020 presidential debate was a series of interruptions and half-thoughts—like the internet IRL.   PICTURE PERFECT Your Photos Are Irreplaceable. Get Them Off Your Phone BY WHITSON GORDON When's the last time you backed up your photos? Would you be upset if you lost them? You see where we're going here, right?   POWER PLANTS In an Odd Twist, Cleaner Air in China May Mean a Warmer Earth BY ERIC NIILER Coal plant upgrades led to a dramatic reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions. But those particles also help reflect solar heat away from the planet.   VIDEO GAMES The Best Trick in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2? Double Nostalgia BY JULIE MUNCY The new remaster of the classic games series recalls both the late 1990s—and the carefree days before Covid-19 lockdowns.     This e-mail was sent to you by WIRED. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, wired@newsletters.wired.com, to your address book.   View our Privacy Policy Unsubscribe or Manage your newsletter subscriptions