All the stuff humans make now outweighs Earth's organisms

PLUS: The electric Mustang, a steampunk rover concept, and the Zodiac Killer's cracked cipher. View this email in your browser  |  Manage newsletter subscriptions 12.15.20   GIDDYAP The Mustang Mach-E Delivers a Jolt—If You Can Find a Charge BY ERIC ADAMS The electric version of Ford's legendary sports car is a lot of fun to drive. But road trips can be derailed by an underpowered charging network.   CRYPTOGRAPHY The Zodiac Killer's Cipher Is Finally Cracked After 51 Years BY DAN GOODIN, ARS TECHNICA Amateur and professional cryptographers, including those at the FBI, had been trying to decode the infamous serial killer's message to the media for decades.   GIFT GUIDE 22 Gift Ideas for People Working From Home BY LOURYN STRAMPE Upgrade your loved one's home office with these picks that make every day a little easier—and a little more fun.   THAT'S HEAVY All the Stuff Humans Make Now Outweighs Earth's Organisms BY MATT SIMON Anthropogenic mass—concrete, metal, and other human creations—has grown to be heavier than plants, animals, and microbes combined. Planet Earth is not happy. GET WIRED Cyber Week Sale extended. Now with free stickers! Last chance to get one year of WIRED access for $10 $5. Tech news and analysis you won't find anywhere else. Subscribe now.   ANALOG AUTOMATON The Steampunk Rover Concept That Could Help Explore Venus BY ADAM MANN 50 years after the first spacecraft touched down on our super hot neighbor (and promptly died), NASA has a plan for a tougher mechanical lander.   PRODUCT REVIEW The New Surface Pro X Has Improved—a Bit BY CHRISTOPHER NULL Microsoft has updated its ARM-powered portable, giving it a faster chip and a new keyboard. It still struggles to compete.   IDEAS The Race to Get a PlayStation 5 Is the Year's Best Game BY C. BRANDON OGBUNU This is what a holiday-shopping craze looks like when everyone's in lockdown.   THE UPTURN The 'Healthy Building' Surge Will Outlast the Pandemic BY SONNER KEHRT Because of Covid-19, developers are realizing that incorporating health concerns in a building's design isn't just a luxury—it's a necessity.   AUTONOMY Why Do Many Self-Driving Cars Look Like Toasters on Wheels? BY AARIAN MARSHALL Without any need for steering wheels or pedals, the cubes give passengers room to maneuver inside. The latest entrant, from Zoox, can hold 4.     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