When a carnivorous plant obsession becomes a nightmare

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View this email in your browser  |  Manage newsletter subscriptions  10.23.22 When a Houseplant Obsession Becomes a Nightmare 16-MINUTE READ Obsessions start small. Some guy likes the look of a specific kind of plant, say. Over time, he starts collecting them. Eventually, it's all he can think about. That's what this story is about. Clearly, I'm obscuring the details here—but for good reason. As you'll see, this isn't just the story of some random guy. It's the story of the writer, too. Maybe it's even your story. It takes multiple twists and turns. Narratively, yes. But also geographically. You're never quite sure where it's going. But the real star of the show might be the plant itself, the carnivorous Nepenthes. It's stunning. And pretty scary. For a certain kind of houseplant obsessive, it's the ultimate collector's item. When the writer—Brian Howey—pitched me this piece, I immediately thought: It's Little Shop of Horrors by way of The Orchid Thief. I have a feeling you'll like it a lot. You might even think twice the next time you go to your local nursery, eyeing all those plants. They're so pretty. So precious. They also come at a significant price. —Jason Kehe | Senior Editor READ THE FULL STORY You Might Also Like ... War Is an Ecological Disaster—but Ukraine Can Build Back Greener BY MATT SIMON AND GREGORY BARBER | 5-MINUTE READ Russia's invasion is reversing years of environmental progress. But the world can help Ukraine reconstruct its damaged landscape and energy systems. Ebola Is Back—and Vaccines Don't Work Against It BY ESTHER NAKKAZI | 5-MINUTE READ Public health officials are racing to contain an outbreak in Uganda. It's an urgent warning to the rest of the world. Cities Need More Native Bees—Lots and Lots of Adorable Bees BY MATT SIMON | 4-MINUTE READ These pollinators can help urban gardens grow. That will be critical for cooling cities as the planet warms. If You Don't Already Live in a Sponge City, You Will Soon BY MATT SIMON | 5-MINUTE READ Less pavement and more green spaces help absorb water instead of funneling it all away—a win-win for people and urban ecosystems. The Unnatural Future of Physics BY KC COLE | 7-MINUTE READ To get a sense of how physicists might solve the "naturalness problem," I contacted one who calls himself "a deviant by default." GET WIRED Get 1 year of WIRED for less than $1 per month. That includes Steven Levy's exclusive newsletter and a free tote! Subscribe now. Have questions or comments? Reply to this email.   This email was sent to you by WIRED. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our email address, wired@newsletters.wired.com, to your address book.   View our Privacy Policy Unsubscribe or manage your newsletter subscriptions