The top 10 science stories of 2023

Invasive pythons, microwaving plastic, & living past 100.

View this email in your browser  |  Manage newsletter preferences 12.27.23 Today we're bringing you WIRED's 10 most popular science stories of 2023. We hope you enjoy them, and we look forward to bringing you more great science coverage in 2024.    Read our latest stories about health care, the climate crisis, genetic engineering, robotics, space, and more at WIRED Science. Florida's War With Invasive Pythons Has a New Twist SLITHER OF HOPE | 7-MINUTE READ  It may not be possible to eradicate the state's tens of thousands of Burmese pythons. But the local wildlife is biting back—and humans wielding new tech can help. By Max G. Levy The Upper Atmosphere Is Cooling, Prompting New Climate Concerns WILD BLUE YONDER | 7-MINUTE READ  Scientists are worried about the effect this change could have on orbiting satellites, the ozone layer, and Earth's weather. By Fred Pearce The Last 96 Hours of the Titan Tragedy SYSTEM FAILURE | 12-MINUTE READ  OceanGate's lost sub sparked a frantic rescue effort—and resurfaced safety questions that had been raised years earlier. By Alex Christian Stop Planting Trees, Says Guy Who Inspired World to Plant a Trillion Trees SEEDS OF DOUBT | 6-MINUTE READ  Ecologist Thomas Crowther's research inspired countless tree-planting campaigns, greenwashing, and attacks from scientists. Now he's back with a new plan for nature restoration. By Alec Luhn Fat, Sugar, Salt ... You've Been Thinking About Food All Wrong JUNK SCIENCE | 8-MINUTE READ  Scientists are asking tough questions about the health effects of ultra-processed diets. The answers are complicated—and surprising. By Matt Reynolds For the Love of God, Stop Microwaving Plastic DON'T HEAT AND EAT | 5-MINUTE READ  A study of baby-food containers shows that microwaving plastic releases millions upon millions of polymer bits. By Celia Ford ADVERTISEMENT What Ever Happened to the Tiny House Movement? DREAM SMALL | 9-MINUTE READ  Tiny houses started as a minimalist revolution. They ended up as an Instagram aesthetic. By Eve Andrews 'Now I Am Become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds.' The Story of Oppenheimer's Infamous Quote THE BOMB | 3-MINUTE READ  The Robert Oppenheimer quote, from the Hindu sacred text the Bhagavad Gita, has come to define the father of the atomic bomb, but its meaning is more complex than many realize. By James Temperton Here's the Truth Behind the Biggest (and Dumbest) Battery Myths POWER HUNGRY | 7-MINUTE READ  Yes, charging your phone overnight is bad for its battery. And no, you don't need to turn off your device to give the battery a break. Here's why. By Grace Browne and Matt Reynolds The Quest for Longevity Is Already Over NO LIMITS | 7-MINUTE READ  Studying people who live well beyond the age of 100 could reveal the secret to living longer, healthier lives. But the statistics tell another story. By Matt Reynolds GET WIRED LIMITED TIME ONLY. Subscribe to WIRED for only $29.99 $5. That includes subscriber-only content like Steven Levy's Plaintext column, plus FREE WIRED stickers as a special bonus! 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 2023. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.