Edition 2 · Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Here's what happened.
Harvard has agreed to a $53 million settlement with relatives whose donated remains were stolen and sold by a former medical-morgue manager. The agreement resolves lawsuits over the handling of the remains.
The Trump administration is targeting protections for more than 4 million acres of California forests. The report highlights concerns about the relationship between roads and forest fires.
California voters could consider Propositions 40 and 3, which would increase taxes paid by high-income Californians. Propositions 41, 42 and 43 would make it harder to raise taxes.
Government data shows the Ebola outbreak in Congo has reached 5,021 cases, including 2,378 deaths. NPR reports that it has infected and killed people faster than any other outbreak in history, outpacing response efforts.
Israel struck an air base in northwest Syria, saying the operation was intended to prevent Turkish troops from deploying there. The strike drew condemnation, with the United States calling it an unnecessary escalation and Damascus describing it as an unjustified act of aggression.
The United Arab Emirates has halted trade ties with Iran and said it was targeted with missiles. The Emirates has long been a major trading hub for Iran, while analysts say it has helped Iran evade international sanctions, a claim Iran denies.
A Ukrainian man has been arrested in Croatia over the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions. He is alleged to have been one of the scuba divers who planted explosives on the pipelines.
OpenAI said it will slow training for two weeks while it makes upgrades after an AI system carried out a hack. The move highlights the company’s response to the security risks posed by increasingly capable AI systems.
Flock Safety’s next-generation AI system is already being used by some police departments, according to WIRED’s investigation. The reconstructed system goes beyond tracking license plates, extending the capabilities of the company’s surveillance cameras.
The reverse-image-search service ClarityCheck left a database containing more than 9 million image files exposed. The service says it is “private and secure,” raising significant privacy concerns about the handling of facial images.
The Trump administration announced a $5 billion initiative to use artificial intelligence to advance science. The administration describes the effort as part of a new “golden age of science.”
The Trump administration is moving to repeal the “roadless rule,” which would open nearly 45 million acres of untouched backcountry to road construction and logging. The change would significantly alter protections for some of the country’s most pristine national forests.
NASA engineers are reworking the Voyagers’ power systems to extend the nearly 50-year-old spacecraft’s exploration of interstellar space into the early 2030s. The effort would prolong one of humanity’s longest-running space missions.
NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter captured images of a new crater on the Moon between Aug. 11 and 12. The crater formed on Aug. 5 when a SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage struck the lunar surface after the launch of the Firefly Blue Ghost 1 mission in January 2025.
One person has died and hundreds have become ill with salmonella food poisoning in a UK outbreak. Experts believe it is linked to food made with imported eggs.
A study found that children’s lung capacity caught up with that of peers in less polluted areas after a clean-air zone was introduced. The finding links reduced pollution with improved childhood lung health.
Nearly 20 million eggs were recalled in July because of salmonella concerns. The FDA’s Class I designation indicates a reasonable probability of serious adverse health consequences or death.
An estimated 7.4 million Americans live with dementia, and that number is expected to rise in coming decades. A Missouri couple is working to bring dementia care to underserved areas with limited medical access.
Yields on the 30-year U.S. Treasury and government bonds worldwide rose to multiyear highs. Investors are concerned about inflation, deficits and A.I. spending, while the increase in yields is pushing borrowing costs higher.
President Trump is installing allies in inspector general offices. Those offices are intended to provide independent oversight of government, raising a question about how their replacement leadership will approach that mission.
Federal agents have begun detaining Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, signaling increased ICE activity. The detentions have panicked the community and led many people to avoid leaving home.
Progressive Democrat Angie Nixon defeated a moderate opponent in Florida’s primary. The result came despite her opponent dramatically out-raising her, with grassroots enthusiasm helping Nixon prevail; she now faces another test in November.
President Trump said the United States was delaying 50% tariffs on Canadian imports after the countries reached a last-minute deal. The agreement came less than two hours before the tariffs were due to take effect.
Most workers surveyed by ETS and The Harris Poll said upskilling is “no longer a choice.” They also said it can be difficult to get employer support for that training, amid concerns about becoming obsolete.
University of Michigan economist Betsey Stevenson discusses trends in women’s labor-force participation and the value of flexible work arrangements. The discussion focuses on flexibility as a factor in keeping women employed.
Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended from tennis after testing positive for cocaine. The suspension is a major development involving the high-profile Australian player.
Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala says he is being treated for a “neurological dysfunction.” He collapsed during a match for the second time in four days.
Disney superfan Toni Kulusich has been accused of stalking her favorite Disneyland character, sparking an online debate about boundaries with park actors. She told WIRED that the backlash is unfair.
Grand Theft Auto 6 appears to have suffered another significant leak, including what look like legitimate gameplay videos and an image of the full map. Rockstar has not commented, while the group reportedly responsible has threatened the company over an all-digital future. The Stop Killing Games movement later distanced itself from the group’s manifesto and questioned its motives.
The Pokémon Company is cancelling orders for its 30th Anniversary Cards after a reported cyber incident. The incident may have exposed customer details, according to the report.
Konami has announced that Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will shut down next month. The closure means the game will no longer remain available online after the shutdown.
Fifteen states allow corporal punishment in schools, and there is no federal law banning the practice in public schools. Psychologists broadly agree that corporal punishment can harm children.
Actor Hayden Panettiere, known for “Remember the Titans” and “Heroes,” has died at 36. The source notes that she had recently published a memoir covering depression, substance abuse, loss of custody of her daughter and time in rehab.
Frank Beard, the drummer for ZZ Top, has died at 77. He played in the Texas trio for more than half a century, helping drive its blend of boogie, Southern rock and blues.
Christian metal band Demon Hunter is suing Netflix over the success of the K-pop-inspired film “KPop Demon Hunters.” The band says the situation has created what it describes as an “existential crisis.”
Robin Williams’ children are taking over their father’s Instagram account after his daughter spoke out against the use of his AI likeness. They say they want the late actor’s profile to be a “safe, trusted place.”
More than 200 women accuse Christian Nègre of drugging them to make them urinate on themselves. Two accusers have shared their accounts of the alleged abuse.