10 A NASA telescope has plunged to earth after 22 years in space
Its bristles produce charges that kill bacteria. (NBC News)
Quote of the day
“The revolt against data centers was one of the top issues of the 2026 election, and in a few years we will look back on it as just the early tremor of a much bigger AI earthquake upending American politics.”
—Greg Casar, a Democratic congressman from Texas, tells Wired that the backlash against data centers could herald a much bigger political fight over AI.
One more thing
Meet the radio-obsessed civilian shaping Ukraine’s drone defense
Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov is, at least unofficially, a spy. Once a month, he drives to the frontline in a VW van equipped with radio hardware, roof antennas, and devices that monitor drones. Over several days, he searches the skies for transmissions that can help Ukrainian troops.
Drones define this brutal conflict, and most rely on the radio communications Flash has obsessed over since childhood. Though now a civilian, the former officer has taken it upon himself to inform his country’s defense on all matters related to radio.
Unlike traditional spies, Flash shares his discoveries with over 127,000 followers—including soldiers and officials—on social media. His work has won fans in the military, but also sparked controversy among the top brass. Read the full story.
—Charlie Metcalfe