The largest scientific structure ever powers up in Africa

PLUS: 5,700-year-old chewing gum, how to stay warm, and WhatsApp security issues. View this email in your browser  12.17.19   CHEW ON THIS What a 5,700-Year-Old Piece of Gum Reveals About Its Chewer BY MATT SIMON From a wad of pitch less than an inch long, researchers have painted a detailed portrait of an ancient human—and added another layer to the story of human evolution.   TOP 3 3 Base Layers That Trap Warmth and Don't Chafe BY ADRIENNE SO New kinds of fabric make for long underwear that keep you warmer and more comfortable than ever.   COMPETITION Washington Must Bet Big on AI or Lose Its Global Clout BY WILL KNIGHT A new report says $25 billion—and a more welcoming attitude toward foreign talent—is needed to keep US in the technology race with China.   ONE FOR ALL The Largest Scientific Structure Ever Powers Up in Africa BY LAURA MALLONEE When the Square Kilometre Array is complete, the telescope will scan the universe to probe some of science's deepest mysteries. GET WIRED   Get 1 year of WIRED access for less than $1 a month.   Tech news and analysis you won't find anywhere else.   Subscribe now   LISTEN UP Marvel Conquered Movies. Can It Do the Same With Audiobooks? BY GRAEME MCMILLAN The company is partnering with Serial Box on new stories for the platform.   MAGIC FORMULA The Startup That Aims to Decrypt Blockchain for Business BY GREGORY BARBER The founders of Alchemy are hoping to conjure gold—by building a better backbone for companies that run on blockchain.   OK BOOMER These Are the Gifts Teens Actually Want BY LOURYN STRAMPE Teenagers are scary. These adolescent-approved gifts are sweet.   INFINITE LOOP WhatsApp Fixes Yet Another Group Chat Security Gap BY LILY HAY NEWMAN The flaw would have given attackers an avenue for crashing the app—every time a user opened an infected group thread.   IDEAS The TV Show Survivor Can Help Us Understand Impeachment BY NOAM COHEN It has to do with Kurt Gödel, sort of.     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