TBT: The world might actually run out of people

PLUS: The best WIRED stories from this month a year ago. View this email in your browser  02.20.20 Earth's population has boomed in all of our lifetimes and, according to the United Nations, that's not going to stop anytime soon. But what if they're wrong? And not just by a little, but ... completely? What if someone else read those same numbers and came up with something completely different? Read all about why a journalist and scientist duo believes the world will run out of people, plus the best WIRED stories from this month a year ago below.   The World Might Actually Run Out of People The United Nations predicts that the global population will soon explode. In Empty Planet, John Ibbitson and Darrell Bricker argue they're dead wrong. The Best Stories From This Month, Last Year The Great White Shark Genome Is Here—Superpowers and All Sharks are renowned for their wound healing, lifespans of 70-odd years, and low rates of cancer. Their genes could reveal their superpowers. Since China's Ban, Recycling in the US Has Gone Up in Flames All that neatly sorted plastic, paper, and glass used to go to China. Now a lot of it is just getting burned instead. What Happens When Techno-Utopians Actually Run a Country Direct democracy! Universal basic income! ... Fascism? The inside story of Italy's Five Star Movement and the cyberguru who dreamed it up. Elon Musk Promises a Really Truly Self-Driving Tesla in 2020 The CEO says his Autopilot system will be "feature-complete" and ready to ferry snoozing passengers by the end of 2020. 4 Ways to Make Your Home More Energy-Efficient (And Smart) Smart thermostats, light bulbs, and leak sensors are just a few of the many ways to cut down your energy bill. This Jagged Little Pill Could Make Diabetes Easier to Treat A tortoise-inspired, needle-carrying pill promises to let people swallow drugs that currently have to be injected. 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     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