A brief history of the census—and how Covid-19 could change it

PLUS: T-Mobile swallows Sprint, quarantine comics to catch up on, and Covid's impact on animals. View this email in your browser  |  Manage newsletter subscriptions 04.02.20   TELECOM T-Mobile Swallows Sprint, Leaving 3 US Cellphone Giants BY KLINT FINLEY Consumer advocates fear  the deal will reduce competition and lead to higher prices. But regulators and a federal judge let it proceed.   PLOT TWIST China Flexes Its Soft Power With 'Covid Diplomacy' BY WILL KNIGHT Initially criticized for covering up and failing to control the virus, China is rebranding its response as a symbol of leadership and strength.   COMICS 5 Comics to Catch Up on While Self-Quarantined BY GRAEME MCMILLAN Are you being a good citizen and staying at home? Good. Here are some comics to pass the time.   BACKCHANNEL A  Brief History of the Census—and How Covid-19 Could Change It BY ANDREW WHITBY Census-taking used to spur innovation. Now, the pace of technology, and the challenge of going door-to-door, could force it to adopt existing systems instead. GET WIRED   Get unlimited access to our coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.   Subscribe to support our journalism.   Exclusive offer: 1 year for $10.   SHELTER IN PLACE For Homeless People, Covid-19 Is Horror on Top of Horror BY EMMA GREY ELLIS As the coronavirus spreads, unhoused people are among the most vulnerable to infection.   THE CLIMATE ISSUE Why Old-Growth Trees Are Crucial to Fighting Climate Change BY BROOKE JARVIS Nature is already socking away a lot of carbon for us. It could soak up a lot more—if we help.   CONSERVATION The Coronavirus Lockdown Is a Threat for Many Animals, Not a Blessing BY MATT SIMON You may have seen recent videos of goats roaming an empty town. But for more vulnerable species, like rhinos, this shutdown poses a great danger.   PUBLIC HEALTH How a Crispr Lab Became a Pop-Up Covid Testing Center BY MEGAN MOLTENI As the government fumbled Covid-19 testing, researchers at UC Berkeley's Innovative Genomics Institute stepped up—with their own time and funding.   BRAVE NEW WORLD HTC's Elite VR Headset Is a Step in the Wrong Direction BY JESS GREY I had hoped the high-end headset would provide an escape from the real world. It didn't.     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