Big tech wants to get you back in the office

PLUS: Trees' unexpected talents, making interstellar travel possible, and a security flaw in Wordpress sites. View this email in your browser  |  Manage newsletter subscriptions 09.03.20   BACKCHANNEL Gravity, Gizmos, and a Grand Theory of Interstellar Travel BY DANIEL OBERHAUS For decades, Jim Woodward dreamed of a propellantless engine to take humans to the stars. Now he thinks he's got it. But is it revolutionary—or illusory?   FORENSICS Could a Tree Help Find a Decaying Corpse Nearby? BY MATT SIMON On a "body farm," researchers are exploring whether the nutrients from human cadavers can change the look of plants, which authorities might use to locate missing persons.   DO AS I SAY Big Tech Companies Want to Help Get You Back in the Office BY TOM SIMONITE Alphabet, Microsoft, and Salesforce are offering services to track employees, arrange tests, and record results—all while most of their staffers are remote.   THE DIGITAL DIVIDE Access to Telemedicine Is Hardest for Those Who Need It Most BY JOANNA PEARLSTEIN Older patients and other vulnerable populations tend to need more medical care, but it's often difficult for them to get online for remote visits.   DEALS 16 Labor Day Camping Deals to Help You Escape to the Woods BY ADRIENNE SO It's a great time to buy gear for your socially-distant adventures. Here's everything you need to go from 0 to outdoors pro.   HACKS A Critical Flaw Is Affecting Thousands of WordPress Sites BY DAN GOODIN, ARS TECHNICA Hackers have been exploiting the vulnerability, which is now patched: Users should update to File Manager version 6.9 ASAP.   TV The Transgressive, Progressive Utopia of Summer Television BY JASON PARHAM Genre-bending series like I May Destroy You and Lovecraft Country may be rooted in pain, but they're also thrillingly hopeful.   WFH Startup Perks Go Remote—and Take a More Inclusive Approach BY ARIELLE PARDES Tech companies are swapping on-campus gourmet chefs for free snack deliveries, but they're also stepping up childcare support and mental health services.   MOBILE BARISTA Road Tripping This Weekend? Get a Good Coffee Maker BY SCOTT GILBERTSON Check out our favorite coffee makers, from Aeropress, to French press, to faux espresso. It is possible to make a great cup of Joe anywhere.     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