Lidar is finally becoming a real business

PLUS: A vintage electric roadster, the insecurity of kids' smartwatches, and when wildfire smoke meets light. View this email in your browser  |  Manage newsletter subscriptions 09.12.20   HUE ARE MY SUNSHINE Those Orange Bay Area Skies and the Science of Light BY ADAM ROGERS Wildfire smoke turned California and Oregon skies orange. Inside that smoke was alchemy—the chemistry and physics of molecules and wavelengths.   PUBLIC HEALTH How Does a Sturgis-Sized Crowd Affect Covid? It's Complicated BY MEGAN MOLTENI That paper on the South Dakota motorcycle rally had flaws, but it's not useless. And it shows the US needs better data collection.   CARS Lidar Is Finally Becoming a Real Business BY TIMOTHY B. LEE, ARS TECHNICA The success of lidar companies was unclear until this summer, when three leading makers offered glimpses of their finances.   PUBLIC HEALTH Blood Centers Are Barely Meeting Convalescent Plasma Demand BY SARA HARRISON Despite a lack of scientific studies on its efficacy for Covid-19, interest in the treatment has surged alongside case numbers.   CONVERSATIONS How to Watch WIRED25, Our Free Live Event Series BY WIRED STAFF Tune in starting Wednesday, September 16, for conversations with Reed Hastings, Brie Larson, and more.   PODCASTS It's Not Easy Being a BookTuber BY GEEK'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY Daniel Greene, who makes a living through his YouTube channel, recently started a podcast. It's a respite from the video sites analytics.   BAD TIMES Kids' Smartwatches Are a Security Nightmare Despite Years of Warnings BY ANDY GREENBERG Five out of six brands tested by researchers would have allowed hackers to track kids—and in some cases eavesdrop on them.   OPINION Stop Yelling About a Rushed Vaccine, and Start Planning for It BY WALID GELLAD Public health experts should spend less time criticizing emergency authorization and more time discussing how to ensure the process works.   PRODUCT REVIEW This Café-Racer-Inspired Ebike Is an Indulgent Smile Machine BY PARKER HALL Vintage Electric's Roadster is an incredible ride, but it's more than a touch expensive for these trying times.     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