TBT: 5G was going to unite the world—instead it’s tearing us apart

PLUS: The best WIRED stories from this month a year ago.

View this email in your browser  |  Manage newsletter subscriptions 07.15.21 The world came together to build 5G. Now the next-generation wireless technology is pulling the world apart—with the US and China anchoring the tug-of-war. 5G will deliver connections roughly 50 times faster than home broadband, but its rollout has escalated global tensions and forced countries to align with either a Western or a Chinese version of the tech. Will the discord jeopardize our superfast future? Read about the battle over 5G, plus more of the best WIRED stories from this month a year ago, below.   5G Was Going to Unite the World—Instead It's Tearing Us Apart Divisions over technical standards and the role of China's Huawei are jeopardizing the rollout of superfast connections. The Best Stories From This Month, Last Year Will the Hydrogen Revolution Start in a Garbage Dump? American companies are racing to commercialize technologies that can turn almost any kind of waste into clean hydrogen fuel. How Afrofuturism Can Help the World Mend In a year that's broken the world and shattered reality, imagining Black futures can help plot a pathway to recovery. A Study Finds Sex Differences in the Brain. Does It Matter? The NIH research connecting anatomy and sex chromosomes could shed light on mental disorders. But the topic is sensitive, and such findings are easy to misuse. The Many Faces of Bad Science In his new book, psychologist Stuart Ritchie paints a portrait of the modern system of research, and all the ways it gets undermined. How to Back Up Your Digital Life Backups are boring, but they'll save your digital bacon. Here's how to make sure your data lives on even when your PC doesn't. Defending Black Lives Means Banning Facial Recognition What's happening in Detroit should be a wakeup call for the nation. We can't stop police violence without ending police surveillance. GET WIRED Stare the future right in the eye. Get 1 year of unlimited access to WIRED for less than $1 per month. That includes Steven Levy's exclusive newsletter and a free tote! 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   Copyright © Condé Nast 2021. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.