TBT: Scientists find fish that absorbs 99.9 percent of the light that hits it

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

View this email in your browser  |  Manage newsletter subscriptions 07.08.21 Last summer, scientists found 16 species of deep-sea fish that camouflage themselves with "ultra-black" skin, the aquatic version of Vantablack, the famous human-made material that absorbs up to 99.956 percent of the light that hits it. Until this discovery, researchers had no idea a fish could even be ultra-black. But the story doesn't end there. From the novel ways the fish utilize their skin to the lack of a common ancestor, the findings proved just how little scientists know about the deep sea. Read about the ultra-black Vantafish, plus more of the best WIRED stories from this month a year ago, below.   Vantablack? Meh. Meet the Ultra-Black Vantafish Scientists have found that some fishes absorb up to 99.956 percent of the light that hits them. The deep-sea menagerie just got a whole lot weirder. The Best Stories From This Month, Last Year The Age of Mass Surveillance Will Not Last Forever The power to end it is in your hands. The Rental Is a Perfect Movie for Sleepy Summer Nights Dave Franco's directorial debut is a lean thriller about a home share from hell. What Disbanding the Police Really Meant in Camden, New Jersey Since the city overhauled its force in 2012, reported crimes fell, but electronic surveillance increased. Some community activists are unhappy. Hackers Broke Into Real News Sites to Plant Fake Stories A disinfo operation broke into the content management systems of Eastern European media outlets in a campaign to spread misinformation about NATO. This Company Wants to Rewrite the Future of Genetic Disease Tessera Therapeutics is developing a new class of gene editors capable of precisely plugging in long stretches of DNA—something that Crispr can't do. Where Are the Adults in the Clubhouse? A public episode exposed that Clubhouse, at least in this nascent state, has given little thought to policing the discussions that occur on its platform. 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.