Scientists are using radioactive snakes to monitor Fukushima's fallout

PLUS: Samsung's Galaxy Watch4 Is Almost an Apple Watch Alternative, and more

View this email in your browser  |  Manage newsletter subscriptions 08.28.21   PRODUCT REVIEW | 6-MINUTE READ Samsung's Galaxy Watch4 Is Almost an Apple Watch Alternative BY JULIAN CHOKKATTU The company's new smartwatches breathe new life into Google's Wear OS 3, and a dose of hope for the future.   PRIVACY | 4-MINUTE READ An Explosion in Geofence Warrants Threatens Privacy Across the US BY SIDNEY FUSSELL New figures from Google show a tenfold increase in the requests from law enforcement, which target anyone who happened to be in a given location at a specified time.   BUYING GUIDE | 8-MINUTE READ The 8 Best Smart Speakers With Alexa or Google Assistant BY PARKER HALL AND JEFFREY VAN CAMP Chatty assistants from Google, Amazon, and Apple are popular. But which one is right for you?   SNAKES ON TERRAIN | 5-MINUTE READ Radioactive Rat Snakes Could Help Monitor Fukushima Fallout BY SUSAN D'AGOSTINO Scientists have attached dosimeters to the reptiles so they can serve as living "bioindicators" to gauge contamination levels near the shuttered nuclear power plant. GET WIRED End of Summer Sale: Get WIRED for $10 $5. Get the print edition and exclusive subscriber-only content. You can't see into the future, but you can subscribe to WIRED. Subscribe now.   PLAINTEXT | 7-MINUTE READ The Architects of the Metaverse Need to Read the Virtual Room BY LAUREN GOODE The possibility that the metaverse could be built without a diverse set of inventors and thought leaders participating in its creation feels dystopian.   LONDON CALLING | 5-MINUTE READ Last Stop Is a Playable Love Letter to London BY LEWIS GORDON The title's three codirectors talk about bringing their TV-show-meets-adventure-game project to life.   LACE UP | 5-MINUTE READ The Joy of Walking in Games BY AMY BRISCOE Walking simulators offer a much-needed escape in trying times. Here's everything you need to know.   PODCASTS | 68-MINUTE EPISODE Making Diablo II Was Pure Hell GEEK'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY David L. Craddock's recent book about the game reveals the massive amount of development that went into it.   SIGN UP Subscriber Exclusive: Steven Levy's Take on Tech, Big and Small A fresh and fearless weekly newsletter that looks at the world of tech, with the benefit of hindsight. From the indispensable chronicler of Silicon Valley, WIRED editor at large Steven Levy. GET THE NEWSLETTER     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.