TKTKPLUS: Trump wants Venezuela’s oil. Getting it might not be so simple. View in browser | Your newsletter preferences01.05.26 What Is the ‘Super Flu’ That Is Spreading in Europe and the United States? BY RITSUKO KAWAI | 3-MINUTE READThe “super flu” behind outbreaks in the US and UK is a new variant of influenza A H3N2, subclade K. Existing vaccines appear to be insufficiently effective against the virus. Trump Wants Venezuela’s Oil. Getting It Might Not Be So Simple BY MOLLY TAFT | 5-MINUTE READThe administration has made it clear that Nicolás Maduro's capture was tied to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. Much less certain is how US companies will actually access them—or if they even want to. A New Bridge Links the Strange Math of Infinity to Computer Science BY JOSEPH HOWLETT | 10-MINUTE READDescriptive set theorists study the niche mathematics of infinity. Now, they’ve shown that their problems can be rewritten in the concrete language of algorithms. The Earth Is Nearing an Environmental Tipping Point BY JOHAN ROCKSTRÖM | 3-MINUTE READToday’s global coral bleaching events are the worst kind of climate warning. Here’s How Long You Should Walk Every Day to Prevent Back Pain BY RITSUKO KAWAI | 3-MINUTE READBack pain is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. Recent research reveals how much time you should spend walking on a daily basis to prevent it. ADVERTISEMENT Flu Is Relentless. Crispr Might Be Able to Shut It Down BY DAVID COX | 5-MINUTE READInnovative research into the gene-editing tool targets influenza’s ability to replicate—stopping it in its tracks. The Great Big Power Play BY MOLLY TAFT | 4-MINUTE READUS support for nuclear energy is soaring. Meanwhile, coal plants are on their way out and electricity-sucking data centers are meeting huge pushback. Welcome to the next front in the energy battle. People Who Drink Bottled Water on a Daily Basis Ingest 90,000 More Microplastic Particles Each Year BY RITSUKO KAWAI | 2-MINUTE READDrinking water in plastic bottles contains countless particles too small to see. New research finds that people who drink water from them on a daily basis ingest far more microplastics than those who don’t. Poor Sleep Quality Accelerates Brain Aging BY RITSUKO KAWAI | 2-MINUTE READResearch shows that people who sleep poorly tend to have brain age that is older than their actual age. Chronic inflammation in the body caused by poor sleep likely plays a part. Disinformation Floods Social Media After Nicolás Maduro’s Capture BY DAVID GILBERT | 2-MINUTE READFrom seemingly AI-generated videos to repurposed old footage, TikTok, Instagram, and X did little to stop the onslaught of misleading posts in the wake of the US invasion of Venezuela. ADVERTISEMENT You’re up to date! Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here. Plus, browse more newsletters from WIRED. You’re receiving this email because you signed up for the Science newsletter from WIRED. Manage your preferences | View our Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe Have questions or comments? Send us a message. Need help? Contact us. Copyright © Condé Nast {date(“yyyy”)}. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.
