Why Do Cats Knead Blankets?
It is one of the small mysteries of living with a cat: the blanket comes out, the paws begin their slow alternating push, and...
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What Was the First Item Bought Online? The Strange Story of a Sting CD
On August 11, 1994, a man in Philadelphia sat down at a computer and bought a CD. The album was Sting’s Ten Summoner’s Tales,...
Can a Virus Break Hardware? When Malware Causes Physical Damage
Computer viruses have a reputation for destruction. They can erase files, encrypt disks, steal passwords and make a computer unusable. But can malicious software cross th...
How Heavy Is the Cloud? The Massive Physical World Behind Our Digital Lives
“The cloud” may be the most successful disappearing act in modern technology. Upload a photograph and it seems to float away. Stream a film and it arrives from nowhere. A...
Why Is Bluetooth Named Bluetooth? The Viking King Behind the Technology
Bluetooth is such an ordinary part of modern life that its name barely sounds strange anymore. We tap an icon and headphones connect to a phone, a keyboard finds a comput...
Can Phones Read Your Mind? Why Targeted Ads Feel Uncomfortably Accurate
You mention hiking boots over dinner. The next morning, an advertisement for hiking boots appears on your phone. You never remember searching for them. The coincidence fe...