The secret sci-fi origins of Burning Man

PLUS: The Best iPad to Buy (and the Ones to Avoid), and more

View this email in your browser  |  Manage newsletter subscriptions 10.02.21   BUYING GUIDE | 6-MINUTE READ The Best iPad to Buy (and the Ones to Avoid) BY JULIAN CHOKKATTU AND JEFFREY VAN CAMP With several new iPads on the market, choosing the right one is more complicated than ever. We're here to help.   IDEAS | 6-MINUTE READ Why Skincare That Burns Is So Satisfying BY LEIGH COWART A couple times a month, I reach for a face mask that causes me pain—and makes me feel better. The science of masochism helps explain why.   PLAINTEXT | 6-MINUTE READ Amazon's Astro Is a Dog That Will Have Its Day BY STEVEN LEVY We dismiss the company's new robot at our own peril.   SPICE WORLD | 7-MINUTE READ The Secret Sci-Fi Origins of Burning Man BY JASON KEHE Though almost nobody talks about it, the desert confab owes its existence to Mad Max, Lawrence of Arabia, and—crucially, if ironically—Dune. GET WIRED Flash Sale: Get WIRED for just $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.   STAR BRIGHT | 4-MINUTE READ In New Zealand, People (and Moths) Rediscover Dark Skies BY PETRINA DARRAH A massive South Island stargazing reserve is a respite from light pollution for many species, including our own.   IDEAS | 7-MINUTE READ How 'Big Funeral' Made the Afterlife So Expensive BY ELEANOR CUMMINS It's time to reevaluate the cost of death care—and its environmental impact.   THE MONITOR | 3-MINUTE READ The YouTube TV, NBCUniversal Debacle Feels Like a Harbinger BY ANGELA WATERCUTTER Streaming was supposed to help people cut the cord, but it mostly just replaced it.   PODCASTS | 106-MINUTE EPISODE '80s Fantasy Movies Are Awesomely Cheesy GEEK'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY There's a reason people still watch movies like Labyrinth, Time Bandits, and The NeverEnding Story decades later.   JOIN US NOVEMBER 9-10 Register for RE:WIRED Our free, two-day virtual event will bring together some of the most interesting thinkers, technologists, and artists in the world to discuss how tech is shaping our future. REGISTER 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.