That flag-burning NFL photo isn’t fake news. It’s a meme

PLUS: Why Google's Waymo may not need a smoking gun to win its self-driving case, and the disturbing rise of cyberattacks against abortion clinics. [View this email in your browser](#SPCLICKTOVIEW) [logo]( [[WIRED Magazine]10.5.17]( Greetings from WIRED! Did you see that photo of Seattle Seahawks player Michael Bennett burning the American flag in a locker room? Being a discerning citizen of the internet, you could probably spot the (bad) photoshop. But WIRED's Laura Mallonee [found]( the people sharing the image don't care about its accuracy. That's because the photo has morphed from hoax to meme—and when it comes to memes, fact matters far less than feelings, and shareability. What else is flooding our screens today? The fallout of Google big Pixel event. We’ve broken down not only Google’s [unified approach to hardware]( but also its [voice assistant strategy](. (Speaking of, WIRED’s Tom Simonite digs into why Apple’s Siri is [falling behind]( competitors.) We’ve also taken deep dives into some things less shared: the worrisome [rise of cyberattacks]( against abortion clinics, and the mysterious "sonic attacks" on [US diplomats in Cuba]( which may have another cause altogether; WIRED has a bold new theory. Keep reading below for WIRED's inside look at all that and more. Photography That Flag-Burning NFL Photo Isn't Fake News. It’s a Meme By Laura Mallonee An image of Seattle Seahawks Michael Bennett burning the flag went viral last week. It's totally fake. But that didn't matter. Business 'Siri, Why Have You Fallen Behind Other Digital Assistants?' By Tom Simonite Google's Assistant and Amazon's Alexa offer more capabilities than Apple's Siri, their predecessor. Autonomous Vehicles Google's Waymo May Not Need a Smoking Gun to Win Its Uber Lawsuit By Aarian Marshall But a whiff of gun powder would be nice. security The Disturbing Rise of Cyberattacks Against Abortion Clinics By Rebecca Grant Abortion providers have long faced harassment, both online and and in person. But a recent wave of cyberattacks have caused havoc lately—and proved difficult to stop. [advertisement]( [Powered by LiveIntent]( [Ad Choices]( [WIRED Magazine Subscription] Get Wired Don't Let the Future Leave You Behind. Get 6 Months of WIRED Magazine for Just $5. SUBSCRIBE NOW Toxicology Were US Diplomats in Cuba Victims of a Sonic Attack—or Something Else? By Adam Rogers It was either a new, sci-fi sound gun or something else. Here’s a hypothesis for the something else. Electric Vehicles In Building an Electric Car, Dyson Goes Its Own Way By Erin Griffith Appliance maker Dyson plans to make an electric car by 2020, but will buy self-driving software from others. gaming Destiny 2 Makes You Question Your Life—At Least For a While By Julie Muncy Bungie's sequel is a game about dying. But ultimately, in its endgame, the game has trouble remembering that. hardware Google’s Gadget Vision: Same Stuff, Different Screens By David Pierce Call it the Unified Theory of Google Hardware. design The Speculum Finally Gets a Modern Redesign By Arielle Pardes The medical gadget hasn't been revamped in almost 200 years. A group of designers hopes to change that. robotics Inside the Mad Lab Giving Robots the Power to Feel By Matt Simon Want robots that don’t crush our skulls? Well, we better give them a sense of touch. Snapchat That Lock Pattern Isn't Protecting Your Phone Your backwards Z lock pattern isn't doing you any security favors, plus other security faux pas leaving you vulnerable. [advertisement]( [Powered by LiveIntent]( [AdChoices]( [WIRED Magazine]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Youtube]( [Instagram]( This email was sent to you by WIRED. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e–mail address, newsletters@wired.com, to your address book. View our [Privacy Policy]( [Unsubscribe](#SPCUSTOMOPTOUT) Copyright © Condé Nast 2017. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10038. All rights reserved. This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( WIRED · 520 3rd St, Third Floor · San Francisco, CA 94107 · USA