The run of record-breaking heat has ended, for now

PLUS: The Slow-Burn Nightmare of the National Public Data Breach, and more. [View in browser]( | [Your newsletter preferences]( 08.17.24 [SUBSCRIBE TO WIRED]( [FOR UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THESE STORIES]( [a social security card floating on a surface in black and white]( SOCIAL INSECURITY | 3-MINUTE READ [The Slow-Burn Nightmare of the National Public Data Breach]( BY LILY HAY NEWMAN Social Security numbers, physical addresses, and more—all available online. After months of confusion, leaked information from a background-check firm underscores the long-term risks of data breaches.   [A spacecraft parked at the ISS, with the view of earth below]( LEFT IN SPACE | 6-MINUTE READ [NASA Nears Decision Time on Boeing Starliner’s Fate]( BY STEPHEN CLARK, ARS TECHNICA There’s now a significant chance the spacecraft’s crew will have to return to Earth on a different one—and maybe not until next year.   [Elon Musk in a suit, looking down]( PLAINTEXT | 4-MINUTE READ [Elon Musk Is No Climate Hero]( BY AARIAN MARSHALL During a live interview with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, the former president literally said, “Drill, baby, drill.” Musk met the statement with … silence.   [Image may contain: Person, Bathing, Clothing, and Hat]( NEW NORMAL | 3-MINUTE READ [The Run of Record-Breaking Heat Has Ended, for Now]( BY CHRISTOPHER MERCHANT Air temperatures in July 2024 were fractionally cooler than in July 2023, probably because of a waning El Niño. But don’t expect things to be much cooler in coming years.   ADVERTISEMENT   [Shop WIRED's Amazon Storefront]( [Deals of the Week]( [Shop our editors' favorite picks, from top-rated laptops and tablets to essential back-to-school gear.]( [SHOP NOW](     [A woman with a telescope sees a conjunction between the Moon and two planets.]( THREE’S A CROWD | 1-MINUTE READ [How to See the Conjunction Between Mars, Jupiter, and the Moon This August]( BY JORGE GARAY On the 27th, the celestial bodies will form an unusual triangle in the sky just before dawn.   [Blue, beige and white sheets on a blue watercolor background]( CHILL OUT | 12-MINUTE READ [The Best Cooling Sheets for Hot Summer Nights]( BY NENA FARRELL Summer heat is here. Hop under these cooling sheets so that you can, you know, actually sleep.   [Image may contain: Car, Transportation, Vehicle, Bumper, Pickup Truck, Truck, Chair, and Furniture]( HALF AND HALF | 3-MINUTE READ [The 2025 Ford Maverick Shows That Hybrid Pickup Trucks Are Going Mainstream]( BY BOB SOROKANICH Just as Tesla ditches its $60,000 Cybertruck, Ford finally allows buyers to pair its efficient hybrid powertrain with all-wheel drive and a towing package. Hallelujah.   [Rick Osterloh, senior vice president of devices and services at Alphabet Inc., during the Made By Google launch event in Mountain View, California, US, on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. Alphabet Inc.'s Google is rolling out upgraded smartphones, watches and earbuds, aiming to take on Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. and offer more ways to use artificial intelligence. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images ]( WE'LL DO IT LIVE | 5-MINUTE READ [What Is Gemini Live and How Do You Use It?]( BY JULIAN CHOKKATTU Google is rolling out this new voice assistant, and now you can have real-time, natural conversations with its chatbot. Here’s what it’s like.   [Professional microphone and earphones isolated on beige background]( STORY ADDICT | 21-MINUTE READ [The Best Podcasts for Everyone]( BY SIMON HILL Get your fix of tech, true crime, pop culture, or comedy with these audio adventures. ADVERTISEMENT   [WIRED logo image]( Thanks for reading. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? [Sign up here](. Plus, [browse more newsletters]( from WIRED. [(image) WIRED on Facebook]( [(image) WIRED on Twitter]( [(image) WIRED on Instagram]( [TikTok]( [(image) WIRED on LinkedIn]( [(image) WIRED on YouTube]( [Podcasts](   You’re receiving this email because you signed up for the Daily newsletter from WIRED. [Manage your preferences]( | [View our Privacy Policy]( | [Unsubscribe]( Have questions or comments? [Send us a message](mailto:hello@wired.com?subject=Daily newsletter feedback). Need help? [Contact us](. Copyright © Condé Nast 2024. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.