This giant invasive flower can make you go blind

PLUS: Rules to protect other worlds from earth cooties, a super-celebration for Superman, and a win for Tesla. [View this email in your browser]( [logo]( [[WIRED Magazine]7.3.18]( The giant hogweed is a nightmare of a plant. This 15-foot-tall umbrella of white flowers is an invasive species that is slowly spreading its way from New York through dozens of states, and in June it was found in Virginia for the first time. But if you see one, don't go messing around with it! Its sap is so toxic that it can give you third-degree burns. "Like an anti-sunblock, chemicals in its juices disrupt your skin’s ability to filter out harmful UV rays," says WIRED science writer Megan Molteni, who recently wrote about [using mini hearts for drug testing](. "[Get it in your eyes and you could go blind]( Yipes. The culprit is a sort of chemical called a furocoumarin, which absorbs light and bounces around in your skin, damaging your DNA and killing off your cells. But even if you put on your hazmat suit, you can't just approach the beast and start yanking. "In addition to that prolific seed-shedding flowerhead, the plant sends down a tuberous root the size of a Volkswagen that can be nearly impossible to dislodge," Molteni writes. So what do you do if you see one? Take a photo with someone in it for scale, mark your GPS location, and report it to agriculture officials. Then back away, and leave this monstrous plant to the professionals. PLUS: Rules to protect other worlds from [earth cooties]( a [super-celebration]( for Superman, and a [win for Tesla](. Space In Search of New Rules to Protect Other Worlds From Earth's Cooties By Adam Rogers NASA's Office of Planetary Protection has tried to protect other worlds from us and us from other worlds since the Cold War. But the future wants a better way. Photo Gallery The Annual Super-Celebration in Superman's Real-World Home By Michael Hardy For the past 40 years, the small Illinois town of Metropolis has hosted the Superman Celebration. Buzzer Beaters Tesla Finally Hits Its Model 3 Goal—And Immediately Ups the Ante By Jack Stewart After months of production hell, Elon Musk's automaker finally made 5,000 Model 3 cars in one week. And it's already shooting for 6,000. Yikes This Giant Invasive Flower Can Give You Third-Degree Burns By Megan Molteni The giant hogweed is set to bloom just around the Fourth of July every year—and every year, it spreads a little further. [WIRED Magazine Subscription] Get Wired Save 50% with our July 4th Sale! Unlimited access to WIRED.com + a free YubiKey. Subscribe now Infrequenter Fliers New University Rules Encourage Scientists to Avoid Air Travel By Mejs Hasan For some researchers it’s a personal choice; other academic departments have to pay carbon offset fees. Sharing Economy Airbnb's Newest Weapon Against Regulation: The Real Estate Industry By Jessi Hempel In advance of coming regulation, the home-sharing site is increasingly partnering with landlords and real estate companies, hoping to transform them into advocates. Cities Lyft’s Big Bike-Share Buy Is About Ruling the Streets By Aarian Marshall The ride-hailing company's acquisition of the country's largest bike-share operator moves Lyft beyond the car—and raises a few questions. NIMBY vs. YIMBY The Bitter Battle to Turn an Old Factory Into a 21st Century 'Eco-Village' By Jay Walljasper A bold plan to redevelop Ford's Twin Cities Assembly Plant has become the focus of a fight over density, traffic, and the future of cities. puzzle party Lumines Remastered Is the Perfect Summer Gaming Treat By Julie Muncy The newly overhauled version of the 2004 niche classic is a reintroduction to one of the best puzzle games of all time. [WIRED Magazine]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Youtube]( [Instagram]( 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]( Copyright © Condé Nast 2018. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.