Footer 1

Nav Bar

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Member-exclusive 

This story appears in the upcoming issue. Members get unlimited access to this and every story.

A new issue of Nautilus is here

You've run out of free articles. Read unlimited, ad-free stories (including this one) by becoming a Member. 

Join to continue reading

Unlock this story + our newsletter, for FREE! Already a newsletter subscriber? Just click the "Log in" link above. 

Register to continue reading.

Nautilus

Kiki Sanford

Technology

Will This “Neural Lace” Brain Implant Help Us Compete with AI?

Seth Frey & Patrick House

The Unexpected Humanity of Robot Soccer

Lucia De Stefani

Get Ready to Be Identified by Your Ear

Jesse Dunietz

Politicians Need to Understand This Computer Science Concept Better

Nikhil Swaminathan

Are Fantasy Sports Really Gambling?

Ross Kenneth Urken

The Man Who Designed Ghost Armies and Opera Houses

Shannon Hall

Fireworks Displays Can’t Include a Perfect Red, White, and Blue

Uri Bram

Why Won’t This Inspirational Email Chain Letter Leave Me Alone?

Tom Vanderbilt is the author, most recently, of Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning.

Tom Vanderbilt

Traffic Wouldn’t Jam If Drivers Behaved Like Ants

Adam Piore, a veteran journalist, is the author of two books and a longtime Nautilus contributor. He currently covers health and infectious disease for the Boston Globe.