The Outline

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Eavesdropping devices may be at the center of sonic attacks in China

Two American diplomats and their families at the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, China have been evacuated.<p>Imagine hearing what sounds like marbles …

University of Michigan

This map shows the surprising number of fake abortion clinics in NYC

So-called "crisis pregnancy centers" aren't just in red states.<p>There are roughly 4,000 fake reproductive health clinics operating across the country, …

New York City

I missed Kid Cudi

The mercurial artist returns with ‘KIDS SEES GHOSTS,’ a new, compelling Kanye West project.<p>I was a teenager the first time Kid Cudi came across my …

Rap & Hip-Hop

Google: we promise not to use our vast and unchecked power for murder

Google has laid out “principles” about how it will approach AI, as if what a corporation promises matters.<p>Like Twitter’s dedication to improving …

Artificial Intelligence

Oh God, they’re putting religion on the blockchain

Is 0xΩ actually a new faith, or is it a warning of the crypto hell that awaits?<p>To my utmost shame, over the past month I have become one of those …

Blockchain

The confessions of LiveJournal Tara

Growing up online taught me how to narrate a life. Then I had to learn how to live one.<p><i>I’ve got a vision of my life. I think I know exactly what I</i> …

Literature

We’re not done figuring out how plastic litter is ruining the ocean

New research suggests the insulating effects of microplastics on sand could determine the sex of baby sea turtles.<p>It’s not surprising that plastics …

Pollution

serpentwithfeet’s new album ‘soil’ is gonna get you in your feelings

Side Note<p>Jun—08—2018 11:07AM EST<p>Ann-Derrick Gaillot<p>There’s nothing understated about serpentwithfeet’s new album <i>soil</i>, which is driven by over-the-top …

New Albums

Drinkfinity’s $20 “vessel” is Pepsi’s attempt to stay relevant

Introducing a new, healthier not-soda that also provides an upper body workout.<p>You’re probably familiar with the trope of millennials killing dozens …

New York University

Piles of garbage could bring down Putin

Side Note<p>Jun—07—2018 04:24PM EST<p>Michael Waters<p>A new report from the Russian political research group Minchenko Consulting argues that corruption …

Russia

Don’t focus on recycling carbon at the expense of reducing it

Industrial scale methods of carbon recapture may be on the horizon, but it’s far from an end-all solution to our changing climate.<p>For the past …

Carbon Dioxide

Being extremely online can only bring you pain

Turns out the website where Nazis yell at you can make people depressed.<p>Unsurprisingly, it turns out feverishly commenting “huge mood” on every meme …

Depression

Mr. Rogers was the king of catchy tunes

14 cards<p>A trip down memory lane to the Neighborhood.

A $139,000 vanilla heist

Vanilla is now worth more than silver, and thieves across the world are cashing in. This week, a Michigan spice store employee was arrested for …

Selling

Dennis Miller’s new podcast is an incoherent marvel

The content of ‘The Dennis Miller Option’ exists in a strange purgatory between right-wing provocation and confused-grandpa doddering.<p>The comedic …

Jackson Pollock

Environmental collapse makes for terrifying nightmares, and compelling art

New works by Paul Schrader, William T. Vollman, and Richard Powers grapple with meaningful living under environmental collapse.<p>It’s hard to pin down …

Books

Please enjoy this creepy drones-only fashion show

A fashion show in Saudi Arabia swapped out human models for a fleet of drones on Wednesday, affixing a line of gowns and accessories by Dolce & …

Fashion Shows

Perfecting the language of emojis

Google takes user feedback on how to make its emoji less bewildering; or, toward a theory of a less evil goat.<p>Some of the most-talked-about changes …

Emoji

Crossfit can't get one week into Pride month without a huge PR disaster

Chief Knowlege Officer put on unpaid leave after calling Pride a "sin"<p>It’s Pride Month, which means lots of companies are expressing their support …

LGBTQI

Bezos throws billions into space exploration, Amazon workers still can’t stop for a drink of water

A new batch of Amazon warehouse employees are raising the alarm about their treatment as their CEO gloats about how he struggles to spend all his …

Space Exploration

Dear Fuck-Up: I don’t think my friend’s chronic illness is real

Is this the end of our friendship?<p><i>Brandy Jensen, The Outline’s social media editor, has made a lot of mistakes in her life. Has she learned from them</i> …

Lyme Disease

Red Table Talk is a rare show about Hollywood families that doesn’t focus on dysfunction

The conversations between three generations of Smiths offer a model of progressive family dialogue.<p>The Smiths are the only family that could make me …

Jada Pinkett Smith

Guess what’s slowing hurricanes down and making them more deadly

Over the past seventy years, hurricanes have been lingering longer and longer on coasts, likely thanks to the effects of — wait for it — waaaiiit for …

Climate Change

Already have a cushy job? Here’s $10,000 to move to Vermont

States and cities are giving people money to relocate — the catch is, you already have to be well-off.<p>Vermont is strange. As a community, the Green …

Remote Working

Death to library fines

Cities like New York and Los Angeles abandoned fines for children in recent years — and librarians across the country are joining the cause to do …

Los Angeles

Kanye West isn’t done with Wyoming

Side Note<p>Jun—06—2018 10:58AM EST<p>Ann-Derrick Gaillot<p>When I first heard that Kanye West would be hosting the album listening party for his new record <i>ye</i> …

Jackson Hole

Anna Delvey and Elizabeth Holmes had the same tell: their hair

These violent delights have split ends.<p>Lying to someone effectively is often less about the content of the lie than about how it’s told and who’s …

Hair

How Facebook steamrolls apps into giving up users’ information

WhatsApp's messy high-profile breakup with Facebook is so bad it’s good.<p>Facebook’s 2014-era purchase of WhatsApp has always been a bit awkward. While …

Privacy

The right to bear flamethrowers

Side Note<p>Jun—05—2018 05:03PM EST<p>Michael Waters<p>Already, organizations like Knife Rights Inc have decided that guns, knives, and swords should be …

Guns

What is Miss America for?

The competition, which just announced plans to eliminate the swimsuit portion, is still based on an outmoded idea about judging women.<p>There she is, …

Fashion Shows