Aug 21, 2009 9:58 AM

Five for Fighting 8/21/09

* Karzai, Abdullah claim victory in A-stan poll * Suicide bombers strike Chechen capital * Flame on! Man ignites in Taser incident * Iran missile ‘breakthrough‘ may put Europe in range * Missile-zapping laser fired in flight

* Karzai, Abdullah claim victory in A-stan poll
* Suicide bombers strike Chechen capital
* Flame on! Man ignites in Taser incident
* Iran missile 'breakthrough' may put Europe in range
* Missile-zapping laser fired in flight

TopicsDanger Room

Suspect in Minnesota Shooting Linked to Security Company, Evangelical Ministry

The alleged shooter is a 57-year-old white male; according to his ministry's website, he “sought out militant Islamists in order to share the gospel and tell them that violence wasn't the answer.”

Tim Marchman

Cybercriminals Are Hiding Malicious Web Traffic in Plain Sight

In an effort to evade detection, cybercriminals are increasingly turning to “residential proxy” services that cover their tracks by making it look like everyday online activity.

Lily Hay Newman

Ross Ulbricht Got a $31 Million Donation From a Dark Web Dealer, Crypto Tracers Suspect

Crypto-tracing firm Chainalysis says the mysterious 300-bitcoin donation to the pardoned Silk Road creator appears to have come from someone associated with a different defunct black market: AlphaBay.

Andy Greenberg

The Epic Rise and Fall of a Dark-Web Psychedelics Kingpin

Interdimensional travel, sex with aliens, communion with God. Anything is possible with just a sprinkle of DMT. Akasha Song’s secret labs made millions of doses—and dollars—until the feds showed up.

Andy Greenberg

Trump Cuts Are Killing a Tiny Office That Keeps Measurements of the World Accurate

A tiny but crucial agency that maintains physical coordinates like latitude and longitude in the US is struggling as the Trump administration forces out federal employees.

Molly Taft

The Race to Build Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Defense System Is On

President Donald Trump has proposed building a massive antimissile system in space that could enrich Elon Musk if it materializes. But experts say the project’s feasibility remains unclear.

Caroline Haskins

A Swedish MMA Tournament Spotlights the Trump Administration's Handling of Far-Right Terrorism

A member of a California-based fight club seems to have attended an event hosted by groups with ties to an organization the US government labeled a terrorist group. Will the Trump administration care?

Ali Winston

3 Teens Almost Got Away With Murder. Then Police Found Their Google Searches

An arson attack in Colorado had detectives stumped. The way they solved the case could put everyone at risk.

Raksha Vasudevan

Analysts Say Trump Trade Wars Would Harm the Entire US Energy Sector, From Oil to Solar

US renewables stand to lose big in a trade war, but the sting extends to oil and other energy industries, say researchers from Wood Mackenzie.

Dan Gearino

Trumpworld Is Getting Tired of Laura Loomer. They Hope the President Is Too

Trump advisers tell WIRED that their mutually beneficial arrangements with the notorious right wing influencer may be coming to an end.

Jake Lahut

‘A Billion Streams and No Fans’: Inside a $10 Million AI Music Fraud Case

A chart-topping jazz album! Loads of Spotify and Apple Music plays! Just one problem: The success might not be real.

Kate Knibbs

The ‘Long-Term Danger’ of Trump Sending Troops to the LA Protests

President Trump’s deployment of more than 700 Marines to Los Angeles—following ICE raids and mass protests—has ignited a fierce national debate over state sovereignty and civil-military boundaries.

Dell Cameron