New standards for masculinity are stacked against men’s health
New standards for masculinity are stacked against men’s health

This is Optimizer, a weekly newsletter sent from Verge senior reviewer Victoria Song that dissects and discusses the latest gizmos and potions that swear they’re going to change your life. Opt in for Optimizer here. Whenever the algorithm serves up a steaming pile of looksmaxxing, I flash back to an old sketch from That Mitchell […]

DIY plug-in solar gains momentum in the US
DIY plug-in solar gains momentum in the US

This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on e-bikes, power stations, and how to work anywhere, follow Thomas Ricker. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started With a deep breath, I took […]

Explore the globe in field recordings
Explore the globe in field recordings

I love field recordings. I love making them. I love them when they’re incorporated into my ambient music. They’re great background noise for working or sleeping. But they’re also great for active listening, focusing in on the fine nuances of burbling brooks or urban chaos. Earth Garden gives you a globe to explore with real […]

We spent the week testing IFA’s best (and weirdest) gadgets, ask us anything
We spent the week testing IFA’s best (and weirdest) gadgets, ask us anything

Europe’s biggest tech trade show, IFA, has taken over Berlin this week – and we’ve been on the ground all week checking it out in person. We figure you have questions, so we’re hosting an AMA that’s exclusive to Verge subscribers at 12PM ET today. That’s when we’ll start dropping answers, but you can ask […]

Continuous glucose monitors are about to get more complicated
Continuous glucose monitors are about to get more complicated

This is Optimizer, a weekly newsletter sent from Verge senior reviewer Victoria Song that dissects and discusses the latest gizmos and potions that swear they’re going to change your life. Opt in for Optimizer here. My mom was a dramatic woman prone to overreacting. When I was a snotty teen, I told her she needed […]

Professor Murder Rides the Subway is a forgotten slice of dance punk perfection
Professor Murder Rides the Subway is a forgotten slice of dance punk perfection

I recently dug out my CDs and started reripping them all. I’ve found a few forgotten gems in there, but few hit harder for me than the beautifully concise Professor Murder Rides the Subway EP. There was a period of time in the mid-aughts in NYC where it seemed like every indie band wanted you […]

Vicariously hike the Appalachian in the gorgeous A Trail Tale
Vicariously hike the Appalachian in the gorgeous A Trail Tale

I used to be an avid hiker and would try to go backpacking a few times a year. I always dreamed of thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, but life kind of got in the way. (Turns out jobs, wives, and children aren’t thrilled with the idea of you disappearing for three months.) But I’ve been longing […]

Your Oura Ring can’t measure what’s going on in your skull
Your Oura Ring can’t measure what’s going on in your skull

This is Optimizer, a weekly newsletter sent from Verge senior reviewer Victoria Song that dissects and discusses the latest gizmos and potions that swear they’re going to change your life. Opt in for Optimizer here. Oura’s getting sued. A recently filed class-action complaint against the smart ring maker alleges that the company has duped customers […]

We’re All Going to the World’s Fair is an intimate coming-of-age horror film
We’re All Going to the World’s Fair is an intimate coming-of-age horror film

Jane Schoenbrun’s latest film, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, is making a splash in theaters right now. So it seems like the perfect time to revisit their first film, We’re All Going to the World’s Fair. I fell in love with this film when I first saw it at Sundance in 2021. We […]

Grand Theft Auto VI exists in its own universe
Grand Theft Auto VI exists in its own universe

This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on GTA VI and the state of the video game industry, follow Andrew Webster. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started Four years ago, fans […]