Gallery: Inside the Post-Soviet Towns Built Around a 40,000-Foot Hole
Sergey Novikov0112.jpg
Vitaly Kuznetsov is an information security specialist in Nikel, Russia. He plans to start a lasertag club.
Sergey Novikov0201.jpg
Nikel is situated in Murmansk Oblast in the Kola Peninsula of Russia. It has a population of roughly 12,000 people.
Sergey Novikov0305.jpg
A discarded hard hat near the Kola Superdeep Borehole.
Sergey Novikov0414.jpg
A empty quarry near Nikel, Russia.
Sergey Novikov0513.jpg
SOLIDSMOOTH, a dubstep dance duo in Nikel, Russia.
Sergey Novikov0611-2.jpg
The train station in Zapolyarny, Russia.
Sergey Novikov0710.jpg
A street scene in Zapolyarny, Russia.
Sergey Novikov0808.jpg
A drill sample from the borehole that belongs to the local history museum in Nikel, Russia.
Sergey Novikov0907.jpg
A empty quarry near Nikel, Russia.
Sergey Novikov1003.jpg
Mikhail Borisenko as a staff photographer at the nickel factory in Zapolyarny during the Soviet Era.
Sergey Novikov1106.jpg
A wedding venue in Nikel, Russia.
Sergey Novikov1209.jpg
A grave monument in Zapolyarny, Russia.
Sergey Novikov13041.jpg
Wooden building constructed by a Canadian company in the 1920s in Nikel, Russia.
What’s Worse Than Romance Scams? Adoption Scams
This week in WIRED Book Club, we recap the final chapters of The Yahoo Boys.
Kate Knibbs
Beatbot’s New Pool Robot Cleans Itself (Mostly)
The AquaSense X brings self-cleaning technology to pool robots for the first time, but is it worth nearly twice the price of Beatbot’s flagship cleaner?
Christopher Null
Skylight’s Touchscreen Calendar Got my Whole Family on the Same Page
The Skylight has become the informational and organizational hub of my household. My touchscreen-native kids have also gained more agency over our family activities.
Jaclyn Greenberg
The Samsung Micro RGB R95H Is a Good, Not Great TV
There’s a new fleet of TVs using new mini and micro RBG display tech, and Samsung’s R95H model isn’t as impressive as it should be.
John Brandon
AI Found a Root Bug in Linux That Everyone Missed for 15 Years
Plus: The Pentagon is training amateurs to become part of its hacker army, a Flock license plate reader error led to cops surrounding a car reviewer, and more.
Dell Cameron
We Make Lovely Home-Cooked Meals for Ourselves. Why Not Do the Same for Our Dogs?
More dog owners have begun cooking for their canine companions in recent years. When my own dog fell ill, I became part of this growing group.
Alicia Kennedy
The Best Hiking Boots and Shoes for Any Adventure
From strenuous hikes and serious summits to weekend rambles in the park, these boots help you make the most of your time outdoors.
Chris Haslam
China’s Tianwen-2 Space Probe Has Rendezvoused With Earth’s Quasi-Moon
The probe sent back the first pictures of the asteroid Kamo’oalewa. Next step: landing on the surface and collecting samples to send back to Earth.
Ritsuko Kawai
El Niño Is Already Wreaking Havoc on Pacific Fisheries
As the climate phenomenon sends warm water surging across the eastern Pacific, some parts of the fishing industry are suffering—but other regions are seeing a windfall.
Joseph Winters
Exclusive: How Jay-Z Pulled Off a Surprise-Filled Show During New York’s Wildest Summer
Summer 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Jay-Z’s debut Reasonable Doubt. To honor it, he put on a massive concert at Yankee Stadium—complete with performances from Beyoncé, Nas, and Alicia Keys.
Angela Watercutter
OpenAI’s Head of Safety Is Leaving the Company
Johannes Heidecke’s departure comes as OpenAI tries to further integrate its research and safety teams.
Maxwell Zeff
Microsoft Reports a Massive 25 Percent Jump in Emissions
Data centers are driving up the company’s use of electricity—and carbon pollution.
Molly Taft