Gallery: The Barren Desert That’s a Survival Camp for Soldiers
Luca Locatelli/INSTITUTE01Locatelli-012.jpg
A soldier in the Foreign Legion crosses two mountains on a rope suspended 300 feet up.
Luca Locatelli/INSTITUTE02Locatelli-001.jpg
French troops carry a casualty to a Black Hawk helicopter during a rescue exercise.
Luca Locatelli/INSTITUTE03Locatelli-008.jpg
French troops in the Bara Desert during a simulated battle in Djibouti.
Luca Locatelli/INSTITUTE04Locatelli-014.jpg
A Foreign Legion soldier shows off his tattoos.
Luca Locatelli/INSTITUTE05Locatelli-010.jpg
A Foreign Legion tank during a simulated battle in the Djibouti desert.
Luca Locatelli/INSTITUTE06Locatelli-013.jpg
A Foreign Legion soldier stakes out a position during a simulated battle in Djibouti.
Luca Locatelli/INSTITUTE07Locatelli-005.jpg
US troops during a simulated mission in Djibouti.
Luca Locatelli/INSTITUTE08Locatelli-004.jpg
Troops attend to a wounded soldier, awaiting evacuation via Black Hawk helicopter.
Luca Locatelli/INSTITUTE09Locatelli-015.jpg
US and French troops patrol the Djibouti desert at sunrise.
Luca Locatelli/INSTITUTE10Locatelli-007.jpg
US and French troops prepare to participate in a simulation where they have to build a camp within a protected perimeter.
Luca Locatelli/INSTITUTE11Locatelli-011.jpg
A French army tank on a mountain.
Luca Locatelli/INSTITUTE12Locatelli-006.jpg
Foreign Legion troops rest in the shade of a tent they built in the Grand Bara desert.
Luca Locatelli/INSTITUTE13Locatelli-003.jpg
US and French commanders study a map to find a safe landing point for a Black Hawk helicopter.
Luca Locatelli/INSTITUTE14Locatelli-002.jpg
A Black Hawk helicopter takes off after a rescue mission.
Luca Locatelli/INSTITUTE15Locatelli-009.jpg
US and French troops rest in a trench at sunrise, just before exercises begin.
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