Just down the road from Facebook and Google, Dr. Phil Wagner runs a laboratory dedicated to optimizing the performance of some of the world’s top athletes.

Jennifer Colliau at WIRED by Design, 2014. In partnership with Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA. To learn more visit: live.wired.com

On ABC’s “Once Upon a Time,” Disney characters like Snow White, the Queen of Hearts, and Peter Pan are set against a modern backdrop. Realistic visual effects bring to life the magic and mystery of Storybrooke—the town they now inhabit. Mike Seymour from fxguide goes behind the stunning FX and animation that are needed to create the fairytale mashup.

All you notice is the sweet chocolatey taste, but what ingredients are you really consuming when you sip on a mug of instant hot chocolate?

WIRED editor Chris Kohler goes head-to-head with SMOSH Games to settle the age-old debate: what are the best video games of all time? From first-person shooters to 2D platforms, see which games are named the best of the best.

It keeps your cats healthy and happy, but what’s really inside cat food? From soy flour to sulfates to ground-up meat byproducts it’s nothing but the cat’s meow for the little carnivores.

It’s as American as apple pie and twice as wobbly, but what’s really inside Jell-O? Aside from collagen, the translucent gelatin sweet treat features collagen, sugar, artificial flavoring, and, oh yeah, chopped-up pig and cow hides soaked in acid.

There’s a tech incubator popping up, but it’s not in Silicon Valley—it’s inside San Quentin State Prison. The Last Mile program teaches inmates entrepreneurship skills with the goal that each participant founds a socially conscious, tech-forward company. Award-winning filmmaker Ondi Timoner goes inside the innovative non-profit and follows inmates as they work to craft a business plan, pitch their ideas in front of venture capitalists, and then, transition back into society.

Survival vs. Pride

From Sega Genesis to Playstation 3, Justin and Erik rounded up the most beloved video game consoles of our youth. Everyone has a favorite, but which one is the toughest when it comes to Sega, Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox?

WIRED editor Chris Kohler breaks down why Sam & Max Hit the Road is the funniest video game of all time. What’s not to love about a duo of anthropomorphic “freelance police”?

WIRED editor Chris Kohler explains why Super Mario Bros. is the most important video game in history. From rich graphics to expertly composed music to innovative game design, Super Mario Bros. set the standard for what makes a great video game.

It’s reminiscent of old Grand Theft Auto games, but Hotline Miami is in a league of its own. It tricks you into thinking it’s cute, but don’t be fooled, it's one of the most gruesome and bloody video games of all time.

This year, Industrial Light & Magic celebrates 40 years of creating the impossible. In WIRED's June issue, we present an oral history of ILM, and look at how George Lucas’ little DIY effects shop changed movies forever. Also this month: Silk Road mastermind Ross Ulbricht's journey from drug kingpin to convicted criminal, Senator Cory Booker's attempt to drag the Senate into the 21st century, the global battle over one of Earth’s most plentiful resources, and much more. #WIRED2306 #WIRED

THE BIGGEST APPLE developer event of the year kicked off this morning at Moscone Center in San Francisco. WIRED’s David Pierce attended the WWDC keynote, and he gives us a quick recap on all the news. There are enhancements coming to Apple’s desktop OS, it’s iOS software, and a big update to the three-months-old Apple Watch that includes support for native apps.

There’s a reason Sriracha is more popular than its fiery competitors. Featuring a mix of red jalapeño chile peppers, flavor profiles that ignite all five senses, and vinegar for an extended shelf-life, we break down the ingredients that make up the rooster sauce.

Super Hexagon is not a video game for the easily discouraged. You die early and often until eventually (hopefully) you get into the swing of things. WIRED editor Chris Kohler explains why it’s the most difficult video game of all time.

This week NASA released a first look of ultra-high definition video shot on and from the International Space Station. Here, 60 seconds of the most breathtaking new footage.

Fireworks are as synonymous with the Fourth of July as hot dogs and barbecues, but what makes the decorative flashes of light burn so bright? A mix of charcoal, potassium nitrate, and sulfur, among many other ingredients.

Electric personal transportation devices (aka “rideables”) are everywhere. We’re seeing them under everyone from Justin Bieber to J.R. Smith to Casey Neistat, but are any of them worth a damn? We put four of the most promising rideables to the test and I’ve got the scars to prove it. -Brent

Scientists don't know exactly how the larva of the Reclinervellus nielseni wasp mind-controls spiders into building a special web to protect it but they do know that they eat their hosts and steal their webs.

Most people think of carbon dioxide as a poison, but in nature it’s a building block. Find out how we can imitate coral reef by using CO2 as a raw material for the creation of concrete.

What did we really find out from the Ashley Madison hack? For starters, there were only three zip codes in the U.S. with no registered users, plus the company netted $1.7 million from a full-delete feature (that didn’t actually delete). Find out what else was revealed in the hack, as told by bad stock footage.

You’ll now be able to see immersive videos in your Facebook feed. As part of the rollout, you can speed across the Jakku desert of the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens in a 360 video created by Disney exclusively for Facebook.

Eli Roth’s new horror film The Green Inferno delves into the world of cannibalism as only Roth can. Ahead of the new movie, the director breaks down his rules for engaging in cannibalism and shares the type of person he’d want to eat.

For years, scientists have known that Mars has ice. More elusive, though, is figuring out how much of that water is actually in liquid form. Now, NASA scientists have found compelling evidence that liquid water—life-giving, gloriously wet H 20—exists on Mars.

Facebook has a new feature for some users that lets them turn their profile picture into a GIF-like video. WIRED's Dellea Chew demonstrates how she made a clip of her dog Dude into her Facebook looping video.

In this behind-the-scenes video from the making of ‘Jurassic World,’ director Colin Trevorrow explains why he needed an animatronic dinosaur for one key scene.

Sous vide machines can make tasty fare but the technique often leaves meat gray and unappetizing. WIRED's Adam Rogers fires up the $159 Sansaire Sear home blowtorch to add a little sizzle to a steak.

Take a look inside the factory in Ada, Ohio where every single NFL game ball is made by hand.

Actor B.J. Novak has a new app for making lists of anything you want. But the real fun is in browsing the lists of celebrities like Lena Dunham, Mindy Kaling, and Snoop Dogg.

It’s a new industry, but the world of drone racing is quickly becoming a popular sport. Watch to learn about the tech behind it and find out what the Drone Racing League is all about.

Each year the World Health Organization determines which of the thousands of influenza variants are most likely to circulate. Flu vaccines then use these variants at the starting point when developing the annual flu shot. Find out what’s inside the influenza-warding shot.

Do you or love music? Does someone on your gift list? Then you probably need some nice headphones. Here's how to pick the right pair and fit them for the best sound.

As the NFL begins to address the existential problems that brain trauma pose, see how innovations in protection, impact monitoring, and training techniques are being developed to protect players.

The Burke Institute in White Plains, NY is using innovative techniques to more accurately diagnose brain trauma, and hopefully better understand and prevent degenerative brain conditions like CTE.

Clickbait isn't art, it's a science. Click and find out how it works.

It's not all twinkly lights, wrapped presents, and Yule logs. Uncover the darker side of Christmas from the 83 million trees that get chopped down to the $616.9 billion spent in November and December.

the NFL made no secret of its desire to bring American football to a new international stage.

Robot museum guides, bitcoin ATMS, and levitation trains – no this isn’t a sci-fi movie, its a travel guide. In this episode of Good As Gold, we give tech-lovers the thing they’ve been missing: tech-centric travel recommendations. Get a closer look at two of the most advanced cities in the world with the help of travel pros Claire Marshall and Peter Bragiel.

Seawall-topping king tides occur when extra-high tides line up with other meteorological anomalies. In the past they were a novelty or a nuisance. Now they hint at the new normal, when sea level rise will render current coastlines obsolete.

Visualization specialist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Robert Hurt, tells us how he balances scientific accuracy and creativity when creating stunning pieces of art that double as realistic depictions of space.

Mike Seymour goes behind the visual effects that earned “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” an Oscar nod. See how Industrial Light & Magic crafted complex action sequences, detailed environments, and realistic characters with the help of advanced motion-capture technology and performances from actors like Lupita Nyong’o.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Blogger Christen Rochon breaks down her top three picks for the lucky lady in your life. Brought to you by eBay

Ransomware is a rising type of malware that locks your keyboard or computer until you pay a ransom, typically in Bitcoin. Find out how the sophisticated hacks happen and learn what you can do to avoid falling victim to them.

Welcome to the Institute of Illegal Images, San Francisco's museum of LSD blotter paper art.

Summon is fundamental to Tesla's goal of making driverless cars—and it won't stay a party trick forever.

Acura's NSX hybrid supercar is capable of a blistering 191 mph but to make a car this fast, you have to build it slowly and precisely.

The HTC Vive system is meant to deliver what HTC and Valve call “room-size experiences”— that means you’ll need an entire room, and a chunk of time, to get your VR playpen set up.

Trap-jaw spiders may be tiny but their unusual jaws pack a serious and lightning fast punch. Researchers using high-speed cameras recently discovered how speedy and lethal the spiders' bite can be.