Agent Topple attempts to get some holiday spirit.

For years, it’s been a fantasy cinema rule that real actors and CG dragons just don’t mix—ever. With the new release of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, will Peter Jackson be able to avoid the pitfalls of the disastrous dragons featured in flicks like Dragonheart, Reign of Fire, and Eragon?

Soon, the sharpest-dressed people will be wearing computers. Wearable technology will surpass fitness trackers and Google Glass to become as important as the smartphone, the primary interface through which we experience the world. For the January issue, industrial design firm Branch envisioned the classy wearable of the future for our cover, and senior editor Bill Wasik's feature laid out a roadmap for how we'll get there.

Belkin’s Conserve Insight energy monitor tells you how much juice—and dough—your appliances are using so you can decide what’s worth plugging in.

A quest for films that genuinely reflect the spirit of the holidays leads the Angry Nerd to create an all-new celebration in honor of the best Christmas movie-maker of all time: Shane Black.

It’s an outdoor version of the claw game, but with fast, low flying helicopters as the claw and Christmas trees as the prize. At the Hunter Family Farm in Olympia, Wash., helicopter pilots fly across nearly 400 acres, picking up bundles of trees and transporting them, so they can be processed and loaded for your holiday pleasure.

Amazon’s turned a new page with its latest Paperwhite e-reader. See what’s been upgraded and what’s been ditched in favor of the new model.

The Hozuki lantern from Snow Peak goes for versatility around the campsite—both inside and outside the tent.

Seeing carnage through a character’s eyes used to mean something. Nowadays, Hollywood is wasting POV shots in sci-fi films like Vin Diesel’s Riddick. Angry Nerd explains why these fancy-schmancy first-person perspectives are failing, and he issues the Tinseltown execs an ultimatum.

Udacity CEO and co-founder Sebastian Thrun explains why self-driving cars are the future and Holy Grail for road safety. In this World Economic Forum discussion, the engineer and innovator describes how the auto-cruising vehicles will transform society and save lives.

Find out how animation company Animal Logic used complex feather and muscle simulation systems to depict the prehistoric animals in Walking With Dinosaurs.

Strong and stiff and materials comprised of mostly air are well on their way to commercialization. In this World Economic Forum Discussion, Caltech materials scientist Julia Greer talks about their use in "hierarchal design," and the impact it will have on increased efficiency and the prominence of solar cells.

Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and other tech titans have had to fight for their lives—against their own government. This month, we take a look inside their year from hell, and why the web will never be the same. Also, see what happens when gene-modifying masters Monsanto try to take nature's path, how one man hacked OKCupid to find the girl of his dreams, and the city-within-a-city Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh is building in Las Vegas. Plus: the Data Miner's Guide to Romance, Rick Rubin, and more!

As the largest producer and consumer of milk in the world, India faces a serious problem when it comes to off-grid dairy farmers. In this World Economic Forum discussion, Promethean Power Systems co-founder Sam White describes his approach to ensuring that milk is properly refrigerated and not spoiled by bacteria.

Consider it electronic Lego. littleBits consists of tiny modules that snap together to form circuits, creating simple devices and teaching basic electronics.

You'd think the Angry Nerd would be square in the targeting sights of The Big Bang Theory. You'd think he'd love the show. And yet…and yet….

How do you feed the world, make biofuel, and remain sustainable? In this World Economic Forum discussion, MIT chemical engineer Kristala Prather says that microbes might provide an answer.

This steel toolbox from Japanese brand Trusco adds a double-hinged lid and some slick design to the classic form.

With Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm, the House of Mouse and J.J. Abrams are well on their way to destroying all that’s right with Star Wars…or are they? Angry Nerd poses an alternate ending to the Walt and George partnership.

Consider it sound you can see. Find out how Ashik and Jenelle Mohan of Born of Sound are using audio recordings to create works of art, bringing to life a child’s laugh or heartbeat in a fluid, vibrant print. Brought to you by Intel.

Is the education system ready for a revolution? In this World Economic Forum discussion Jose Ferreira, CEO and founder of Knewton, explains how a more personalized, adaptive program would increase access to education and improve the quality of teaching.

With its heavy anodized aluminum mold, Cocktail Kingdom’s Ice Ball Maker transforms cubes into spheres for ice that lasts longer than your typical bricks from a tray.

A kick-ass lady protagonist? Check. Greek mythology? Check. Comic book source material? Check. Wonder Woman has all the ingredients for a hit TV series. So…where is it?

In this World Economic Forum discussion, Johan Rockström, executive director of the Stockholm Resilience Centre, proposes a new scientific framework called Planetary Boundaries—a way of thinking about consumption and sustainability that could help keep Earth habitable.

Logitech’s UE Boom combines Bluetooth streaming with a circular design that offers 360-degree sound.

Jay Silver and his co-founder's concept was simple: Hook up everyday objects to small circuits and turn them into touchpads. See how their MaKey MaKey invention kit is changing the way we interact with the world. Brought to you by Intel.

They’ve resurrected RoboCop and we can’t figure out why. Actor Joel Kinnaman has a big helmet to fill, and considering all of the outrageous changes that have been made to the reboot, Angry Nerd is doubtful that the new cyborg will live up to the task.

Digital Edition on sale 2.18.14 On Newsstands 2.25.14

Check out WIRED's music issue featuring Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson at: http://www.wired.com/listen Music: "Days Passed Me By" Performed by Kooley High Written Napoleon Wright II, Charlie Smarts, Tab-One

Check out WIRED's music issue featuring Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson at: http://www.wired.com/listen Music: "Unfound" Performed by Kooley High Written Napoleon Wright II, Charlie Smarts, Tab-One, Homeboy Sandman

Check out WIRED's music issue featuring Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson at: http://www.wired.com/listen Music: "Ya Times Up" Performed by Kooley High Written Foolery, Charlie Smarts, Tab-One, Rapsody, DJ Ill Digitz

Check out WIRED's music issue featuring Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson at: http://www.wired.com/listen Music: "Big Headed" Performed by Kooley High Written DJ Prince, Charlie Smarts, Tab-One

Check out WIRED's music issue featuring Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson at: http://www.wired.com/listen Music: THEESatisfaction "Existinct"

In this World Economic Forum discussion, Carnegie Mellon roboticist Howard Choset shows how snake-like robots can perform minimally invasive surgeries, decreasing cost and patient recovery time.

David Eisenberg, co-founder and CEO of Floored, explains how his company transforms real estate floor plans into 3D experiences using Intel's agile technology, allowing consumers to skip the walkthrough and take a virtual 3D tour instead. Brought to you by Intel.

The Philips Hue Connected Light Bulbs lets you set the mood—or not—with a digital app to control the color and brightness of the bulbs with just a few swipes.

Seth Meyers is ready to take over the Late Night throne, but with an antiquated show formula riddled with predictable monologues, commercials, celebrity interviews, commercials, skits—and did we mention more commercials?—how can the former S.N.L. star break out from the rest of the late night pack? Angry Nerd offers a simple solution.

Temperature, carbon output, water usage—that's all data that a farmer could use to get better crops. And it's also available, via satellite, to the average smart phone. In this World Economic Forum discussion, Wim Bastiaanssen, a water resource engineer at Delft University, argues that this tech could someday feed the world.

It’s small in size, but packs the strong, flavorful punch that comes from a French press, with the clean and simple design of a drip coffee.

It’s excruciatingly dull and doesn’t even feature the most important awards on the telecast—highlighting best actor over best scientific and technical achievement? The nerve! Angry Nerd offers advice on how to improve this year’s Oscar awards ceremony.

Infrared5 co-founders Chris and Rebecca Allen are revolutionizing the multi-screen experience. With their popular computer game Brass Monkey they’re bringing people together with socially, multi-screen experiences that turn smart phones into game controllers and PC/Tablets into consoles. Brought to you by Intel.

Director Peter Jackson and FXguide’s Mike Seymour reveal how a pivotal seven-minute action sequence in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug was created with a combined 98 hours of footage from aerial shots, green-screen sets, live-action shoots, and complex CG environments.

Can you reduce an earthquake’s impact before it strikes? In this World Economic Forum discussion, Japan’s director of land and real property market, Satoru Nishikawa, explains how better planning for natural disasters can help us manage catastrophic risk, enabling quicker recovery times.

Pertinent question about the Mr. Peabody and Sherman cartoon: Why? It's a half-century-old cartoon with no brand recognition. But more to the point, all these expensive reboots tend to take away the things that made the original kids' shows…weird.

For the latest reboot of sci-fi classic RoboCop, filmmakers opted for a mix of visual effects to achieve a realistic look. Fxguide’s Mike Seymour dives into the combination of creating a special effects suit for star Joel Kinnaman to wear, and the post CGI work that helped bring the half-man/half-robot to life.

Aimed at helping multisport athletes improve their training, the GPS-enabled timepiece stores running, swimming, and cycling stats all on your wrist, while also tracking heart rate.

Should people have the same rights and obligations online as they do in the real world? MIT computer scientist Alex “Sandy” Pentland explains how developing social networks as trusted networks will help establish a sustainable digital ecology for years to come.

CuteCircuit co-founder and creative director Francesca Rosella believes in technology you can wear. She explains how, with the help of co-founder Ryan Genz, CuteCircuit is able to create interactive fashion—like a dress that’s illuminated by LED lights or a skirt that displays a message—with technology that integrates seamlessly into garments. Brought to you by Intel

Veronica Mars fans pledged more than $5 million on Kickstarter to get a film adaptation of the show off the ground. And while Angry Nerd is all for crowdfunding for a good cause, when it comes to fans calling the shots in return for financial backing, the money-making model might end up causing more harm than good.

Oenophiles wax poetic about the look, feel, smell, and taste of red wine. But what’s actually inside the drink? Dozens of complicated molecules from the grape’s juice, seeds, and skin. Oh, and alcohol.