What crocs on treadmills can teach us about dinosaurs.

Want to know how a real pro steals our nation's seat of power? Roland Emmerich, allow us to introduce you to General Zod.

Jonathan Blow, creator of Braid, tells Chris Kohler and Peter Rubin what to expect from his new 3D exploration/puzzle game The Witness. SPACE INVADERS FOOTAGE (C) TAITO CORPORATION 1978 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Coffee is the lifeblood of most of our mornings, but do you know what’s actually inside that cup of coffee you’re drinking each day? You’d be surprised.

Learn the magic formula inside that classic yellow tub. Hint: there’s more to it than flour and water.

We break down the science of strike-anywhere matches to see what makes sparks fly.

The Transformer known as Bumblebee keeps changing his alternative automobile form, and Chris Baker is issuing a moving violation. Is the Autobot a VW Bug? Or a mustang? A station wagon? A Zamboni?! Stop the madness!

They’re tiny, sticky pieces that pack a big punch. From hydrogen peroxide to sodium hydroxide, find out which ingredients make up teeth whitening strips, and how they work together to transform coffee- and tartar-stained teeth into pearly whites.

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.

You know it’s for “short shorts,” but what are the chemical compounds that actually make up the no-shave follicle-removing cream? A handful of skin repair agents and hair removal ingredients intended to leave skin soft and silky smooth.

It was a weapon of choice in the first World War, and these days, law enforcement uses a less potent recipe of tear gas to pacify a room or control a crowd. Discover what’s inside the sensory-attacking irritant that can be deadly if used at high concentrations.

Inkjet cartridges are comprised of 95 percent water, but what’s inside the other 5 percent? We break apart the compact containers to find out what’s inside the mostly liquid assets.

It’s the preferred poison of Russians, dieters, and college freshmen, but what’s actually inside the fire water? It's rarely potatoes, actually. At its purest, it's mostly ethanol that has been distilled from wheat, rye, or corn and diluted with water. Find out what else is inside the clear spirit.

Creating a memorial from the ruins of 2,983 lives: that's the difficult task faced by the creators of the 9/11 Museum. On the eve of its opening, we speak with director Alice Greenwald and designer Jake Barton about how to commemorate a tragic experience without recreating it. Music: "Sun Will Set" written performed by Zoe Keating From the album - One Cello x 16: Natoma (c) 2005 020202 Music (ASCAP). All rights reserved

Starting a hybrid car is as easy as pushing a button, but what’s really beneath the hood? For starters, a 100-lb rechargeable battery pack containing smaller nickel-metal hydride and lithium-ion batteries, similar to those in your cell phone.

It’s four inches of spicy, salted, processed meat, but is there actually beef inside the tiny stick? Well, that depends on your definition of meat.

What is a robot in 2014? Founder, chairman, and CTO of Rethink Robotics Rodney Brooks and co-author of The Second Machine Age, Andrew McAfee, sit down to discuss the past, present, and future of robotics.

The energy drink purports to "give you wings," and it has a close, personal relationship with vodka. But it isn't the sugar that amps you up—it's good, old-fashioned caffeine.

You can't see it, but there's a lot going on inside a glass of tap water. The faucet aqua is essentially an invisible cocktail of sulfates, resins, varying levels of lead, and so much more. Find out what else is inside.

Now that the prototype is built, it's time to start constructing the full-scale pieces of the giant creature. In this episode, watch the dragon-like head come to life through an advanced sculpting process, after which it's refined, detailed, and painted for a realistic look.

What do sex dolls, caulking, and lotion have in common? They all contain active ingredients also found in Trojan's Tingly Warmth Lubricant. Find out what else is inside the slick sex aid.

Scripts for upcoming episodes of Doctor Who have leaked online, but should you read them before they air? It doesn't matter! The scripts aren't the secret to the Doctor's longevity. It's the companions that make or break any given episode, arc, or season, and Angry Nerd can prove it.

How do you make a 2,000-pound creature move with fluidity and ease? Find out, as we break down the animatronics and mechanics that control the mobility of the giant beast, including nostril flares, mouth movements, and more.

Hell hath no fury like a baby's bowel movements. Find out what anti-bacterial and moisturizing agents are in triple-paste diaper cream, helping to keep bums healthy and clean-ish.

Anyone who’s played a round knows that golf isn’t a science, but that’s not the case when it comes to golf balls. The compact, dimpled balls have come along way from goose feathers wrapped in leather—find out what’s inside golf balls.

You can find them on Halloween, at raves, and in the military, but how do the compact, plastic tubes of neon light actually work?

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

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

It contains flammable agents and edible wax, but no kiwis are actually harmed in the making of this shoe polish. Find out what’s inside the shoe care product that’ll keep your wingtips in top form.

Justin and Erik ask fans for their picks on upcoming items to smash.

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?

We gave tech writer Brent Rose $500 to stress-test Silicon Valley’s overnight sensation, Magic. From meatballs to medicinal cannabis to Mexican wrestling, see what unfolds when he pushes the new text message-based delivery service.

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.

Instagram wants to make it easier for users to find what they want. Mike Krieger acknowledged that the discovery opportunities for finding new stuff on Instagram is still somewhat limited, but they're developing their search functionality (and explore tab) with Facebook to help users.

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.

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.

Anki Overdrive combines the nostaligic toy race car fun of Hot Wheels with the smartphone control and artificial intelligence of Sphero. It's fun, really fun, but not without a few wrong turns.

“The Martian” director Ridley Scott explains how NASA’s latest discovery on Mars would have affected the film’s plot and why he has zero interest in traveling to the far-off planet himself.

Hitching a ride with the pilots of the Breitling Jet Team made me feel like chewed gum being slowly, ruthlessly pulled apart. I want to do it again.

The world was treated to the newest Star Wars The Force Awakens trailer on Monday. WIRED senior editor Peter Rubin breaks down what we know and don't know about the new film.

Sure, they’re pesky critters but termites can teach architects a thing or two when it comes building design. When creating giant mounds the insects build channels within them to help with ventilation. See how architects are attempting to replicate that process to create better heating and air conditioning systems in giant skyscrapers.

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.

One’s in the water and one’s in the air, but they share one thing in common: both are trying to reduce drag along their surfaces. Find out why scientists are studying humpback whales as they look to create more efficient wind turbines.

If you’re not crashing, you’re not flying. At least that’s the idea behind the Drone Racing League—a relatively new organization where drone pilots compete by racing high-performance aircrafts through tight and intricate courses. Find out what it’s like to fly one of the technically advanced drones from the pilots who are paving the way.

Why don’t space shuttles float away? How do you know when to go to sleep? Astronaut Kjell Lindgren answers questions about life in space from a few intrepid kindergartners.

Mozido? Nutanix? We gave the Silicon Valley cast the names of real startups and asked them to guess what they do. This is NSFW, so put those headphones on.

WhatsApp just made the scope of the Apple-FBI encryption battle look kinda small. WIRED's senior staff writer, Cade Metz, breaks down exactly why this is a big deal.

An exclusive WIRED clip of what daily computing with Magic Leap technology could be like. Recorded directly through Magic Leap technology.

When Google's AI beat the world's Go champion 4-1, it stirred a certain sadness in many people. But the reality is the technologies at the heart of AlphaGo are the future. So it's a time to be excited not scared.