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Jenny McGrath

Jenny McGrath

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Jenny McGrath is a senior writer at Digital Trends covering the intersection of tech and the arts and the environment. Before joining she wrote blogs for a software company and articles about TV for Wetpaint.com. As Digital Trends’ first home editor, she reviewed tons of appliances and smart home gadgets. In her free time, she likes to read and pretends to solve mysteries.

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The best scary podcasts to keep you up all night

As the dark nights roll in, cozy up with our collection of the spookiest, scariest podcasts around -- and some less-terrifying picks for younger listeners, too.

How to decorate your home with light strips

Here are some of the coolest uses for LED lights we've seen around the house, along with instructions on how to make these LED creations yourself.

The best laundry apps for Android and iOS

No time for laundry with a busy schedule? These apps can take it off of your hands with personalized laundry services. Here are your options and what they do.

The best podcasts for kids of any age

Whether your kids love science or music, there are some amazing podcasts out there. We've picked some of the best for all age groups, from toddlers to teens.
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Supercomputers, simulations, and the new science of extreme weather attribution

Digital Trends interviews Dr. Friederike Otto about her book Angry Weather: Heat Waves, Floods, Storms, and the New Science of Climate Change.
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California will ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035

By 2035, all new vehicles sold in California must be zero-emission, according to a new executive order Gov. Gavin Newsom signed on Wednesday.
Tesla Model 3

Elon Musk says ‘profound’ Autopilot update will roll out to Teslas soon

During Battery Day, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the cars' Autopilot feature will get a "profound" update.

The birth of big data: How Simulmatics predicted the future 60 years ago

If Then: How the Simulmatics Corporation Invented the Future is a new book by historian Jill Lepore.
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The UN’s 2020 biodiversity report is ugly, but there’s still hope

The United Nations new report on biodiversity finds none of the targets set in 2010 have been met.
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With coronavirus on campus, college freshmen face a disorienting orientation

Addison Cross is a college freshman at Texas A&M who's learning the ropes as she navigates her first year at school.
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It’s time to give Siri, Alexa, and other smart home devices a feminist reboot

Dr. Yolande Strengers and Dr. Jenny Kennedy talk about their new book, Smart Wife: Why Siri, Alexa, and Other Smart Home Devices Need a Feminist Reboot.
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Uncovering nature’s biggest secrets with a $460M, continent-scale observatory

NEON is an ecological observatory with 81 sites across the U.S. For 30 years, it will gather scientific data about climate and biodiversity.
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Serena Williams to address women in tech at 2020 Grace Hopper Celebration

The Grace Hopper Celebration brings together women in tech. It's completely online this year, including Serena Williams' keynote.
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Privacy is dead, but it may not matter as much as we think

Digital Trends interviewed Firmin DeBrabander about his new book, Life after Privacy: Reclaiming Democracy in a Surveillance Society.
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Meet the startup founder who combats climate change by canceling cow burps

Cows release methane into the atmosphere during their normal digestion. Adding seaweed to their food could help, says Symbrosia's Alexia Akbay.
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This is how the universe will end (according to a theoretical astrophysicist)

In her new book, The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking), Katie Mack explains five ways the universe could end. Digital Trends interviewed her.
Miele Triflex HX1 Cat & Dog vacuum upright

Miele Triflex HX1 Cat & Dog Cordless Vacuum review

The Miele Triflex HX1 Cat & Dog cordless vacuum has a lot going for it. It's about as pricey as a high-end Dyson, but it has some unique features, too.
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Can you offset your carbon footprint with a smartphone app? Klima thinks so

Klima lets you input your information to get a sense of your carbon footprint. You can also pay to offset your carbon-heavy lifestyle.
Canadian Milne Ice Shelf Collapse

A Canadian ice shelf has collapsed into giant ice islands

The Milne Ice Shelf was located in the Canadian Arctic. It recently collapsed into two giant ice islands.
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NOAA updates its 2020 hurricane season forecast — and it’s not good news

NOAA released a new outlook for the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, predicting more named storms than usual.
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Data storage and dirty energy: What Big Tech’s carbon neutral pledges leave out

Big Tech companies position themselves as leaders by touting their carbon neutral pledges. But these don't always paint the full picture.
Emily Levesque

How ‘The Last Stargazers’ are changing astronomy

Dr. Emily Levesque is an astronomer who looks for dying stars. In her new book, The Last Stargazers, she explores how technology is changing astronomy.
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Plastic pollution in our oceans is set to double by 2040

A new study from the Pew Research Trust found that the amount of plastic found in oceans will more than double by 2040 unless drastic measures are taken.
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She lived in a simulated Mars habitat for four months. Here’s what she learned

Kate Greene, author of Once Upon a Time I Lived on Mars, spoke to Digital Trends about her book and how her simulated mission feels similar to the pandemic.
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Polar bears could disappear from most of the planet by 2100

A recent study from Nature Climate Change predicts polar bears could disappear from most of the Earth by the year 2100, due to greenhouse gas emissions.
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The UN wants your air conditioning to stop heating up the planet

Air conditioning is a necessity in some parts of the world, but a new United Nations report says it must become more efficient or climate change will worsen.
microbiome vault

Noah’s Ark, but for germs. Inside the plan to build a doomsday bank of bacteria

Researchers who study microorganisms that live on and in humans think they're worth preserving. They want to create a microbiota vault in case of emergency.
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Dozens of mayors want a green pandemic recovery

C40 Cities is a group of mayors dedicated to tackling climate change. They think the coronavirus should transform cities into car-free, mass transit utopias.
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Winning the misinformation war is like playing a game of ‘whack-a-troll’

Nina Jankowicz is a disinformation fellow at the Wilson Center. Her new book is How to Lose the Information War: Russia, Fake News, and the Future of Conflict.
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What’s in Joe Biden’s $2 trillion climate plan?

Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, released a plan aimed at addressing climate change ahead of the 2020 election. Here's what's in it.
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Global temperatures could reach the Paris Accords threshold soon

The World Meteorological Organization released a forecast that suggests the global temperature is likely to be 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
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How to watch and stream Fourth of July fireworks this year

Fourth of July 2020 is going to be a little different this year because of the coronavirus. There are still ways to stream and watch fireworks on TV, though.
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Queer Eye’s Karamo Brown: Social media isn’t a place for healthy conversation

Karamo Brown is one of the Fab Five on Netflix's Queer Eye reboot. He doesn't believe social media sites are the best places to have productive discussions.
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Gene-edited mosquitoes are ready for the U.S. — but is the U.S. ready for them?

Oxitec has an emergency use authorization to release genetically modified mosquitoes in Florida. Some worry the EPA hasn't consulted enough outside experts.