Alasdair Wilkins, Author at Gizmodo

Kenneth Branagh explains why Thor really is like Shakespeare…and the royal wedding

The director, writers, and cast of Thor recently sat down to explain why Thor is the first superhero that’s actually science fiction, how to make an Asgardian prince relatable, and what lies ahead for the characters in future movies. Cast members Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Thomas Hiddleston (Loki), Anthony Hopkins (Odin), Idris Elba (Heimdall), Jaimie Alexander…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

The strength of dark matter might vary with the seasons…but why?

There’s no reason at all why something as mysterious and cosmic should sync up with the changing of seasons on Earth…and yet now two independent sources claim that’s exactly what it’s doing. Just what is going on here? Researchers with the DAMA experiment inside Italy’s Gran Sasso Mountain have been claiming since 1998 that they…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

Does gravity make antimatter fall up instead of down?

This seems like a straightforward enough question, but we actually have no idea whether gravity repels or attracts antimatter, all because we’ve never actually managed to trap enough antimatter at once to test it. That may be about to change. The big breakthrough comes from CERN’s Antihydrogen Laser Physics Apparatus (or ALPHA), who just announced…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

Incredible Earthlike planet has the density of solid lead

At first, the exoplanet 55 Cancri e didn’t look all that impressive: just another large rocky planet circling its star every couple of days. But a recalculation of its orbit has revealed that it’s the galaxy’s densest known planet. A couple days’ difference in orbital time can make a massive difference, as it did with…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

The future of the Marvel movie universe revealed! Plus casting updates for The Hunger Games, Prometheus, and Game of Thrones!

The minds behind the Marvel movie universe explain what to expect from Thor and The Avengers, plus which two superheroes will be next to get their own movies. Plus new Spidey set photos, lots of Doctor Who hints, and more! Spoilers ahead! Top image from Doctor Who. Thor Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige discusses the…

Television Alasdair Wilkins

Why don’t asexual fish hybrids rule the world?

When a pair of freshwater fish species reproduce together, they create hybrids who are able to reproduce asexually. This ability should offer the hybrids an unstoppable evolutionary advantage…so why aren’t we bowing down before our asexual fish hybrid masters? The red-bellied dace and finescale dace are relatives of the minnow and carp, and their reproductive…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

Will the internet become a new archaeological record?

The internet preserves unimaginable amounts of data, including huge amounts of minutiae describing people’s everyday lives. So here’s the question: is this information worth saving for future generations to study, or is this the sort of data that’s best forgotten? According to recent estimates, two-thirds of all Americans store at least some personal information on…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

Grass-eating hominid was the primate equivalent of a cow

Although the ancient hominid Paranthropus boisei has earned the nickname “Nutcracker Man”, his actual diet was quite a bit softer. Unlike any other known human ancestor, this ancient hominid’s powerful jaw and huge molars were actually used to eat grass. Researchers had long known that Paranthropus boisei used his huge mouth to crush nuts, seeds,…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

Speaking multiple languages can give you multiple personalities

The idea that language affects the way we look at the world is hardly new. But could your personality actually change depending on which language you’re speaking? That’s the idea put forward by a new psychological study. This study straddles the line between fascinating and utterly bonkers. Psychologists at Hong Kong Polytechnic University discovered that…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

The Avengers’ villain speaks! Plus does Ridley Scott’s Prometheus feature an unexpected star?

The Avengers’s enemy discusses his plans… but the bigger threat might be some leaked script pages. Plus set photos from The Amazing Spider-Man’s New York filming, and casting updates for The Hobbit, The Dark Tower, and World War Z. Plus an unexpected character on Fringe! Spoilers ahead… Top image from Green Lantern. The Avengers Production…

Television Alasdair Wilkins

Pupfish are undergoing mysteriously supercharged evolution

Tiny pupfish found in the shallow, salty lakes of Mexico and the Caribbean are experiencing some of the fastest evolution ever seen, changing their features 130 times faster than their fishy relatives. And we don’t have the foggiest idea why. There are 50 distinct species of pupfish found everywhere from New England to Venezuela. According…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

The colliding Antennae galaxies create 500,000 light-years of chaos

Two mighty galaxies far away are smashing into each other, as vast trails of gas and dust mix and merge into what will ultimately be a single galaxy. And the fury of the Antennae extends far from the collision itself. A NASA astronomer explains what’s going on in this photo: Some 60 million light-years away…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

Why a few “ums” and “ers” actually help children learn language

Filler words like “um” and “er” may seem like the enemy of good speech – just ask anyone about to do a bit of public speaking – but they actually play a crucial role in helping children learn the language. That’s what Professor Richard Aslin of the University of Rochester has discovered. While lots of…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

Pigs loved the mud too much to bother evolving sweat glands

Pigs are one of many animals that wallow in the mud, using the roll in filthy water to keep cool in the absence of sweat glands. And that particular arrangement might be just how ancient pigs liked it. Dutch researcher Marc Bracke thinks this wallowing behavior says something fundamental about pigs and their fellow wallowers,…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

The supposedly extinct ivory-billed woodpecker might be back from the dead

The ivory-billed woodpecker was hunted to the point of extinction back in the 1930s, and ornithologists had long assumed it had died out entirely. But one amateur birdwatcher swears that he’s seen them…and now he’s out to get some proof. Louisiana resident Michael Collins claims without hesitation that he’s spotted these woodpeckers at least ten…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

The Ender’s Game movie finds a distributor! Plus hear from the casts of Elysium, The Avengers, and Breaking Dawn!

The Hunger Games casts a 30 Rock actress and is considering a trio of intriguing actors. Draco Malfoy actor Tom Felton explains his new villainy in Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Jeff Bridges might be a zombie cop. Spoilers from here on out! Top image from Thor. Thor Natalie Portman, Chris Hemsworth, and…

Television Alasdair Wilkins

Physics could create one-way soundproofing

The famous one-way mirror used in police interrogations isn’t really one-way – it’s just a trick of clever lighting. But physics could produce true one-way mirrors, and even walls that are only soundproofed in one direction. The one-way mirrors we have now only work because of a lighting imbalance – the people watching have to…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

Video proof that Mark Sheppard is science fiction’s ultimate badass

With his recent appearance on Doctor Who, Mark Sheppard cemented his place as science fiction’s greatest character actor. But we’ve been loving Sheppard for years…and we assembled this video of every last one of his scifi roles to prove his awesomeness. This covers the greatest Sheppard moments, from his recent appearances on Warehouse 13 and…

Television Alasdair Wilkins

Our most traumatic memories could be erased, thanks to the marine snail

Although the idea of erasing your memories may sound horrific, there may be nothing better for those dealing with severe trauma. Now we’re one step closer to making it a reality, with a little help from the tiny marine snail. UCLA researcher David Glanzman led the study, which discovered that it’s possible to erase long-term…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

New trailers for X-Men: First Class, Green Lantern, Transformers 3, and Rise of the Planet of the Apes!

The Superman reboot casts General Zod’s right-hand woman. The cast of X-Men: First Class takes us further inside the movie and their characters. Ryan Reynolds explains the tone of Green Lantern, while Emma Stone talks Amazing Spider-Man’s filming schedule. Spoilers from this point forward. Top image from Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Man of Steel…

Television Alasdair Wilkins

Alasdair Wilkins

Kenneth Branagh explains why Thor really is like Shakespeare…and the royal wedding

The strength of dark matter might vary with the seasons…but why?

Does gravity make antimatter fall up instead of down?

Incredible Earthlike planet has the density of solid lead

The future of the Marvel movie universe revealed! Plus casting updates for The Hunger Games, Prometheus, and Game of Thrones!

Why don’t asexual fish hybrids rule the world?

Will the internet become a new archaeological record?

Grass-eating hominid was the primate equivalent of a cow

Speaking multiple languages can give you multiple personalities

The Avengers’ villain speaks! Plus does Ridley Scott’s Prometheus feature an unexpected star?

Pupfish are undergoing mysteriously supercharged evolution

The colliding Antennae galaxies create 500,000 light-years of chaos

Why a few “ums” and “ers” actually help children learn language

Pigs loved the mud too much to bother evolving sweat glands

The supposedly extinct ivory-billed woodpecker might be back from the dead

The Ender’s Game movie finds a distributor! Plus hear from the casts of Elysium, The Avengers, and Breaking Dawn!

Physics could create one-way soundproofing

Video proof that Mark Sheppard is science fiction’s ultimate badass

Our most traumatic memories could be erased, thanks to the marine snail

New trailers for X-Men: First Class, Green Lantern, Transformers 3, and Rise of the Planet of the Apes!

Roku’s 2025 Streaming Stick HD Is 40% Off to Compete With Amazon Fire TV Stick During Spring Sale

Epstein Victims Sue Google, Claim AI Mode Exposed Personal Information

‘Wicked Spot’ Is a Fun, Sapphic Rom-Com That Yeets a Witch Into the Magical World of Influencer Culture

Anthropic and OpenAI Just Gave Us a Glimpse Into the Future of Model Pricing

Amazon Slashes 63% Off Acer Aspire Desktop for a Limited-Time Spring Sale, With Keyboard and Mouse Included

Smart Glasses Now Have One of the Vision Pro’s Best Features

Marvel Just Put ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2 in a Very Weird Place in the MCU Timeline

Trump Drops $1B to Kill 2 Wind Farms, Then Watches a Bigger One Go Online

Scientists Found a Weird New Way to Wash Fruits and Vegetables

White House’s Mysterious ‘Covfefe Moment’ Was Stupider Than We Imagined

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound

Asus ROG’s Massive Swift OLED Gaming Monitor Epitomizes Excess in the Best Way

The Ikea Varmblixt Smart Lamp Fills a Donut Hole in My Life

Nothing Headphone A vs. Headphone 1: Which Pair of ANC Wireless Headphones Wins?

Asus ROG’s Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds Might Be Better Than Wearing a Headset

Nintendo’s Talking Flower Is Annoying as Hell. I Love It

Level Lock Pro Review: As Good as a Secret Smart Lock Gets

Apple Studio Display XDR Review: It Looks So Good, I Wish It Were an iMac

RayNeo Air 4 Pro Review: My Eyes Love These Video Glasses, but My Nose Disagrees