Alasdair Wilkins, Author at Gizmodo

Text messaging actually makes you a better speller

With the plethora of acronyms and creative spellings available to the modern text messaging user, it seems only logical that knowledge of the actual spellings would be forgotten. And yet, against all odds, text messaging can actually improve spelling abilities. That’s the somewhat counterintuitive finding of University of Central Missouri psychologists D.S. Kreiner and D.L.…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

The Superman reboot could feature a whole new Krypton. Plus what’s the future of Doctor Who’s arch-enemy?

Man of Steel might feature more Kryptonians than just Superman and General Zod. The Captain America writers talk sequel plans. Plus tons of details for Thor, Avengers, Super 8, Transformers 3, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and more! Major spoilers ahead… Top image from Doctor Who. Man of Steel An inside source has…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins and Charlie Jane Anders

Language may have developed for the first and only time 100,000 years ago

The origins of language are shrouded in mystery, with linguists unable to probe beyond about 10,000 years ago. But a radical new study reveals language sounds spread just like human genes, suggesting Africa was the sole birthplace of language. Historical linguistics has been able to pull off some absolutely incredible feats of language reconstruction –…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

Popular whale songs reveal the first ever non-human cultural exchange

The haunting songs produced by whales are shockingly similar to human pop music: one single hit tune spreads across the ocean, and becomes the preferred whale mating tune. And, just like the modern music industry, it all runs on remixes. Humpback whales are one of a number of whale species that produce these beautiful, mysterious…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

Massive intergalactic radio jets would totally dwarf the Moon…if only we could see them

This strange purple plume that dwarfs the Moon is what we’d see if our eyes could perceive radio waves. These jets, over a million light-years long, are spewing from the massive black hole in the Centaurus A galaxy. The black hole at the center of Centaurus A is many millions of times more massive than…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

Matthew Vaughn reveals his plans for X-Men: First Class sequels. Plus Terminator 5 hints and a possible Spider-Man cameo!

X-Men: First Class star Michael Fassbender discusses Magneto’s mission and mutant sex lives. Diane Lane drops a Man of Steel hint, Hugh Jackman talks Real Steel, and The Amazing Spider-Man might actually feature a certain sexy redhead. Spoilers from here on out! Top image from X-Men: First Class. X-Men: First Class Matthew Vaughn, Bryan Singer,…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

Why a tungsten dust cloud could help solve the space junk crisis

After fifty years of space exploration, humanity has left well over 5000 tons of debris up there, and the ever growing pile of space junk poses a serious risk to spacecraft. Now there’s a solution…and it’s only slightly crazy. Space debris is generally characterized as either large enough to be tracked or too small to…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

Life could actually survive inside a black hole

Black holes have a well-deserved reputation for being cosmic destroyers, ripping apart anything that comes into contact with their intense gravitational forces. But a radical new theory says advanced intelligent life could live on planets inside black holes. Professor Vyacheslav Dokuchaev of Moscow’s Russian Academy of Sciences came up with this strange idea, which builds…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

Wolf spiders are the first known species where the male cannibalizes the female

Several kinds of female animals, including spiders, are known to devour their male counterparts, often right after they finish having sex. But every so often, the female isn’t deadlier than the male, as South America’s wolf spider will tell you. The nocturnal arachnid is found all along South America’s Atlantic coast. Researchers from the Clemente…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

Why humans are all much more related than you think

All humans can trace their family tree back to a surprisingly small group of common ancestors. Every person on Earth’s most recent common ancestor might have died less than 2000 years ago. A Question of Proper Breeding When we get right down to it, we must face the truth that we’re all hopelessly inbred. It’s…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

Awesome photos from Men In Black III and Doctor Who. Plus a Torchwood star could be joining the Dark Knight Rises!

The new General Zod discusses his casting in Man of Steel. Green Lantern has almost found its Kilowog, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter has its villain, The Dark Knight Rises casts three supporting roles, and what secrets does Thor’s ending hold? Plus Bradley Cooper could be starring in the new Crow movie, and we get our…

Television Alasdair Wilkins

The creators and stars of Mortal Kombat: Legacy explain why the hell you’d go to a death tournament

The nine-part digital series Mortal Kombat: Legacy premiered earlier today, and we had a chance to talk to the creative team about this gritty new take on the long-running franchise, including a promise that more fantastical elements are coming soon. The series is the brainchild of Kevin Tancharoen, a one-time dancer and choreographer who has…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

Would a Soviet Moon landing have forced the US to go to Mars?

Yuri Gagarin’s historic flight was just one of many Soviet victories in the Space Race, but the United States still won the big victory when they landed on the Moon. But what if the Russians had gotten there first? That’s the question explored by Piers Bizony, co-writer of the Gagarin biography Starman, as well as…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

A drug that could reset your sleep schedule, and send you to bed earlier

As people get older, their sleep cycle start to shift, which means older people tend to go to sleep at much earlier times. Here’s the crazy part: a little blood-related trickery can make young people sleep just like the elderly. Our sleep cycles are governed by the circadian genes in our cells. These genes are…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

The world as Yuri Gagarin saw it

Fifty years ago today, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to enter outer space. In doing so, he didn’t just take humanity into a bold new era of exploration – he also got to see our planet in a way no one else ever had before. There aren’t any photos of the Earth…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

Edgar Wright confirms Ant-Man won’t be in The Avengers. Plus our first look at major returning characters on Fringe and Doctor Who!

Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish give a promising update on their Ant-Man script, but the character definitely has no part in The Avengers. Tons of revealing new images for Doctor Who, and the Fringe cast prepares for an epic return. Spoilers from here on out! Top image from Transformers: Dark of the Moon. The Avengers…

Television Alasdair Wilkins

The villains of Star Trek 2, Doctor Who season 6 and the Superman reboot could surprise you

Chris Hemsworth explains that Thor will be taking some advanced hammer wielding courses between now and The Avengers. Roberto Orci drops the most cryptic Star Trek hint ever. Plus the latest insane Superman rumor reveals a surprising possible female villain! Spoilers from here on out! The Avengers Thor star Chris Hemsworth says the movie starts…

Television Alasdair Wilkins

Britain’s first recession was 2,500 years ago

In its simplest terms, European prehistory can be divided into three parts: the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age. But there’s a mysterious 300 year gap in prehistoric Britain, created by one of humanity’s first economic bubbles. Between 800 and 500 BCE, the archaeological evidence tells a strange story. Ancient Britons weren’t…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

Chimpanzee yawning could explain human empathy

Just like humans, chimpanzees yawn when they’re bored or sleepy, and they also yawn contagiously when they see another chimp do it. That discovery could help unlock the secrets of human empathy. Empathy is one of the more subtle mental processes to understand, because it involves someone perceiving the emotional response of another and then…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

Has The Dark Tower found its Roland? Plus an intriguing replacement for Darren Aronofosky on The Wolverine!

The Dark Tower may have cast its gunslinging star. One of sci-fi’s most promising young directors could take over on The Wolverine. Plus even more tantalizing Doctor Who hints, Andy Serkis explains his expanded role for The Hobbit, and more! Spoilers ahead! Top image from Captain America. The Dark Tower Javier Bardem is reportedly in…

Television Alasdair Wilkins

Alasdair Wilkins

Text messaging actually makes you a better speller

The Superman reboot could feature a whole new Krypton. Plus what’s the future of Doctor Who’s arch-enemy?

Language may have developed for the first and only time 100,000 years ago

Popular whale songs reveal the first ever non-human cultural exchange

Massive intergalactic radio jets would totally dwarf the Moon…if only we could see them

Matthew Vaughn reveals his plans for X-Men: First Class sequels. Plus Terminator 5 hints and a possible Spider-Man cameo!

Why a tungsten dust cloud could help solve the space junk crisis

Life could actually survive inside a black hole

Wolf spiders are the first known species where the male cannibalizes the female

Why humans are all much more related than you think

Awesome photos from Men In Black III and Doctor Who. Plus a Torchwood star could be joining the Dark Knight Rises!

The creators and stars of Mortal Kombat: Legacy explain why the hell you’d go to a death tournament

Would a Soviet Moon landing have forced the US to go to Mars?

A drug that could reset your sleep schedule, and send you to bed earlier

The world as Yuri Gagarin saw it

Edgar Wright confirms Ant-Man won’t be in The Avengers. Plus our first look at major returning characters on Fringe and Doctor Who!

The villains of Star Trek 2, Doctor Who season 6 and the Superman reboot could surprise you

Britain’s first recession was 2,500 years ago

Chimpanzee yawning could explain human empathy

Has The Dark Tower found its Roland? Plus an intriguing replacement for Darren Aronofosky on The Wolverine!

Some of the Most Hyped Gym Supplements Are Fake, Unregulated, or Both

The Head of HBO Explains What it Takes to Get a ‘Game of Thrones’ Spinoff Going

Elon Musk’s Lawyer Claims Jury’s 420 ‘Joke’ Proves He Didn’t Receive a Fair Trial

‘Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice’ Is a Genre Blending Delight

Leaked Anthropic Model Presents ‘Unprecedented Cybersecurity Risks,’ Much to Pentagon’s Pleasure

Don’t miss out: Bitdefender, One of the World’s Best Antiviruses, Is Now on Sale

The Secret to Better Sperm? It’s Probably Already on Your Schedule

Lego Is Leaning Into Your Marvel Memories With a New Helicarrier Set

Toshiba’s 65-inch Smart Fire TV Now Matches 43-Inch Pricing After 44% Drop on Amazon

Kash Patel’s Email Account Hacked, Iran-Linked Group Takes Credit

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