Annalee Newitz, Author at Gizmodo

The Dress and #Ferguson Are the Two Sides of Social Media Explosions

To understand the mass hysteria around The Dress last week, you can’t compare it to other memes. You have to compare it to political events like #Ferguson, which are its diametrical opposite. Except in one way. Photo by Jeffrey B. Banke via Shutterstock But first, let’s not fool ourselves into thinking that The Dress came…

Tech News Annalee Newitz

Watch the FCC Vote on Net Neutrality Live, Right Now

Over at the FCC, the regulatory agency is voting on Net Neutrality — and they are streaming the vote live from 10:30 AM EST onward. Go watch it! The result of this vote will determine whether the internet remains a democratically-controlled common carrier, or becomes more like television, whose broadcasts are largely controlled by a…

Tech News Annalee Newitz

In the New Episode of Haphead, We Finally See the Gamer Underground

io9 is proud to be bringing you new episodes of indie series Haphead every week. Created by Jim Munroe, Haphead is the story of a VR gamer in a near-future dystopian Toronto. In the sixth episode, Maxine discovers where all the underground hapheads hang out — and what they do together. What I love about…

io9 Annalee Newitz

This House Was Designed Around the Rock that Almost Killed Its Owners

Sometimes a disaster becomes a feature. This is an actual home in Fountain City, Wisconsin, which was almost crushed by the very rock that is now its most intriguing architectural detail. Photo via Travel Wisconsin Over on Atlas Obscura, Eric Grundhauser explains: The home sat at the base of a steep hillside and on April…

Tech News Annalee Newitz

Well, That’s One Solution to the Parking Problem

When technology fails to create more parking, just use magic. It’s the only way. This amazing piece of mind-bending photomashery was created by UK artist and designer Alex Chinneck. See more of his work on his website. via Twisted Sifter

Tech News Annalee Newitz

Lenovo CTO: We Have No Intention Of Shipping a Superfish Product Again

Last week, news broke that many Lenovo computers were shipped with a dangerous piece of Superfish adware, which made the computers vulnerable to malicious hacks. Now, with a class action lawsuit looming and anti-virus vendors pledging to root out the adware, Lenovo’s CTO has said his company is done with Superfish. https://gizmodo.com/lenovo-joins-the-malevolent-side-of-the-online-advertis-1686922941 I spoke with…

Privacy & Security Annalee Newitz

The Double Cyclone Disaster That Smashed into Australia This Week

Here you can see a composite satellite photo of two cyclones hitting northern Australia within six hours of each other this week. In the upper left is Cyclone Lam, and in the lower right is Cyclone Marcia. It’s beautiful but also terrifying. According to NASA’s Earth Observatory: Northern Australia was battered by two potent tropical…

Tech News Annalee Newitz

What’s the Worst Reason You’ve Heard for Switching to Apple or Android?

People are always howling about how you NEED to switch to Apple or Android devices. iOS is the best! Android is the … whatever rhymes with Android and is awesome! Sometimes they have perfectly good reasons for switching. Other times, not so much. What are the worst reasons you’ve heard? Hey it’s Friday afternoon and…

Tech News Annalee Newitz

Lenovo Joins the Malevolent Side of the Online Advertising Industry

On Wednesday evening, the news began to break on Twitter. Computer security analysts had discovered something nefarious about a piece of advertising software called Superfish, which comes pre-installed on cheap Lenovo laptops like the Yoga 2. Superfish was leaving the laptops wide open to takeover by malicious adversaries. And it was all being done to…

Privacy & Security Annalee Newitz

Find Out Where All Our Space Probes Are Right Now

The many space agencies of Earth have sent out a number of probes over the years to explore our solar system and beyond. Now Spacehack founder Ariel Waldman and SETI web developer Lisa Ballard have created a helpful guide to all our currently functioning probes — along with amazing minimalist designs for each one. The…

Space & Spaceflight Annalee Newitz

A Guide to the Most Destructive Events in the History of Earth

If you want some epic disaster tales this evening, you can watch this How Stuff Works podcast about possible causes of the five mass extinctions that nearly extinguished all life on Earth. After that cheerful topic, I also talk about why scientists believe we’re heading into a sixth mass extinction. I’ve been obsessed with mass…

Tech News Annalee Newitz

This Periodic Table Quilt Was Made by a Robot

When he’s not busy with his job as co-founder of Wolfram Research, Theodore Gray makes a lot of incredible things. Sometimes they have to do with metal and fire. But fairly regularly, he uses a robot to make a quilt. And this is the quilt which rules them all. You can see more of Gray’s…

Tech News Annalee Newitz

If You Love Computers, This Novel Should Be on Your Must-Read List

Liu Cixin’s science fiction novel The Three Body Problem was a smash hit bestseller in China, and has finally been translated into English by Ken Liu. It’s a mind-bending tale of politics, aliens and gaming — and it also contains the most awe-inspiring description of computers I’ve ever read. What’s immediately fascinating about The Three…

Books & Comics Annalee Newitz

UMass Lifts Ban on Iranian Students in Science and Engineering

Yesterday we reported on a troubling policy at the University of Massachusetts of Amherst. The school banned Iranian nationals from enrolling as graduate students in several engineering and natural science programs. After much uproar and protest, U. Mass has backed down, and will admit Iranian students again. https://gizmodo.com/umass-will-no-longer-admit-iranian-students-to-engineer-1686322842 Corey Robin, who broke the story about…

Tech News Annalee Newitz

Our Cyborg Warriors Can Climb Any Surface

This model won’t hit your city for at least 100 years, but trust me — you’re going to love them. Nivanh Chanthara is an artist and concept designer in Montreal. You can see more on Chanthara’s Art Station gallery.

Tech News Annalee Newitz

Why the Speech Center of Your Brain Shuts Down When You Talk

On the left side of your brain there’s a special region called Broca’s Area, also known as the speech center of the brain. Now a group of neuroscientists have discovered something strange about it. Even though this brain region supposedly controls speech, it shuts down when you are speaking. Image by marish, via Shutterstock A…

Tech News Annalee Newitz

The 5th Episode of Haphead Takes You Down the Rabbit Hole

io9 is proud to be bringing you new episodes of indie series Haphead every week. Created by Jim Munroe, Haphead is the story of a VR gamer in a near-future dystopian Toronto. In the fifth episode, Maxine copes with the loss of her rebellious punk dad — and disturbing accusations from the authorities. If you’ve…

Movies Annalee Newitz

UMass Has Banned Iranian Students from Engineering and Science Programs (UPDATED)

Starting this month, the venerable University of Massachusetts at Amherst will no longer allow Iranian nationals to matriculate as graduate students in many of its programs in engineering and the natural sciences, including physics and electrical/computer engineering. Over at Crooked Timber, Corey Robin has done an excellent job following this story, which began with this…

Tech News Annalee Newitz

This Weird App Gave Us an Amazing Video

Pegas is a Romanian company that makes bikes. And they have a new app that lets you sample colors from the city landscape, and find a paint match to use on your Pegas City Bike. It’s a weird idea, but the result is this diverting video about what it’s like to bicycle in Bucharest. Which…

Tech News Annalee Newitz

Your Starship Dock Is Ready Now

One day, parking lots will be a lot more badass. Tyler Thull is a concept artist in Detroit. You can see more of his work in his Art Station gallery.

Tech News Annalee Newitz

Annalee Newitz

The Dress and #Ferguson Are the Two Sides of Social Media Explosions

Watch the FCC Vote on Net Neutrality Live, Right Now

In the New Episode of Haphead, We Finally See the Gamer Underground

This House Was Designed Around the Rock that Almost Killed Its Owners

Well, That’s One Solution to the Parking Problem

Lenovo CTO: We Have No Intention Of Shipping a Superfish Product Again

The Double Cyclone Disaster That Smashed into Australia This Week

What’s the Worst Reason You’ve Heard for Switching to Apple or Android?

Lenovo Joins the Malevolent Side of the Online Advertising Industry

Find Out Where All Our Space Probes Are Right Now

A Guide to the Most Destructive Events in the History of Earth

This Periodic Table Quilt Was Made by a Robot

If You Love Computers, This Novel Should Be on Your Must-Read List

UMass Lifts Ban on Iranian Students in Science and Engineering

Our Cyborg Warriors Can Climb Any Surface

Why the Speech Center of Your Brain Shuts Down When You Talk

The 5th Episode of Haphead Takes You Down the Rabbit Hole

UMass Has Banned Iranian Students from Engineering and Science Programs (UPDATED)

This Weird App Gave Us an Amazing Video

Your Starship Dock Is Ready Now

Artemis 2 Live Updates: Countdown to the Moon 🔴

The Films and Shows You Should Be Streaming in April 2026

Chinese Startup Debuts Super-Bendy Robotic Arm for Orbital Repairs

Your Devices Are Targets. Bitdefender Shields Them All — For Less Than You Think

Of Course, ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ Post Credit Scene Is Another Big Cameo

Proton Just Launched Meet, and It Makes Zoom Look Like a Privacy Nightmare

America’s Latest Unfounded Health Panic: ‘Vaccinated’ Blood Donations

SpaceX Files Confidentially for IPO, Reports Say

Jackery Power Station With 200W Solar Panel Still $590 Off as Amazon Clears Out Leftover Stock After the Spring Sale

The Best Pop Culture Art Gallery In the World Is No More

The Best Gadgets of March 2026

AirPods Max 2 Review: Still Ridiculously Expensive and Ridiculously Nice

DJI Osmo 360 Review: The Best 360 Camera for the DJI-Pilled

Aqara Smart Lock U400 Review: Hands-free Unlocking at Its Best

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Laptop With Some Glaring Flaws

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?