Emmett Plant, Author at Gizmodo

Sci-Fi Rewind: Memories of ‘Starstuff’

For eighteen episodes during 1980, kids in Philadelphia were given a weekly glimpse into “the future” thanks to a show called Starstuff. Click through to catch up with computers that could see through time and worryingly cheap space colonies. Starstuff, produced in 1980 by WCAU-TV in Philadelphia, was thought to be gone forever. But thanks…

Television Emmett Plant Dec 19

SF Great Turns ‘Tec: Alfred Bester Introduces Nero Wolfe

Have a free listen to ‘Stamped for Murder,’ the first episode of ‘The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe‘ from October 20th, 1950. This episode was written by science fiction master Alfred Bester, starring Sidney Greenstreet as Nero Wolfe.

io9 Emmett Plant Dec 19

In The Future, Our Pride May Be Robotic

PETA has asked the University of Georgia to replace their recently-deceased dog mascot with an animatronic robot or costumed human. We’re hoping that all college football teams use robotic mascots, which can wage epic battles during halftime. [Photo from SportsbyBrooks]

io9 Emmett Plant Dec 19

Roll Into The LA Dolls’ Electrical Derby

Southern California’s premiere all-female, banked track roller derby league, the LA Derby Dolls, bring us a fantastic demonstration of electrical principles on their banked track, featuring a great soundtrack. Click through to see their update of roller derby in action. You can see more here.

io9 Emmett Plant Dec 19

fMRI Experiments Are Fishy At Best

Recent experiments at Dartmouth using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) on a dead fish may cast a lot of doubt on conclusions drawn from using fMRI as a tool for research.

io9 Emmett Plant Dec 18

NASA’s 2009 Year In Review

From methane on Mars to water on the Moon, NASA serves up fifteen great stories in their official Year In Review for 2009.

io9 Emmett Plant Dec 18

Tron’s Lightcycles: 1983 vs. 2010 Model Comparison

How does Tron Legacy’s new lightcycle design compare with the 1982 model? Here’s a Top Gear-inspired comparison between the two cycles, based on our research. Safety 1983: Who would have thought that a Disney movie targeted at children would see so many riders on motorcycles sans helmet? Sure, they’re computer programs, not real people, and…

io9 Emmett Plant Dec 18

H. G. Wells Strikes Back with ‘Things To Come’

H. G. Wells disliked Fritz Lang’s Metropolis with a fiery passion, tearing it apart in a review for the New York Times. The movie Things To Come‘ is his brilliant celluloid riposte, and you can watch it online for free. Reviewing Metropolis, Wells wrote:”Never for a moment does one believe any of this foolish story;…

Movies Emmett Plant Dec 18

How Many Paid Vacation Days Would You Get If You Worked At Cyberdyne?

You only get a few days off for the holidays. Things would be different in your science fiction life, right? We compare fictional companies with real-life ones, and reveal how your scifi vacation time could shake out. We researched the vacation time allotted by present-day corporations, and used that data to figure out how many…

io9 Emmett Plant Dec 18

The Binary Snowjob – A History Of Cinematic Computers That Never Were

You’ve been deceived. All those computer interfaces you saw in the movies? They were made without CGI! Watch our video "The Binary Snowjob" to discover the terrible truth about computers that never were.

io9 Emmett Plant Dec 11

Emmett Plant

Sci-Fi Rewind: Memories of ‘Starstuff’

SF Great Turns ‘Tec: Alfred Bester Introduces Nero Wolfe

In The Future, Our Pride May Be Robotic

Roll Into The LA Dolls’ Electrical Derby

fMRI Experiments Are Fishy At Best

NASA’s 2009 Year In Review

Tron’s Lightcycles: 1983 vs. 2010 Model Comparison

H. G. Wells Strikes Back with ‘Things To Come’

How Many Paid Vacation Days Would You Get If You Worked At Cyberdyne?

The Binary Snowjob – A History Of Cinematic Computers That Never Were

‘Cognitive Surrender’ Is a New and Useful Term for How AI Melts Brains

HP Omen Max 45L Review: 4K60 Gaming Has Never Been So Easy

Marshall Acton III Home Speaker Drops to a Record Low, the Deal Countdown Has Already Started

Ecovacs Winbot W3 Omni Review: Window Cleaning Robots Have a Long Way to Go

I’m Worried About the Helpless AI Disruptors of the Future

Russia Allegedly Swung at VPNs but Accidentally Hit Its Own Banking Sector Instead

Ryan Coogler Is Shifting ‘Animorphs’ Into a Disney+ Show

No Fooling, ‘Spaceballs 2’ Will Hit Theaters April 2027

I Regret to Inform You That the Artemis II Astronauts Are Having Lots of Screen Time

The First ‘Maul: Shadow Lord’ Reactions Are Most Solid

AirPods Max 2 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): Which ANC Headphones Win?

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