Esther Inglis-Arkell, Author at Gizmodo

What Caused This Deadly Epidemic in Spain in 1981?

In 1981, over six hundred people in Spain died from a mystery illness. Panic mounted as people across Europe read the news. Eventually, the epidemic was declared the result of food contamination — but some scientists think there’s more to the story. In May 1981, a small child died from what seemed to the staff…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

Under the Right Conditions, Humans Can See Infrared

Humans can’t see infrared. That’s why we fear animals like snakes, bed bugs, and the Predator. No longer must we live with this fear! Scientists have shown that, under certain circumstances, our retinas actually can detect infrared light. Top image: PandaWild/Shutterstock How Animals Sense Infrared It’s worth noting that, though there are numerous animals that…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

How Scientists (And Artists) Make See-Through Corpses

Labs, taxidermy stores, and movies about mad scientists are populated with semi-translucent creatures in jars. These are commonly called “diaphonized” creatures, and they’ve been in real labs since the 1970s. But what started as a way to get a good look at skeletons became art. The first step in the diaphonization process is a long…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

Here’s How We Force Ourselves to Believe the Lie

When you’ve finally made up your mind about something, do you want it unmade? Of course you don’t, and whether you know it or not you make sure that everything in your brain stays the way you left it. This is where “selective exposure” comes in. Selective exposure is a pretty simple concept. We choose…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

Yes, You Can Buy the Scent of Rain in a Desert

You know that scent of the first rain after a very long dry spell? Two Australian researchers tracked it down and called it “petrichor.” The name means something like “the essence of a stone.” And you can buy it. I’ve done entries in the past about what goes into making the scent after a rain.…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

Why Atomic Clocks Are the Most Reliable Timekeepers in the World

Atomic clocks are the most accurate way we have to count the passing hours and seconds. What makes them so much better than digital watches and grandfather clocks? It all has to do with a quartz crystal and atomic vibrations. An atomic clock times things the same way almost all other clocks do – by…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

Watch Sulfuric Acid Melt a Sponge In Slow-Motion

Here’s a terrifying and fascinating chemical reaction to start your Monday right. In a slow-motion video, sulfuric acid rips apart a sponge. We’ll let you admire the show, and explain what’s happening. When a new lab assistant is given some sulfuric acid, they are traditionally rapped on the head three times and told to never,…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

A Nineteenth Century Japanese Folk Tale Still Inspires UFO-Believers

In the early 1800s, two folk tales circulated around Japan. Both involved a very strange woman emerging from a very strange ship. Her dress and appearance seemed out of this world. What happened? There are two versions of this story. One was written in 1825 and one in 1844. In both versions, some Japanese sailors…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

We Tested Centuries-Old Eyes For Colorblindness

The worst birthday present ever lead to the discovery of colorblindness by John Dalton all the way back in 1794. Mister Dalton bequeathed his eyes to science. Two hundred years later, science made use of them. John Dalton and Colorblindness John Dalton was one of the first people to identify the heredity of colorblindness. It…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

This Paradox Shows Why Irrational Choices Are Sometimes Better

Psychologists and sociologists point out all the ways that human beings are far less rational than we like to consider ourselves. Sometimes, though, their analysis is blind to some of the factors humans consider automatically. And this paradox proves it. The Saint Petersburg Paradox The Saint Petersburg Paradox is also known as the Saint Petersburg…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

10 Monarchs Whose Madness Changed History

In fiction, kings and queens who succumb to madness are a great time. In reality, not so much. It’s no fun having huge chunks of the world controlled by someone who is irrational and unstable. Here are ten kings and queens whose craziness changed the course of world events. 10. Ivan the Terrible’s Fits Ushered…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

That Time Scientists Electrocuted Twins to Learn About Arachnophobia

Spiders are the most feared animals in the world, despite the fact that they are overwhelmingly helpful rather than harmful. Scientists decided to investigate why, by shocking a bunch of twins. Twins the world over can make some decent extra money volunteering for experiments. Identical twins are the perfect subjects with which to tease out…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

This Weird Vintage Airplane Flies With Cylinders Instead Of Wings

The Flettner Airplane made its debut in the 1930s. Instead of wings, it flies using rotating cylinders that stick out from either side of its body. We’ll tell you about its inventor, and show you how it flies. Anton Flettner and His Rotorcraft Anton Flettner was a German engineer who didn’t see why things needed…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

“Throckmorton Sign” Is A Rather Naughty Medical Condition

Here’s a hint as to what the Throckmorton Sign is. It’s also known as the John Thomas Sign, and it’s going to make the x-ray in this entry ever so slightly not safe for work. Doctors have all kinds of medical slang, much of which they keep from the public for obvious reasons. Here’s a…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

Why Do We Force Weather Forecasters to Lie to Us?

Ever hear of “wet bias”? It’s the tendency of forecasters to over-estimate our chances of feeling the wrath of the weather gods. Why do they do it? Basically, we force them to. Ever notice that when the local weather channel predicts a 15% chance of rain, you can plan on there being, essentially, no chance…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

Holy Crap! It’s a Gold Spider! But Why?

Here’s a picture that’s beautiful and terrifying in equal measure. It’s a spider coated in a very fine layer of gold. We’ll tell you why people have made this gorgeous monstrosity, and what happens next. This is actually a preparatory step to creating an even more incredible image. This spider, put on display as it…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

Here’s How Fictional Dust Explains Radio Static

Cantor’s Dust is a famous fractal, a basic pattern that repeats itself over and over. It’s a pretty pattern, but it didn’t seem very useful at the time it was invented. Years later, it was invoked again at the dawn of chaos theory to explain an odd phenomenon in broadcasting. The Cantor Set The Cantor…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

What Causes Someone To Get A White Streak In Their Hair?

Rogue, everyone’s favorite southern belle, is immediately identifiable because of the white streak in her hair. I believe her particular white streak is caused by a medical condition known as sexy-itis, but what causes real white streaks to appear in people’s hair? In real life, it’s a condition called “poliosis.” Generally, poliosis involves a single…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

Some People Use Urine (And Chemistry) to Whiten Their Teeth

There are people out there who use urine to whiten their teeth. I can tell you how it works. Only you can decide whether you think it’s worth it. Life must have been tough back before there were any sanitized versions of necessities. There was a time when eating a pig meant going elbow deep…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

This 2000-Year-Old Pigment Can Eliminate The Third Dimension

Han purple is an ancient pigment that wasn’t reconstructed by modern chemists until 1992. After the chemists got done with it, it was the physicists’ turn. Han purple, they found, eliminates an entire dimension. It makes waves go two-dimensional! The Chemistry of Han Purple You’ll see Han purple on the famous terracotta warriors surrounding the…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

Esther Inglis-Arkell

What Caused This Deadly Epidemic in Spain in 1981?

Under the Right Conditions, Humans Can See Infrared

How Scientists (And Artists) Make See-Through Corpses

Here’s How We Force Ourselves to Believe the Lie

Yes, You Can Buy the Scent of Rain in a Desert

Why Atomic Clocks Are the Most Reliable Timekeepers in the World

Watch Sulfuric Acid Melt a Sponge In Slow-Motion

A Nineteenth Century Japanese Folk Tale Still Inspires UFO-Believers

We Tested Centuries-Old Eyes For Colorblindness

This Paradox Shows Why Irrational Choices Are Sometimes Better

10 Monarchs Whose Madness Changed History

That Time Scientists Electrocuted Twins to Learn About Arachnophobia

This Weird Vintage Airplane Flies With Cylinders Instead Of Wings

“Throckmorton Sign” Is A Rather Naughty Medical Condition

Why Do We Force Weather Forecasters to Lie to Us?

Holy Crap! It’s a Gold Spider! But Why?

Here’s How Fictional Dust Explains Radio Static

What Causes Someone To Get A White Streak In Their Hair?

Some People Use Urine (And Chemistry) to Whiten Their Teeth

This 2000-Year-Old Pigment Can Eliminate The Third Dimension

New Getaway Means Subaru Has an Electric SUV in Every Size

pCloud Easter Special: One Payment, Lifetime Storage for Entire Family (68% Off)

Getting Stuck Inside a Glitching Robotaxi Is a Whole New Thing to Be Scared of

Artemis 2 Live Updates: Humanity’s Epic Return to the Moon 🔴

NASA’s Artemis 2 Mission Blasts Off

Disney’s Robot Olaf Dying Is the Funniest Thing to Happen in 2026

Kia’s EV3 Is Headed to the US This Year With Up to 320 Miles of Range

This Is the Way to Lego’s April Releases

Group Pushing Age Verification Requirements for AI Turns Out to Be Sneakily Backed by OpenAI

Amazon Facilities in Bahrain Hit Again as Iran Follows Through on Threat, Report Says

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?