George Dvorsky, Author at Gizmodo

The US Government is Being Sued for Losing a Critical JFK Assassination Film

The Zapruder film may be the most famous footage taken of the Kennedy assassination, but it’s not the only one. The “Nix Film” may be lesser known, but it’s no less important. It has been missing for decades, so the granddaughter of the photographer who captured the film is now suing the US government. She…

Tech News George Dvorsky

Will Our Descendants Survive the Destruction of the Universe?

Billions of years from now, the universe as we know it will cease to exist. The good news is, that gives us a lot of time to prepare, and maybe even figure out a way to cheat cosmic death. Here are some possible ways our descendants might survive a cosmological apocalypse. The Universe, like the…

io9 George Dvorsky

This Slow-Motion Fire Tornado Is the Prettiest Damn Thing You’ll See All Day

Vortices made of flame are an awesome sight, but as this new video by the SlowMo Guys beautifully illustrates, they take on a completely new complexion when seen in slow motion. Gav and Dan created the fire tornado, also known as a fire whirl, by positioning a dozen fans around a kerosene fire pit. The…

Tech News George Dvorsky

This Is How We Know a Supernova Is Coming in 2016

In early 2016, astronomers will be looking at a specific part of the sky, knowing with near certainty that a supernova will appear. How is it possible to predict such events? The answer has to do with an effect known as gravitational lensing. Technically, the 2016 supernova is a “replay” of the supernova Refsdal, first…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

Why You Should Resist the Overwhelming Urge to Torment Your Cat With a Cucumber

So you’ve probably seen that viral video showing cats having the bejeezus scared out of them by a particularly snake-like vegetable: the lowly cucumber. Hilarious, right? Sure—if you’re a human. As a veterinary technician points out, this trending activity could cause lasting psychological problems for your feline companion. The video, posted to YouTube on November…

Tech News George Dvorsky

Farmer Discovers Priceless Trove of Ancient Roman Coins While Removing a Molehill

A cache of over 4,000 silver and bronze coins dating back to ancient Rome has been discovered by a Swiss farmer. Buried some 1,700 years ago, it’s one of the largest treasures of its kind ever found in Switzerland. As The Guardian reports, the trove of coins collectively weighs 33 pounds, or 15 kilograms. They…

Tech News George Dvorsky

Slow Motion Video Reveals the Rapid-Fire Dance of Courting Songbirds

For the first time ever, scientists have documented the elaborate tap dancing courtship displays of cordon-bleu songbirds. Invisible to the naked eye, these birds execute their rapid-fire steps in as little as 20 milliseconds. Normally, male songbirds sing to attract females. But as a new study by an international team of researchers shows, both sexes…

Tech News George Dvorsky

This Stormy Star Means Alien Life May Be Rarer Than We Thought

There’s a red dwarf about 35 light-years from here that’s spewing powerful, life crushing solar flares into space. These types of stellar objects are fairly common, leading to speculation that our galaxy is less habitable than we thought. Of the estimated 100 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy, about three-quarters are red dwarfs. That’s…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

There Were American Nazi Summer Camps Across the US in the 1930s

During the latter half of the 1930s, a surprising number of Nazi-themed summer camps sprouted across the United States. Organized locally and without the support of Germany, these summer outings bore a startling resemblance to the Hitler Youth. Here’s what these camps were like—and how, for a short time, the Third Reich came to America.…

Tech News George Dvorsky

These Are the Most Spectacular Nature Photos of the Year

The winners of Royal Society Publishing’s inaugural photography competition have been announced, and they’re extraordinary. These inspiring nature photos, chosen from over a thousand entries, were judged by a team consisting of Royal Society Publishing scientists, editors, and photographers. The award celebrates “the power of photography to communicate science.” We now present to you the…

Tech News George Dvorsky

These Speedy Microscopic Submarines Are Powered by Light

Holy Fantastic Voyage, Batman. A team from Rice University has developed single-molecule nanosubmarines that could eventually be used to deliver medicines directly inside the body. Back in 2006, this same group developed nanocars—a single-molecule vehicle with four wheels, axles, and independent suspensions that could be “driven” across a terrestrial surface. Unfortunately, many of the nano-scale…

Tech News George Dvorsky

Sorry, the Riemann Hypothesis Has Almost Certainly Not Been Solved

Rumors are swirling that Opeyemi Enoch, a professor from the Federal University of Oye Ekiti in Nigeria, has solved the Riemann Hypothesis, a problem that has vexed mathematicians for over 150 years. Too bad it’s not true. As reported in the BBC, The Telegraph, Yahoo! News, and many other publications, the Nigerian professor is claiming…

Tech News George Dvorsky

Behold the Most Extensive Face Transplant in Medical History

A firefighter from Mississippi whose face became disfigured during a rescue attempt is the recipient of the world’s most extensive face transplant. The 41-year-old now bears the face of a 26-year-old man who recently died in an extreme cycling accident. As reported in Reuters, the 26-hour surgery was performed by a 150-person medical team (!)…

Tech News George Dvorsky

These Frozen Lion Cubs Were Just a Few Weeks Old When They Died 12,000 Years Ago

Russian scientists have displayed the remains of two ancient cave lion cubs found preserved in permafrost. Dubbed Uyan and Dina, the unfortunate pair died just a few weeks after birth. Scientists say they’re the most complete remains of this extinct species ever found—whiskers and all. As The Siberian Times reports, the cubs, who were about…

Tech News George Dvorsky

Unmuzzled Canadian Scientists Have Harsh Words for Conservative Regime

Canada’s new, science-friendly Liberal government has set its federal researchers free. Now unmuzzled, some Canadian scientists are speaking out. Here’s a sampling of what it was like to do science under the Harper regime. Under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, journalists had to go through extensive bureaucratic red tape to reach scientists, and even then, the…

Tech News George Dvorsky

The Heart of this Elliptical Galaxy Exposes a Ghost From Its Past

Unlike spiral galaxies, with their flat shape and twisted arms, elliptical galaxies are featureless blobs without much structure. But then there’s NGC 3610—an elliptical galaxy with a bright and distinctly disc-like shape at its center. Astronomers say it’s a blast from this galaxy’s past, one that played an important role in its evolution. Incredibly, virtually…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

A Map Showing the Earth’s Groundwater as It Would Appear on the Surface

Surprisingly, scientists know very little about the water that’s located beneath the Earth’s surface. To overcome this knowledge gap, an international team of researchers has put together a new global map showing where and in what quantities this precious resource is located. To put this map together, the University of Victoria’s Tom Gleeson, along with…

Tech News George Dvorsky

Cool Visualization Lets You See Philae Bounce and Tumble as It Lands on a Comet

It was one year ago today that the Philae Lander bounced, spun, and tumbled across the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. To commemorate the historic event, the European Space Agency has released an animated video chronicling the lander’s chaotic landing. To piece together the details of the Philae landing, the ESA has spent the better part…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

How to Prevent Your Anger From Spiraling Out of Control

Anger fuels aggression, but it doesn’t always have to cause a flare-up. When properly managed, it can actually serve a productive purpose. Here are some practical tips to help you better manage your anger. There’s a reason why we get angry. As an adaptive response to threats, it motivates us to defend ourselves, find solutions…

Tech News George Dvorsky

Russian TV “Accidentally” Leaks Footage of Classified Nuclear Torpedo Design

During a meeting of military officials in Sochi, Russian TV crews captured footage of a document not intended for public consumption. The supposedly “secret data,” which was subsequently shown on Russian television, revealed details of a “nuclear torpedo” designed to inflict “assured unacceptable damage” to enemy coastal installations. As RT reports, a number of TV…

Tech News George Dvorsky

George Dvorsky

The US Government is Being Sued for Losing a Critical JFK Assassination Film

Will Our Descendants Survive the Destruction of the Universe?

This Slow-Motion Fire Tornado Is the Prettiest Damn Thing You’ll See All Day

This Is How We Know a Supernova Is Coming in 2016

Why You Should Resist the Overwhelming Urge to Torment Your Cat With a Cucumber

Farmer Discovers Priceless Trove of Ancient Roman Coins While Removing a Molehill

Slow Motion Video Reveals the Rapid-Fire Dance of Courting Songbirds

This Stormy Star Means Alien Life May Be Rarer Than We Thought

There Were American Nazi Summer Camps Across the US in the 1930s

These Are the Most Spectacular Nature Photos of the Year

These Speedy Microscopic Submarines Are Powered by Light

Sorry, the Riemann Hypothesis Has Almost Certainly Not Been Solved

Behold the Most Extensive Face Transplant in Medical History

These Frozen Lion Cubs Were Just a Few Weeks Old When They Died 12,000 Years Ago

Unmuzzled Canadian Scientists Have Harsh Words for Conservative Regime

The Heart of this Elliptical Galaxy Exposes a Ghost From Its Past

A Map Showing the Earth’s Groundwater as It Would Appear on the Surface

Cool Visualization Lets You See Philae Bounce and Tumble as It Lands on a Comet

How to Prevent Your Anger From Spiraling Out of Control

Russian TV “Accidentally” Leaks Footage of Classified Nuclear Torpedo Design

‘Butt Birth’-ing Rhinoceros from Ace Ventura Sequel Sold at Auction for a Whopping $60,000

The Ryan Gosling Sci-Fi Streak Will Continue Until Morale Improves

Study Challenges Popular Theory on Why Primordial Bugs Were So Darn Huge

Ewan McGregor and Anne Hathaway’s Mystery’s Sci-Fi Film Has Its First Trailer

Scientists Just Found the Salt Limit That Pushes Your Heart to the Breaking Point

White House Social Media Just Had Its Covfefe Moment

Roborock F25 Ultra Steam Wet Dry Vacuum Is Now at Its Lowest Price, but Only During the Spring Sale Window

This $450 Semi-Dumb Phone Is Barely Even a Phone

Startup Successfully Ignites World’s First Fusion Rocket

Shokz OpenDots One Earbuds Hit Their Lowest Price Yet Across All Color Options, Including the New Ones

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