George Dvorsky, Author at Gizmodo

No, India did not just grant dolphins the status of humans

Contrary to widespread reports, the Indian government did not recently grant legal personhood status to dolphins. But it did abolish the use of dolphins in aquatic theme parks — an important precedent that could eventually inspire other countries to do the same. This news actually came out a few months ago, but it’s making the…

io9 George Dvorsky Aug 15

Scientists teleport information in an electronic circuit

We’re still a far way’s off from being able to beam people through space, but in a science first, physicists have successfully transported information across a solid state system similar to a computer chip. The breakthrough could lead to more powerful processors and highly sophisticated encryption schemes. https://gizmodo.com/human-teleportation-is-far-more-impractical-than-we-tho-988408753 Top image: An ant placed atop the…

io9 George Dvorsky Aug 15

12 More Real Animals We Can’t Believe Aren’t Pokémon

Earlier this year we told you about a dozen true-to-life animals that seem better suited to the pages of a certain anime than the jungle. Thankfully, nature is generous when it comes to producing completely whacked-out organisms. Here are 12 more animals that we can’t believe really exist. https://gizmodo.com/12-real-animals-we-cant-believe-arent-pokemon-5982206 1. Brazilian Tree Hopper The Facts:…

io9 Rob Bricken and George Dvorsky Aug 15

Astronomers discover an insanely strong magnetic field

The dead core of a once massive star is producing one of the most powerful magnetic fields ever recorded by scientists. Measuring a mere 12 miles across, the “magnetar” is exerting a force 20 trillion times stronger than a fridge magnet. Top image: Artist’s impression of Magnetar SGR 0418+5729. The looping magnetic field measures only…

io9 George Dvorsky Aug 15

Chinese zoo tries to pass off a dog as a lion

A Chinese zoo is under fire for trying to disguise a Tibetan mastiff dog for a lion. The twisted scheme began to unravel when the supposed “African Lion” started to bark. Top image: An example of the very lion-like Tibetan Mastiff. The zoo, which is located in the People’s Park of Luohe in the central…

io9 George Dvorsky Aug 15

Self-Taught Make-up Artist Transforms Herself Into Iconic Characters

By using just the contents of her cosmetic kit, Montreal’s Carly Paige can transform herself into any number of popular icons — from Mystique and Captain Jack Sparrow, to Marilyn Manson and Lady Gaga. Incredibly, the 26 year-old page has only been working with special effects make-up since October 2012. Her ultimate goal is to…

io9 George Dvorsky Aug 14

That time the US Air Force tried to put a copper ring around the Earth

Joe Hanson of Wired has penned a fascinating article chronicling Project West Ford, a bizarre Cold War plan to put a ring of copper around the Earth — a “perfect, if odd, example of the Cold War paranoia and military mentality at work in America’s early space program.” https://gizmodo.com/if-earth-had-a-ring-like-saturn-508750253 Top image: Ron Miller. During the…

io9 George Dvorsky Aug 14

How Your Birth Order Can Influence Who You Are

As many parents can attest, siblings tend to be more different than alike. Some of this may be the result of our birth order, and how we’re subsequently raised. What’s more, birth order may influence our health and sexuality too. Here’s what you need to know about how your birth rank affects your life. Birth…

io9 George Dvorsky Aug 14

These WWI aerial dogfight photos are incredible. Too bad they’re fake.

During the 1930s, a woman claiming to be the widow of a British Royal Flying Corps pilot sold 34 photos featuring scenes from a dramatic WWI aerial battle to a publisher for U.S. $20,000. The pics were later published in a popular book — but it was all an elaborate hoax. The woman, who went…

io9 George Dvorsky Aug 14

Badger Unearths Medieval Graves in Germany

A badger living near a farm in Germany picked an interesting spot to build its den: directly on top of a 12th century burial site that included two lords and a warrior. The people living on the farm began to suspect something after the badger tossed out a pelvic bone. A human pelvic bone. The…

io9 George Dvorsky Aug 14

Ranking the World’s Most Influential Thinkers

By using a network analysis similar to the page-rank algorithm used by Google, Swiss researchers have compiled a “Thought Leader Map.” As their results show, the era of the great authorities appears to have come to an end. Perhaps surprisingly, this may be the first truly systematic analysis of its kind. Most lists, like TIME’s…

io9 George Dvorsky Aug 13

The complete history of the world — up to 1930 — in one glorious chart

Back in 1931, John B. Sparks put together this “Histomap” — an ambitious effort to chronicle all of the world’s history in a single five-foot long timeline. The word ‘epic’ most certainly comes to mind. The Histomap was brought to our attention by Rebecca Onion of Slate and it can be found in David Rumsey’s…

io9 George Dvorsky Aug 13

Early Humans May Have Ripped Off Neanderthal Technology

By the time modern humans arrived in Europe, Neanderthals had already made the continent their home. What’s more, they were already adopting behaviors that would later be characteristic of humans — including the development of a specialized tool still used by leather craftspeople today. It’s called the lissoir — and it’s the oldest specialized bone…

io9 George Dvorsky Aug 13

Chinese doctor builds illegal rock villa atop Beijing apartment tower

Eccentric Beijing resident Zhang Biqing has just spent the last six years constructing this $2.4 million faux-mountaintop villa on top a 26-story hi-rise — just in time for the Chinese authorities to finally declare it illegal. The 10,000 square foot complex is now slated for demolition. Residents have been complaining about the penthouse mansion for…

io9 George Dvorsky Aug 13

The orbits of all potentially hazardous asteroids in one map

NASA has put together an image showing the orbits of all known Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) currently threatening Earth. That’s 1,400 in total — making this map uncomfortably busy. https://gizmodo.com/bill-nye-explains-how-to-stop-an-asteroid-893435516 https://gizmodo.com/chelyabinsk-meteor-may-be-part-of-larger-pack-threateni-1039974316 To qualify as a PHA, an asteroid needs to be fairly large — at least 460 feet (140 meters) in size — and follow…

io9 George Dvorsky Aug 12

Is there a link between the Higgs boson and dark energy?

The Universe is expanding at an accelerating rate and we’re not entirely sure why. To deal with the problem, scientists have conjured up dark energy, a mysterious force that permeates all of space. Now, a pair of physicists say the newly discovered Higgs boson could help explain where it all comes from. https://gizmodo.com/what-todays-higgs-boson-discovery-really-means-5923494 Dark energy…

io9 George Dvorsky Aug 12

Dozens of dead and disoriented birds ‘fall like rain’ over Winnipeg

In what is being described as a scene straight out of an Alfred Hitchcock movie, hundreds of black birds, possibly grackles, began flocking in a “bizarre manner” atop trees, rooftops, and vehicles in Winnipeg’s north end. And then they just started to drop one by one “like raindrops.” Animal experts are baffled. Conservation officers have…

io9 George Dvorsky Aug 12

These abandoned sea forts have been turned into luxury hotels

Back in the mid-19th century, Britain constructed three Solent forts to protect its most important naval base against attacks from Napoleon III’s navy. Now, over 150 years later, they’re being turned into luxury island retreats. Located in Portsmouth Harbour, the three forts include Spitbank Fort, Horse Sand Fort, and No Man’s Land Fort. Once armed…

io9 George Dvorsky Aug 12

New Computer Programming Language Imitates The Human Brain

As we pointed out earlier this week, we’re still far from being able to replicate the awesome power of the human brain. So rather than use traditional models of computing, IBM has decided to design an entirely new computer architecture — one that’s taking inspiration from nature. https://gizmodo.com/this-computer-took-40-minutes-to-simulate-one-second-of-1043288954 For nearly 70 years, computer scientists have…

io9 George Dvorsky Aug 9

Scientists say it’s possible to blow up the Sun. On purpose.

As if we didn’t already have enough to worry about, a pair of scientists are warning that it’s theoretically possible to deliberately detonate the Sun. Called an “artificial supernova,” this event could represent a new existential risk to the human species. Or maybe, these guys don’t know what the hell they’re talking about. Before I…

io9 George Dvorsky Aug 9

George Dvorsky

No, India did not just grant dolphins the status of humans

Scientists teleport information in an electronic circuit

12 More Real Animals We Can’t Believe Aren’t Pokémon

Astronomers discover an insanely strong magnetic field

Chinese zoo tries to pass off a dog as a lion

Self-Taught Make-up Artist Transforms Herself Into Iconic Characters

That time the US Air Force tried to put a copper ring around the Earth

How Your Birth Order Can Influence Who You Are

These WWI aerial dogfight photos are incredible. Too bad they’re fake.

Badger Unearths Medieval Graves in Germany

Ranking the World’s Most Influential Thinkers

The complete history of the world — up to 1930 — in one glorious chart

Early Humans May Have Ripped Off Neanderthal Technology

Chinese doctor builds illegal rock villa atop Beijing apartment tower

The orbits of all potentially hazardous asteroids in one map

Is there a link between the Higgs boson and dark energy?

Dozens of dead and disoriented birds ‘fall like rain’ over Winnipeg

These abandoned sea forts have been turned into luxury hotels

New Computer Programming Language Imitates The Human Brain

Scientists say it’s possible to blow up the Sun. On purpose.

First Statewide Data Center Ban Passed by Maine Legislature

FCC Exempts Netgear from Foreign-Made Router Ban for Some Reason

Jamie Dornan Is Your New Aragorn in ‘The Hunt for Gollum’

Trump’s Fed Pick Is Knee Deep in Tech and Crypto Investments

The First Trailer for ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ Takes Terror Stateside

The Trump Phone Still Looks Like Total Trash

‘Masters of the Universe’ Really, Really Wants to Be the Next ‘Barbie’

Samsung’s Micro RGB TVs Provide So Much Color It May Be Too Much

The Crypto Bros Want to Get Their Hands on Anthropic’s ‘Super Dangerous’ Model

This Is What a Music Industry ‘Plant’ Looks Like in 2026

Sony Inzone H6 Air Review: A Perfect Case for Open-Back Gaming Headsets

Anker’s EufyMake E1 Finally Brings Printers Out of the Dark Ages

The Soundboks Mix Is Going to Make You the Most Popular Guy at the Park

Asus Zenbook A16 Review: Start Considering Snapdragon on PC, for Real

Aqara Thermostat Hub W200 Review: Almost Better than My Ecobee

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

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

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