Jamie Condliffe

Hands-free Google voice search is now available in Chrome. Which is useful for, y’know…

The FDA’s New Nutrition Labels Might Actually Help You Eat Right

The FDA has proposed a new design for the Nutrition Facts labels that come on all the food we eat—and they’re way, way better than before. It’s the first time in 20 years that the labels have received a refresh, and they’re designed to align better with the way Americans eat today. The result is…

This Sheet of Space-Bound Silicon Contains 1.75 Billion Transistors

This single 8 inch-diameter sheet of silicon is etched with 35 replicas of five different chips, each one destined to be sent into space. Those brave hands in the picture are holding around 1.75 billion transistors in total, with each of the circuits being made up of around 10 million transistors or basic circuit switches.…

Dalai Lama Is Now on Instagram

After joining Twitter back in 2010, the Dalai Lama has now taken the plunge and signed up to Instagram. So why not follow him, lean back and peace out with your newly mindful Instagram feed? Here are some of our favourite recent posts by the big dude.

40 Years of Cellphones in One Minute

Starting with the DynaTAC in 1974 and ending with the iPhone 5s, this wonderful little animation zips through 40 years of cellphones in a little over a minute. Beautifully animated with a cracking soundtrack, this video can’t help but make you feel a little nostalgic. Here’s to to the next 4o years! [Fueled]

Your Phone’s Wi-Fi Hotspot Could Act As an SOS Beacon in a Disaster

Trapped under rubble, unable to move following a natural disaster, it would be easy to assume the worst. But soon the Wi-Fi hotspot on your phone may be able to help raise alarm—acting as an SOS beacon to guide rescuers your way. At least, that’s if Amro Al-Akkad, an engineer with the Fraunhofer Institute for…

Here Are Some of the Crazy New Recipes IBM’s Watson Has Invented

It’s a while since IBM’s Watson was put to work inventing recipes, but now the fruits of its labors are being cooked up and served out of IBM’s new food truck. And the results are… interesting. https://gizmodo.com/ibms-watson-got-a-job-as-a-pastry-chef-5988105 Having teamed up with the Institute of Culinary Education, IBM is taking a food truck on the road…

Google Wants Its Modular Ara Phone to Cost $50

Google is taking its Ara modular smartphone platform increasingly seriously, and now in interviews with Time it has revealed that it aims to sell a simple version of the phone for as little as $50. https://gizmodo.com/motorola-wants-to-make-your-phone-modular-1453915970 Time has taken a deep dive into Google’s modular smartphone, revealing some interesting details along the way. Work on…

Apple Finally Explains Touch ID Security in Detail

You shouldn’t really have been worrying about how Touch ID works too much, but if you have been, then Apple has finally explained most of the security details behind the technology in detail. https://gizmodo.com/stop-worrying-about-the-new-iphones-fingerprint-scanne-1326146704 Apple has released a new white paper about iOS security, which explains with more detail than before how Touch ID works—and,…

The FDA Is Considering Creating Three-Person Embryos

The Food and Drug Administration has this week embarked on discussions on a topic sure to prove controversial: the idea of creating embryos from the DNA of three people. The Associated Press reports reports that the FDA is investigating whether or not it should allow the new procedure. Current research in animals suggests that the…

The Time Everywhere, Right Now, Beautifully Visualized

Today’s XKCD really is wonderful: called Now, it’s a simple clock which shows you what time it is in the world right… now, and changes each time you check back on it. It’s created in such a way that it’s super simple to read. Noon and midnight always sit in the same place, and each…

WSJ: Obama Weighing Four Alternatives to NSA Phone Surveillance

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Obama administration has been presented with “four options for revamping NSA phone surveillance”—including one which would scrap it for good. The report from the Wall Street Journal cites officials “close to the matter,” explaining that the four suggestions for NSA reform have all been submitted ahead of…

The Science of Why You Loved Flappy Bird So Much

Long live Flappy Bird, the game we loved to hate. But why oh why was that simple little game so awfully compelling? https://gizmodo.com/flappy-bird-is-officially-gone-from-the-app-store-1519308800 In this video, Sci Show explains how our love of Flappy Bird—and other video games for that matter—are fuelled by a deep-seated human desire for achievement, however trivial. Successful achievement releases dopamine…

The Hijacked $50,000 @N Twitter Username Is Back In Its Owners Hands

Remember how Naoki Hiroshima lost his amazing $50,000 @N Twitter username? Well, for once some good news: he got it back! https://gizmodo.com/how-i-lost-my-50-000-twitter-username-1511578384 While the username was hijacked last month, Naoki Hiroshima has once again regained control of the account. Last night he tweeted: It’s not clear yet exactly how he regained full control of @N,…

This Network-in-a-Backpack Will Connect People in Disaster Areas

This backpack may not look much, but it has impressive hidden depths: it contains all the kit you need to establish an ad hoc mobile network in just ten minutes—perfect for those working in disaster areas. Put together by Vodafone, the Instant Network Mini weighs 24 pounds and is small enough to be carried as…

What Counts As a Computer These Days?

There was a time when computers were easy to spot: They filled rooms, blinked lights and whirred with fans. But these days, computers are becoming harder and harder to see. In fact, you’ve got at least one in your pocket right now. Computers have become far, far more embedded in our everyday lives than ever…

Despite having no formal role in the review of mergers and acquisitions, Comcast’s deal with Time Warner Cablewill go in front of the Senate on March 26th. Folks are clearly taking this seriously.

The Most-Visited Countries in the World, Visualized

If you’ve ever wondered which country was the most popular tourist destination, wonder no longer—this map shows which countries get the most visitors every year. It might surprise you to find out that France is the most popular destination, welcoming in 81,400,000 visitors every years. That’s nearly 20 million more visitors annually than the U.S.…

Is This the Geekiest Mural Ever?

The Google Maps pin is iconic: bold and simple, yet incredibly memorable. And emblazoned on the side of a Danish building in twinkling metallic form, it might just be the geekiest mural ever. Called Pin (55° 51′ 42″ N ; 9° 50′ 47″ E)—see what they did there?—this is part of the Public Art exhibition…

Inside the Special Effects That Made Gravity Look So Great

Gravity was a stunning piece of cinema, brought to life by some beautiful special effects. In this video show’n’tell, VFX company Framestore reveals how it achieved some of the most breathtaking scenes. https://gizmodo.com/gravity-review-all-blockbusters-should-be-this-intimat-1441097308 There are layers of complexity here that simply melt away when you’re actually watching the film. Indeed, as a viewer, it’s difficult…