Lauren Davis, Author at Gizmodo

Interdimensional Portals Drawn With Nothing But Light

Jan Wöllert and Jörg Miedza are light graffiti artists, creating otherworldly photographs using various light sources. The eye-popping scenes they compose evoke wormholes, time-travel devices, and eerily lit portals to other worlds. Wöllert and Miedza started Light Art Performance Photography, a studio that creates light paintings, meticulously moving multicolored lights during lengthy camera exposures. Light…

io9 Lauren Davis

Is Biological Life the Source of Martian Methane?

Are signs of life on Mars floating in the atmosphere? Scientists have been searching for the source of methane on Mars, and their search has put them on the hunt for methane-producing microorganisms. Scientists studying the Red Planet have developed a few possible explanations for the presence of methane in Mars’ atmosphere. Methane on Mars…

io9 Lauren Davis

Zombies Invade the Star Wars Movie Posters

Zombies invaded the Star Wars universe with Death Troopers, but there are still plenty of places the galaxy far, far away for the zombie infection to spread. Even the trilogy and prequel movies posters aren’t safe from the zombie outbreak. http://io9.com/5390471/turns-out-theres-something-darker-than-the-dark-side In anticipation of Death Troopers, StarWars.com asked artists to create their own works of…

io9 Lauren Davis

Talk Monkey to Me: Monkey Language Contains Simple Sentences

While other primates have exhibited simple vocabularies, it has long been believed that syntax, the construction of sentences, was unique to humans. But a recent study suggests that at least one species of monkey communicates in vocalized sentences. A research team led by Klaus Zuberbühler of the University of St. Andrews has been studying the…

io9 Lauren Davis

Santa Claus is the Ultimate Cryptozoological Nightmare

Children the world over look forward to their annual visit from Father Christmas, but what if the secret behind Santa Claus was actually something sinister? In the film Rare Exports, we will learn Santa Claus’ terrifying cryptozoological origins. Rare Exports Inc., a short Finnish film, explains the startling origins behind the legions of mall Santas…

Movies Lauren Davis

Ripley’s Has Authentic Vampire Killing Kits for Every Taste

There are lots of folks out there making replica vampire killing kits, but the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museums have the real deal: kits earnestly prepared to combat bloodsuckers and packed with silver bullets, wooden daggers, and anti-vampire potions. The Ripley’s collection, acquired by Ripley’s VP Edward Meyer, contains 30 authentic vampire killing kits,…

io9 Lauren Davis

Common House Pet, Or Malevolent Mechanized Murderer?

Next time you see a seemingly ordinary house cat or backyard crow, consider Ryan Abegglen‘s mechanical beasts. These robotic soldiers of fortune are outfitted with an amusing array of abilities, from cheetah-blood powered combustion engines to explosive turd bombs. A few of Abeeglen’s screenprinted mechanical beast cards are available at his Etsy shop. [Ryan Abegglen…

io9 Lauren Davis

Charting the Possible Evolution of Same-Sex Liaisons

Same-sex sexual behavior has evolved multiple times in various animals, including mammals, birds, fish, and even insects. Researchers are increasingly finding that the reasons such behaviors evolved are as varied as the animals themselves. The always excellent New Scientist has an article synthesizing much of the research into same-sex sexual behavior in animals and the…

io9 Lauren Davis

First Commercial Spacecraft is Ready for Its Closeup

Tonight marks a historic event: Virgin Galactic will unveil SpaceShipTwo, the first crewed commercial spaceship set to fly the extraterrestrial skies, at the Mojave Air and Spaceport. Get a sneak peek at the ship before its debut. [Gizmodo] https://gizmodo.com/first-images-of-spaceshiptwo-first-commercial-passenge-5420768

io9 Lauren Davis

Japanese Monsters Catch On To The Thriller Dance Craze

Stormtroopers, prisoners, Lego people — it’s hard to find a group of folks who haven’t danced to Michael Jackson‘s Thriller. And now rubber Japanese monsters have joined the ranks of dancers hoping to channel the late King of Pop. In honor of the upcoming Ultraman movie, Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legend The Movie, several…

io9 Lauren Davis

The Lower Class Surrogates We Didn’t See On Screen

This year’s robotic avatar movie Surrogates showed us a world where humans live through beautiful robotic bodies. But the film’s concept designer thought that not everyone might have such glamorous surrogates, as this new concept art reveals. Peter Rubin, whose Iron Rooster Studios provided concept designs for Surrogates, explains his concept for a lower class,…

io9 Lauren Davis

The Most Powerful Lego Minifigs In the Universe

When Lego Galactus comes to consume our plastic planet, who will heed the call to defeat him? How does the minifig Green Lantern Corps wear rings without separate fingers? Ulises Farinas illustrates superhero scenes in the Lego world. Farinas is the artist behind ACT-I-VATE webcomic MOTRO, and he has recently taken to drawing Marvel and…

Books & Comics Lauren Davis

Sanctuary’s Greatest Monster Battle: Vampire Squid vs. Sea Scorpion

After the last episode’s disappointing monster no-show, Sanctuary gives us a bona fide battle of the abnormals, pitting the normally docile vampire squid against the vicious sea scorpion. Which critter will come out on top? Updated with squid-fighting action. Admittedly, I was prepared to dislike this episode on principle. “Next Tuesday” (without the words “See…

io9 Lauren Davis

Monster Worms Are Fringe’s Latest Health Craze

Last night’s Fringe gave us a new monster nightmare: giant, tentacled worms that live inside their host until they come bursting out of their faces. But it turns out that not everyone minds an encounter with their fearsome fangs. The Wormy Horror: This week’s bit of scientific crime centered around a bunch of vaguely Lovecraftian…

io9 Lauren Davis

HG Wells and Jules Verne Battle Over the Future of Science Fiction

Poor Jules Verne. All he wanted to do was tell scientifically plausible tales about great explorations and new technologies. Then HG Wells steps in with his fanciful time machines and alien invasions. What happens when their imaginary technologies face off? This is just one of Kate Beaton‘s many historical comics, which chronicle the events in…

io9 Lauren Davis

The Doctor Flies His TARDIS Through a Winter Wonderland

Jonesing for more Doctor Who? While you’re waiting for this year’s Christmas special, this BBC station identification offers a super brief adventure with the Doctor, involving the TARDIS, a snow drift, and a team of tiny reindeer. BBC has started running their annual Christmas identifications. Although this doesn’t offer any clues to the Tenth Doctor’s…

io9 Lauren Davis

Bones Proves That Liking Avatar Will Get You Laid

Deciding trailers were simply not enough, Fox infused last night’s episode of Bones with a hulking Avatar promotion. It showed fans of the forensic procedural not only that Avatar has amazing effects; liking the movie could also get you laid. After the opening credits, Bones’ King of Kong-inspired murder mystery was interrupted by three of…

Movies Lauren Davis

Futuristic Buildings Dubai Will Never See

When the funds were flowing freely, Dubai appeared to be a future mecca of innovative and extravagant architecture. But now that the well has gone dry, we’re left with the concept designs of the buildings we’ll never see. Sadly, this means no Death Star gracing the Dubai waterfront. Sphere-loving Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas will have…

io9 Lauren Davis

Tony Stark Rocks Out, Avatar Loses The Special Effects, Fringe Adds Mommy Issues, and Harry Potter Gets a Little Magic

See a rocking new Iron Man poster, Avatar stripped of CGI, and a look at a dark side of Harry Potter. Plus, Fringe’s mother rumors, and spoilers from Tron Legacy, Supernatural, Lost, and Chuck. Iron Man 2 The international poster gives us Tony Stark sans helmet. [Cinematical] Avatar James Cameron gave his overview of the…

Television Lauren Davis

Bizarre Re-interpretations of Star Wars in Art from Dagobah to the Death Star

Art Asylum Boston is currently running “Art Strikes Back,” a show where 30 visual artists have reinterpreted iconic Star Wars images in a variety of media and styles. Some of the works these folks have dreamed up are truly inspired. The show is running at Art Asylum Boston through this Sunday, December 6th. The pieces…

io9 Lauren Davis

Lauren Davis

Interdimensional Portals Drawn With Nothing But Light

Is Biological Life the Source of Martian Methane?

Zombies Invade the Star Wars Movie Posters

Talk Monkey to Me: Monkey Language Contains Simple Sentences

Santa Claus is the Ultimate Cryptozoological Nightmare

Ripley’s Has Authentic Vampire Killing Kits for Every Taste

Common House Pet, Or Malevolent Mechanized Murderer?

Charting the Possible Evolution of Same-Sex Liaisons

First Commercial Spacecraft is Ready for Its Closeup

Japanese Monsters Catch On To The Thriller Dance Craze

The Lower Class Surrogates We Didn’t See On Screen

The Most Powerful Lego Minifigs In the Universe

Sanctuary’s Greatest Monster Battle: Vampire Squid vs. Sea Scorpion

Monster Worms Are Fringe’s Latest Health Craze

HG Wells and Jules Verne Battle Over the Future of Science Fiction

The Doctor Flies His TARDIS Through a Winter Wonderland

Bones Proves That Liking Avatar Will Get You Laid

Futuristic Buildings Dubai Will Never See

Tony Stark Rocks Out, Avatar Loses The Special Effects, Fringe Adds Mommy Issues, and Harry Potter Gets a Little Magic

Bizarre Re-interpretations of Star Wars in Art from Dagobah to the Death Star

The Best Pop Culture Art Gallery In the World Is No More

Artemis 2 Live Updates: Countdown to the Moon 🔴

Forget Apple’s Magic Keyboard, Logitech MX Keys for Mac Refuses to Go Back to Full Price After Amazon Spring Sale

Google’s Next Fitbit Sounds Exactly Like a Whoop Clone

Amazon eero WiFi 7 Router (3-Pack) Keeps Its Spring Sale Price, Covering Up to 120 Devices Across 6,000 Sq. Ft.

72 New Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Books Arriving in April

A Cosmic ‘Dead Zone’ for Black Holes Is Real, New Evidence Suggests

Nothing Might Get Into Smart Glasses at the Worst Possible Time

Samsung Slashes $350 Off 49″ Odyssey Curved Gaming Monitor to Clear Out Stock on Amazon

How the Artemis 2 Moon Mission Could Go Dangerously Wrong

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?