Robbie Gonzalez, Author at Gizmodo

An invisible force field that punches sharks in the face

This summer, 61-year-old distance swimmer Diana Nyad will be attempting a 103-mile swim through the shark-populated waters separating Cuba and Florida — and she’ll be doing it without a shark cage. Instead, the marathon swimmer will be accompanied by an electronic shark-deterrent device called Shark Shield, which works by screwing with the electrosensory system sharks…

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Why are paleontologists comparing this dinosaur fossil to Cinderella?

Everyone knows that the footprints of prehistoric creatures are rare, and that their fossilized remains are even rarer. But finding footprints and fossils together is almost never heard of, which is what has paleontologists so worked up about the fossilized Protoceratops pictured here. Outlined by a white box is a footprint that paleontologists say closely…

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A corset made with hundreds of shark teeth

What, you didn’t know they made shark-tooth-lined corsets? Behold Sarah Garzoni’s installation art piece, “Breaching,” a life-sized, traditional 19th century corset fashioned out of wax, string, plaster, and about a thousand shark teeth. The piece is shown here on display at last year’s Atomes Crochusan exhibition in Paris, France. And you thought the corsets made…

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How to turn a box of girl scout cookies into 15 billion dollars

This video shows how, just by rearranging some carbon atoms, a $5 box of Girl Scout cookies becomes a $15 billion hunk of industrial material. In fact, rearranging the atoms of just about any old carbon source — including a standard pencil lead — into thin sheets of carbon atoms called graphene can turn a…

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The best solution to world thirst may be desalination

Water may be flowing on Mars, but where we really need it is here on Earth. Over 75% of our planet’s surface is covered in water, yet 2 billion people worldwide reside in water-stressed countries. With fresh water accounting for a meager 3% of Earth’s total water supply (and the vast majority of it locked…

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“To the Moon” is like a backstage pass to the sights and sounds of 1960’s NASA

Back in 1969, Time-Life Records released a collection of 6 double-sided 12″ vinyl records documenting “the dramatic story of man’s boldest venture — told in the voices of the men and women who lived it.” The collection is chock full of radio transmissions and interviews with the astronauts, engineers, and chiefs of state involved in…

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A collection of Star Wars t-shirts that can serve as your entire back-to-school wardrobe

Is that a bearded, lightsaber-wielding Han Solo?! You bet your ass it is. This t-shirt features early concept art drawn up by none other than legendary concept designer Ralph McQuarrie — the man behind much of the look and feel of the original Star Wars trilogy. This is just one of over 20 new Star…

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The NIH will not offer public access to information about its researchers’ financial ties

Scientists have long been required to list any and all conflicts of interest that could unduly influence the objectivity of their research — for example, they would need to reveal if a tobacco company funded research showing that smoking doesn’t cause cancer. However, this kind of information is not always readily accessible to members of…

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In 1959, mathematician-philosopher Bertrand Russell had two things he wanted to say to people of the future

Words to think about concerning our ever-shrinking, interconnected world, from a 1959 BBC interview with British philosopher and mathematician Bertrand Russell. “I should like to say two things, one intellectual and one moral. The intellectual thing I should want to say is this: When you are studying any matter, or considering any philosophy, ask yourself…

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“Longevity genes,” not healthy lifestyles, are what help you live to see 100

Do you have a family history of exceptionally long-living relatives? If you do, congratulations. A recent study suggests that you may be packing “longevity genes” that could allow you to eat, drink, and even smoke like the rest of us and still outlive us all, living well into your 80’s, 90’s, and beyond. In a…

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First close-up photographs of giant asteroid Vesta reveal “Snowman”

Right now NASA’s Dawn spacecraft is 114 million miles from Earth, orbiting thousands of miles above the surface of the giant asteroid Vesta. And Dawn’s been taking pictures. Shown here is the first full frame image snapped by Dawn’s onboard framing camera. The photo reveals a set of three craters on Vesta’s northern hemisphere that…

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Architects of Air’s inflatable Luminaria will blow you away

To step inside one of Architects of Air’s inflatable Luminarium exhibits is to be transported to another world of breathtaking light and color. Each exhibit is assembled from about 20 pneumatic elements that zip together to take up an area of roughly 1000 square meters. Once the completed structure is anchored, it can inflate into…

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How will people react to cars that drive themselves?

Would you let your car drive itself? The US Department of Transportation wants to know. This month, the DOT is having volunteers from around the country drive cars equipped with short-range car-to-car communication systems that allow the vehicles to not only “talk” to one another, but warn their passengers of impending danger and even engage…

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Optical illusion poster is a tree . . . until you examine it more closely

Who doesn’t love tree rings? Nobody, that’s who. That fact alone should be reason enough to appreciate this beautiful poster by Gary, Aaron & Khairul. But look a little closer and you’ll find an entirely new reason to love this lithograph print, which is aptly titled Tree of Life. From degree°, where you can snag…

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Is this the world’s oldest known protractor?

For over a century, archaeologists have argued over the original purpose of the strange looking object shown above, which was discovered in 1906 in the tomb of the ancient Egyptian architect Kha. Now, an Italian physicist claims to have deduced the artifact’s true function:She says it’s the world’s first known protractor. If the strange-looking object…

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Children of stressed-out moms age faster than their peers

New research out of UC Irvine shows that children born to women who experience unusual levels of psychological or social stress during pregnancy are more likely to show signs of accelerated aging than other children. The study’s results are the first to reveal the long-term impact of prenatal stress on cellular aging in human offspring,…

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Puerto Rico’s living Graft Tower could one day house and feed you

It may look like the human battery farm from The Matrix, but the Graft Tower is actually a “parametric-designed eco-hotel and vertical farm,” which includes plant material growing inside its structure and creates ethanol through natural processes. The tower, which would literally “grow” by grafting organic material around the base of the structure’s frame and…

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Your synthetic spine is (almost) ready

For people who suffer chronic back pain from degenerated or diseased spinal discs, there are few options. Surgeons can implant a plastic or metal spinal disc to replace your damaged one. But metal and plastic prosthetics can only do so much; surgeries are costly and recovery times are long. Now Cornell University engineers in Ithaca…

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Should we create animals with human-like intelligence?

Should apes and other animals accompany humans on their path to transcending biological limitations? Many scientists and philosophers say no. But futurist George Dvorsky has published a thought-provoking article championing animal enhancement, arguing that the opportunity to do so represents a bioethical imperative. Friday’s opening of Rise of the Planet of the Apes comes just…

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Tropical Chinese fungus weighs half a ton and covers an area of 30 feet

Think portobello mushrooms are big? Think again. Scientists on Hainan Island in southern China have discovered the largest fungus ever recorded. Weighing in at around half a ton, and extending over thirty feet in length, fungus experts were shocked to discover the fruiting body (comparable to a mushroom in other fungal species) feeding on the…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez

Robbie Gonzalez

An invisible force field that punches sharks in the face

Why are paleontologists comparing this dinosaur fossil to Cinderella?

A corset made with hundreds of shark teeth

How to turn a box of girl scout cookies into 15 billion dollars

The best solution to world thirst may be desalination

“To the Moon” is like a backstage pass to the sights and sounds of 1960’s NASA

A collection of Star Wars t-shirts that can serve as your entire back-to-school wardrobe

The NIH will not offer public access to information about its researchers’ financial ties

In 1959, mathematician-philosopher Bertrand Russell had two things he wanted to say to people of the future

“Longevity genes,” not healthy lifestyles, are what help you live to see 100

First close-up photographs of giant asteroid Vesta reveal “Snowman”

Architects of Air’s inflatable Luminaria will blow you away

How will people react to cars that drive themselves?

Optical illusion poster is a tree . . . until you examine it more closely

Is this the world’s oldest known protractor?

Children of stressed-out moms age faster than their peers

Puerto Rico’s living Graft Tower could one day house and feed you

Your synthetic spine is (almost) ready

Should we create animals with human-like intelligence?

Tropical Chinese fungus weighs half a ton and covers an area of 30 feet

Feds Sniffing Around Polymarket After Suspicious Bets

DJI Osmo 360 Review: The Best 360 Camera for the DJI-Pilled

Don’t Get Too Attached to Any AI App

‘Paradise’ Writer Teases What’s Coming in Season 3 After That Huge Twist

Trump’s New White House App Is Mildly Concerning and Weird for a Lot of Reasons

Bloodsucking Ticks Can Survive Inside Your Home Longer Than You Might Think

The Best New Toys of March 2026

Judge Denies Liking LinkedIn Post Critical of Elon Musk But Reassigns His Cases Anyway

Amazon Slashes 50% Off Keurig K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker, Now a Budget Alternative to Breville and Nespresso Espresso Machines

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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

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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

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