Robbie Gonzalez

This visualization shows how fast you’re spinning around Earth’s axis

Ever wonder how fast you’re spinning around the imaginary rod connecting the North and South Poles? Wonder no more. By finding your location on this map and searching for where your line of latitude intersects with the bold, black curve, you can determine the speed at which you’re currently zipping around Earth’s axis. “I was…

Has National Geographic lost its mind?

The February 2014 issue of National Geographic Kids promises to inform its adolescent readers “what their birthstone says about them.” Here’s the cover in its full, uncropped, unabashedly doltish glory: And here we thought no publication could possibly top New York Times Magazine for the dumbest, most scientifically inaccurate cover of the week. https://gizmodo.com/the-real-reason-you-should-be-upset-about-planet-hilla-1508558977 The…

Autocomplete map of the U.S. asks why your state is so ___________

As of January, 2014 only 18 states in the union have unique autocomplete-descriptions for the search query “Why is [state] so…”. They are as follows: Nevada: Empty Wyoming: Windy Utah: Mormon Colorado: Fit Kansas: Flat Texas: Big Iowa: Democratic Missouri: Conservative Illinois: Corrupt Georgia: Backwards Ohio: Important Maine: White Massachusetts: Smart Rhode Island: Small New…

A 14,000-volt electrical shock gave this man star-shaped cataracts

In the latest issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers recount the fascinating case of an electrician who, after sustaining a 14,000-volt shock to his left shoulder, presented with “bilateral stellate anterior subcapsular opacities of the lens.” Translation: Starburst-shaped cataracts. https://gizmodo.com/this-is-what-happens-when-you-run-15-000-volts-through-5988556 https://gizmodo.com/this-is-what-your-skin-looks-like-after-youve-been-stru-5890173 Researchers Bobby Korn and Don Kikkawa of describe the patient’s initial…

Rocking tauntauns! Rocking tauntauns for everyone!

It’s time the world disposed of its rocking horses. Chop them up. Use them for firewood. What we want – nay, what we need – are rocking tauntauns. We’ve had zero luck in tracking down the creator of these wonderful wooden reptomammals – whoever can tell us who made them, or where to get one,…

Our new favorite Firefly cosplay gives Wash the last word

The look on this cosplayer’s face (after the jump) says it all. Photo by Michael Hanscom Of course, we all know Wash didn’t actually die. Right guys? Guys? https://gizmodo.com/science-is-finally-used-for-its-most-noble-purpose-try-5974991 https://gizmodo.com/heres-what-happened-in-the-firefly-universe-after-sere-1479539900 [Via Wil Wheaton]

This “Tactical Raptor” is pretty badass, even without feathers

The only thing more terrifying that a raptor tearing through your office building is a raptor tearing through your office building while outfitted in next-generation military tactical gear. (Because lord knows dual scythe-like killing claws aren’t gonna cut it in the 21st century, amirite?) https://gizmodo.com/this-terrifying-raptor-chase-is-the-most-traumatic-pran-1210483692 https://gizmodo.com/recently-discovered-species-of-raptor-validates-the-fea-5841542 Via the outfitters at Blue Force Gear, whose “Tactical…

If the BBC had been behind Disney’s Great Mouse Detective

It would have looked like this. In all seriousness, though: Looking at FRANKN.STEIN’s post below, it’s hard to imagine someone from the Great Mouse team didn’t have a hand in the whole mustache schtick in Sherlock’s Season 3 opener. [MBC’s ‘BASIL’ by tales to astonish] https://observationdeck.kinja.com/homaging-the-classics-1508823806

The field of psychology could be entering a period of rapid transformation, leading the charge on reforms that stand to benefit all life sciences. Over at The Guardian, Chris Chambers runs through five big changes to the field to look for in the coming year.

The NSA’s website for kids isn’t creepy. Nope. Not creepy at all.

Just a friendly reminder that the NSA‘s children’s website, “CryptoKids,” is an actual thing that exists. https://gizmodo.com/need-more-reasons-to-feel-paranoid-about-the-nsa-watch-1495875117 In today’s New York Times, Michael S. Schmidt reports on the “furry, smiley face” the Agency puts on its mission: https://gizmodo.com/did-neal-stephenson-predict-the-nsa-spying-on-world-of-1480823003 https://gizmodo.com/the-nsa-spying-scandal-as-explained-by-pixar-757650604 The turtle wearing a hat backward, baggy jeans and purple sunglasses looks just like other cartoon…

Watch this polar bear cub take his first bath

This little cub has dealt with more than his share of struggle in his brief life. One of three male cubs born at the Toronto Zoo last November, he was the only one to survive more than 48 hours. When his mother had trouble nursing him, staff at the zoo’s Wildlife Health Centre decided to…

NASA’s Opportunity Rover Celebrates a Decade on Mars

Ten years ago today, the Opportunity rover landed on Mars. In this newly released retrospective, NASA engineers reflect on the challenges they’ve faced keeping this intrepid little rover roving well beyond its original 90-day mission. https://gizmodo.com/10-years-ago-opportunity-rover-began-a-90-day-mission-t-693893908 Via JPL: There are no vehicle repair stations on Mars. The Opportunity rover landed on the Red Planet in…

This animated short is the best 10-second adventure you’ll take today

Animation and live action meet halfway in Golden Age of Insect Aviation: The Great Grasshoppers, a whimsically bold 10-second adventure by Wayne Unten. Writes Unten: “In 1903, Olivia Wright was the first to pilot the great grasshoppers of North America.” While taking my kids to the playground, I shot live-action footage of a grasshopper, using…

And now, Mr. Freeze Singing ‘Let It Go’ From Disney’s Frozen

Don’t fight it. You knew this was inevitable. Honestly, we’re surprised it took this long. Via creators 2chinTV: Pixar Animation Studios, the studio behind “Toy Story 3” and “Free Birds,” presents “Freezin’,” a stunning big-screen comedy adventure. Determined scientist Victor (Arnold Schwarzenegger) sets off on an epic journey—teaming up with his loyal henchmen—to make Gotham…

The real reason you should be concerned about “Planet Hillary”

You get it. The cover of this week’s NYT Magazine is a mess. But here’s a criticism you probably won’t see debated on late-night TV: have you noticed how painfully, unforgivably, idiotically inaccurate it is, from a scientific standpoint? https://jezebel.com/this-new-york-times-magazine-cover-of-hillary-clinton-i-1507370822 “The gravitational pull of a possible 2016 campaign is bringing all the old Clinton characters…

A Little Girl Watches Her Mom Make History

Pictured here: Kristin Fisher, daughter of astronauts Anna Fisher and William Fisher, hanging out in mission control during her mom’s 1984 flight aboard Space Shuttle Discovery. Fisher the younger was just 15 months old when her mom became the first mom in space. [Kristin Fisher via The Mary Sue]

What would happen to your voice if you just… stopped talking?

What if tomorrow you woke up and decided that you were going to stop speaking? Not for a day, not for a week — but for, say, twenty years. What effect would if have on your body? What effect would if have on your mind? Top photo by SarahElizabethC. via flickr Before we begin, it’s…

Loving Vincent, the First Ever Feature-Length Painted Animation

Imagine, if you will, a feature-length animation about the life and death of post-Impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh. Now imagine that the animation is made entirely from paintings created in Van Gogh’s iconic style, and you’re beginning to understand why we’re so excited about Loving Vincent. The movie is currently in production at Oscar-winning studio…

The closest supernova observed in 25 years is getting brighter

Three days ago, a white dwarf went supernova in nearby Galaxy M82. A starburst galaxy, M82 is a popular target for telescopes on account of its brightness. But its newly formed supernova, which astronomers have named SN 2014J, just became the brightest object in all the galaxy – and it’s only going to get brighter.…

Digitally inclined DIY-ers rejoice! MAKE Magazine is now available for iPad. Not only is it cheaper than the print edition ($20 vs. $35), it’s also upped its distribution frequency from quarterly to bi-monthly! (via BoingBoing)