Get To Know The Uber-Inspiring Woman Dubbed “The Superhero’s Shrink”

The Atlantic has a long-form profile of psychologist, comic-book and cosplay enthusiast, and Under the Mask blogger Andrea Letamendi, discussing her background as an academic who slowly allowed her geeky passions to infiltrate her professional life. Of particular interest, Letamendi discusses her relationship with Batgirl author Gail Simone, who made her a character in the…

Here Is Your All-Female Ghostbusters Cast (Probably)

The cast of the all-female Ghostbusters movie is close to being confirmed. The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that this will be the cast for Paul Feig’s rebooted Ghostbuster franchise: The new team will star, Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon. That’s a lot of Saturday Night Live players along with McCarthy who…

This Gigantic Landslide In Northern India Can Be Seen From Space

Late last year, a landslide in Northern India sent enough debris into the Tsarap River, creating an obstruction about 2,000 feet (600 meters) long, and a brand new 300-acre lake. Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir are now concerned that this dam could lead to damaging floods. The landslide occurred sometime around December 31, 2014. Detailed…

We’re fast approaching an era when companies will be able to run themselves. Called Distributed Autonomous Corporations (DACS), they’ll utilize cloud robots to manage supply chains without human supervision. But as an article at Aeon asks, will these blockchain-style systems set us free, or just make the rich richer?

The Medical Condition Invented By Listerine

One of the most famous examples of a “solution looking for a problem,” was Listerine. Although people have always had elixirs to sweeten their breath, the company made up a medical condition — and then saw its profits go through the roof. Listerine was first invented in the 1880s, when people were really catching on…

The Craziest Secrets Of Marvel’s Original Secret Wars Comics

As you get ready for Marvel comics’ mega-event this summer, it’s worth remembering this isn’t the first time Secret Wars has been waged. Back in 1984, a similarly “covert conflict” enveloped these heroes and villains. How much do you know about the first event that changed Marvel universe forever? It wasn’t Marvel’s idea. Seeing how…

Man Claims Boat Collision Proves Existence Of Loch Ness Monster

A man who once rented boats on Loch Ness has come forward, claiming that “flesh and black skin an inch thick” was found clinging to one of his vessels after a tragic collision with an unknown object. Alas, there’s no proof, since the incident happened nearly 40 years ago. Still, that hasn’t stopped Stanley Roberts…

Disney Wants Chris Pratt For Indiana Jones, SOLD

Could Christ Pratt be the next Indiana Jones? We certainly hope so, because THAT IS JUST PERFECT. SOLD. YES. *MAKE IT SO GIF HERE* Deadline is reporting that Disney is “eyeing” Pratt for an Indiana Jones revival. Look, we don’t necessarily think that Indiana Jones should be revived. But if it has to happen, we…

What The Hell Went Wrong With This Season Of American Horror Story?

Last week, American Horror Story wrapped up its season-long freak show storyline. But today, we’re still stuck here, thinking “what the hell happened” to this series? Here are our thoughts on the entire season, and the lackluster finale in particular. Spoilers ahead… “You’ll Never Be A Freak” Vs. “You’re The Biggest Freak” Perhaps this was…

Brain Stimulation Induces Feelings Of Extreme Thirst In Mice

By directing pulses of light onto specific regions of the brain, researchers from Columbia University Medical Center induced feelings of extreme thirst in perfectly well hydrated mice — causing them to drink the equivalent of seven pints of water for a human. Top image: A mouse brain showing the two neurons, CAMKII (red) that triggers…

A Closer Look At The New Fantastic Four In Action

The first teaser trailer for the Fantastic Four reboot was… kinda low-key, actually. It definitely conveyed a strong mood of sombre anticipation, tinged with hope. But there were a few glimpses of the actual Fantastic Four doing actual superpowered things. We’ve rounded them up so you can take a closer look. The Human Torch: Sue…

A Dead Man Convinces An Angel To Bring Him Back For A One-Night Stand

Andrew is in the middle of having a promising, if temporary, connection with a woman in a bar one night when he keels over and dies. He talks the angel who greets him into giving him another chance, but the angel is intent on interfering with the rest of his night. Ramin Serry’s Don’t Call…

Here’s Why Small Black Holes Are More Dangerous Than Big Ones

If you were going to travel close to a black hole in order to study it, which type should you choose? Most people would probably pick a smaller black hole, because it seems easier to avoid. But that’s a fatal mistake. Small black holes can be far more dangerous than big ones, due to a…

Sleepy Hollow Really, Really Wants You to Come Back

This week, Sleepy Hollow is sorry for everything that’s happened in Season Two. It still loves you, and it wants you to come back. It even makes two promises that could change the show – but can it deliver? In discussing last week’s episode, in which the show assumed Katrina would be a valuable asset…

Science And Art Need Each Other, And Here’s Why

The University of California’s Fig. 1 YouTube series takes on the question of “Why Science Needs Art,” breaking it down in less than a minute. Right brain, meet left brain! The star researcher in this week’s episode is UC Santa Cruz professor Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz, a big believer in computer simulations, who explains, “In astronomy, we…

10 Valuable Life Lessons We’ve Learned From Disney Villains

Sure, the heroes in Disney movies are supposed to embody desirable traits: bravery, kindness, a sense of adventure. But sometimes, it’s the villains who have the most to teach us about the world — in their successes and their failures, too. 1. Scar, The Lion King: It’s not enough to want power; you have to…

This Is How You Unboil An Egg

Every one knows how to boil an egg (egg + water + heat + time), but is it possible to reverse the process and take a boiled egg back to its previous state? The answer is, incredibly, yes. Here’s how. In a paper published in ChemBioChem by chemists from the University of California in Irvine…

This “Super Saturn” Has An Enormous Ring System And Maybe Even Exomoons

Astronomers watching the repeated and drawn-out dimming of a relatively nearby Sun-like star have interpreted their observations to indicate an eclipse by a gigantic exoplanet’s complex ring system, similar to Saturn’s except much, much bigger. Illustration by artist Ron Miller of the gigantic ring system around J1407b. (© Ron Miller. Used with permission.) What’s more,…

Marvel Has A Serious Problem Merchandising Its Female Characters

In between marketing winding up for its May release and Toy Fair around the corner, merchandise for Age of Ultron has been showing up everywhere. But one Avenger has been largely absent: Black Widow. It’s not something new to Marvel — and that’s starting to be a problem. Let’s just think about the array of…

Can You Guess What This Image Tests For?

This is called the Gollin figures test. It’s used as a way of assessing visual information — and also something more. Here’s a hint: These images are often shown to amnesiacs. You are meant to see this picture as a series of images, starting with the lower right and moving to the upper left. The…