Using Social Media Is Less Stressful Than You Think, Say Scientists

Anyone who has spent time on Facebook or Instagram has experienced … let’s call them negative emotions. But new research suggests that using social media is actually less stress-inducing than you might think. In a study called “Social Media and the Cost of Caring,” scientists at the Pew Research Center used the Perceived Stress Scale…

The ’70s Teen Titans Return For More DC Comics’ Convergence Craziness

And they’re not alone! When Convergence begins this April, classic DC heroes and teams from the ’70s and ’80s will face the foes from all sorts of DC universes in the epic, two-month clash. We have another round of the two-issue miniseries reveals, including a guest appearance from Nightwing’s ’70s collar! CONVERGENCE: NEW TEEN TITANS…

The Original Galactica Gets a Preorder Discount, and More Deals

The original Battlestar Galactica is getting a Definitive Blu-ray re-release, and you can save at least $65 by preordering. [ Battlestar Galactica, $85 or less] The Grand Budapest Hotel cleaned up in this morning’s Oscar nominations, but if you still haven’t seen it, the Blu-ray is only $12 today. [The Grand Budapest Hotel, $12] The…

10 Territorial Disputes That Mean Your Maps Are Already Wrong

As it stands, there are well over 150 territorial disputes around the globe, some more urgent than others. Here are 10 you need to know about — and that could redefine the world map. Top photo: Russian T-90 tanks on parade in Red Square on May 9, 2014 in celebration of WWII Victory Day. (ID1974/Shutterstock)…

A pet alligator was seized after some 37 years spent chilling in its owners’ backyard … and maybe snacking on neighborhood cats. “You cannot own a reptile like this in the City of Los Angeles without having a proper permit,” an Animal Services rep said. “And obviously for an alligator, we would not permit that.”

Want To See Where Ray Bradbury Lived For 50 Years? Too Bad.

Though Ray Bradbury’s literary legacy lives on after the author’s 2012 passing, the Los Angeles home where he lived for over 50 years is currently getting the teardown treatment. https://gizmodo.com/r-i-p-ray-bradbury-author-of-fahrenheit-451-and-the-m-5916175 Curbed LA reports that the buyers who paid $270,000 over the home’s asking price last May (the total: a cool $1.765 million) received a permit…

Explore The Chilling Remains Of Berlin’s Abandoned School Of Anatomy

Many abandoned buildings take on a slightly creepy aspect just because of their decay. But then there are places that are not only abandoned, but also house tables once used for dissections and chambers that once stored dead bodies, like Freie Universität Berlin’s former Institute of Anatomy. Top image by Jan-Christian Bommes, CC BY 2.0.…

This Pig May Be A Baby-Killer

Here is a piggy. Isn’t it cute? It might not be when you learn that farmers have a major problem with pigs because they engage in a behavior called “savaging” — a gruesome act which involves female pigs attacking and killing their own piglets. Infanticide is well-documented in many animals, but for some reason, pigs…

The Flying Boy Experiment Entertained Audiences By Electrifying a Kid

In the late 1700s scientists were making great strides in the manipulation of electricity and the public wanted in on the fun. Demonstrations of electricity were one of the most popular events of the age. For the audiences members, they were fun and amazing. But for the boys in them, there were just painful. Stephen…

Fran Kranz Takes On Oberyn Martell In The Bloodsucking Bastards

Cabin in the Woods’ Fran Kranz as a soulless office drone? Check. Game of Thrones’ Pedro Pascal as evil middle-management? Check. Here’s the first trailer for Bloodsucking Bastards, an Office Space meets Fright Night movie where Kranz and his co-workers realize their bosses aren’t just assholes, they’re vampires. Hmm. The trailer is definitely solid, although…

The 2015 Oscar Nominations Have A Lot Of Good And A Lot Of Bad

The 2015 Academy Award nominations are out, and they are actually pretty surprising. How the hell did The Lego Movie not get best animated feature? Meanwhile, Birdman is cleaning house with nine nominations, while it looks like Selma got the big snub. I’m equally surprised the Birdman score wasn’t nominated for an Oscar (although I…

Which Real Historical Figure’s Life Do You Most Want To See On Screen?

Our movie theaters and television screens have been filled with real historical figures (or at least characters who share their name and a couple of loosely related characteristics) lately. But whose life do you most want to see (accurately!) unfold on screen? Would you pick someone from long, long ago whose life held little in…

Record-Breaking Sperm Storage In Sharks Explains This “Virgin Birth”

Back in 2012, a baby brownbanded bamboo shark was born in tank even though the mother hadn’t been exposed to a male for 45 months. Scientists have now figured out how this so-called “virgin birth” was possible. To photo: Pup of Chiloscyllium punctatum born at the Steinhart Aquarium of the California Academy of Sciences. Photograph…

This Ode To Batman From A Starlog Contest Winner Is Poetic Genius

The team over Comics Alliance dug through old copies of Starlog Magazine recently (as you do) and came across the best piece of Batman poetry since… well, ever. The Dark Knight has inspired many creatives over the years, but perhaps never so strangely brilliant as this. Header image via Comics Alliance. Back in 1988, Starlog…

Michael Keaton’s Advice On Beetlejuice 2, And A New Walking Dead Actor

Help yourself to a giant pile of speculation about Marvel’s Phase 3. James Cameron explains why the Avatar sequels have been pushed back. Gotham adds yet another villain’s origin story to its line-up. And that 21 Jump Street/Men In Black crossover is still a possibility. Spoilers now! Top image: Walking Dead Marvel/Spider-Man As usual, take…

3D Printer, Strobe Light: All You Need to Create Zoetrope Sculptures

Oh, and a Lazy Susan. Designer John Edmark has created a bunch of designs for sculptures which “bloom” when spun and lit by a strobe light or are filmed with a short shutter speed. Gif via Colossal Edmark has a ton of videos of his designs up at both youtube and Vimeo. Here’s one: He’s…

Technology marches on: The Smithsonian is working to digitize proofs used to print money from 1863-1930. What used to take 15 minutes and $10 dollars a sheet now costs less than a dollar per sheet for the 3,5000 sheets they digitize a day. [Smithsonian Magazine]

A Man Tired By Space Exploration Finds an Outlet in This Animated Short

“Planètes après planètes / Planets after planets” by Titouan Bordeau feels so much like a short from childhood that I’m almost convinced I did see it then. Watch as a terminally bored by exploring astronaut has his life shaken up by a pack of ducks. Space ducks. [via Vimeo Staff Picks]

Person of Interest Shows Us Why Stephen Hawking Is Worried About AI

In real life, many of the world’s most respected scientists are signing onto an open letter urging technologists to be careful about inventing AI. And on Person of Interest, we’re getting a good look at why they might be right. This was the final episode in a three-episode arc devoted to escalating conflict between the…

Are There Any Michael Crichton Books Left To Turn Into Movies Or TV?

Michael Crichton is one of the authors with the best track records of being adapted successfully to movies and television, from Andromeda Strain to Jurassic World. So it makes sense that super-agency ICM has signed a deal to develop his work, especially previously unfilmed works. But what’s left to adapt? Image via Maverik Education According…