Ursula Le Guin: We Need Fantasy Because “Hard Times Are Coming”

Last night, fantasy and science fiction writer Ursula Le Guin, author of The Left Hand of Darkness and the Earthsea series, won the medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters at the National Book Awards. She gave a speech about the importance of fantasy in a world of ugly realities. Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images…

A Congressional Bill That Would Force the EPA to Compromise Privacy

In the United States, Republicans are continuing their campaign to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from doing its job. Their latest effort includes accusing the EPA of “secrecy” because the agency refuses to disclose citizens’ private health information. The result is the Secret Science Reform Act, or HR 4012, sponsored by David Schweikert, R-Ariz. The…

Carrie Vaughn Explains The Downside Of Becoming Famous For One Thing

Carrie Vaughn is the author of the mega-successful Kitty Norville novels — but she didn’t want to rest on her laurels. Instead, she fought to break out of the “urban fantasy” category, which she hadn’t even known existed until she was put into it. Her story is fascinating. Talking to Westword, Vaughn, explains how she…

The Most Uncanny Robotic Animals That Humankind Has Ever Invented

Classic robots are absolutely weird, but there can be something unnerving about seeing dogs, snakes, bees, fish, and birds in robotic form. From uncanny headless creatures to mechanical snakes that can squeeze their way up a person’s leg, here are the robotic critters we can’t stop staring at. https://gizmodo.com/the-robots-of-europe-are-more-debonair-than-you-5989184 RoboBee, Robert Wood’s decade-long project at…

Aspiring Wizards, Your Harry Potter Study Abroad Course Is Finally Here

Frankly, I’m shocked it took this long, but finally someone is offering a study abroad course in Potterology. That someone is California State – San Marcos, who’s offering a three-credit course in England for those with a penchant for learning and an affinity for magic (and $5,000). Here’s the official description of the “British Culture…

The 100 Dives Into Freaky Human Medical Experimentation

Last night’s episode of The 100 made some revelations and moved some plotlines forward, and the most interesting ones involved performing science experiments on human beings. But one topside plot and one underground plot involved the same idea: How do you destroy someone’s sanity? In fact, The 100 has been quietly boiling to this idea…

Who’s The Best (Or Worst) Brand New Character In An Existing Universe?

Stories change over time, and characters get added or subtracted every time a story is retold. And sometimes, an existing universe gains a new character who adds something special. Or not so special. Who’s the best (or worst) brand new addition to an existing group of characters? Please include a picture, poster, clip, book cover,…

Nature’s Candids: The Best Wildlife Camera-Trap Photography Of 2014

BBC Wildlife has selected its favorite photographs of the year — but not the ones taken by actual photographers. Rather, these photos were taken by automated camera-traps — and they’re surprisingly awesome. Above: Commended photograph: Grey squirrel, Wimbledon Common, London by Damian Kuzdak. This year saw a record number of entries, and an astonishing 877…

Have We Stopped Fearing Nuclear War?

It came up the other night as dinner conversation. “Where do you think the next nuclear war will break out?” I asked. Everybody had an opinion. “Obviously on the Pakistan border,” said one person. Another, known for his weird opinions, piped up: “In the arctic, of course. Either to protect new trade routes, melt the…

Meryl Streep Gives Us Chills Singing “Stay With Me” From Into The Woods

If you had any doubts about Meryl Streep taking on Into The Wood’scoveted part of the Witch, check them at the door. This is the first long clip of Streep singing the highly emotional “Stay With Me” from the movie adaptation. And it’s just great. The Into The Woods scene centers around the Witch and…

Listen To The Recording Of Philae Landing On Comet 67P

It isn’t every day that you get to hear the actual sound of a spacecraft touching down on a comet 310 million miles away. As the Washington Post reports: The Cometary Acoustic Surface Sounding Experiment (CASSE) sensors are located on the “feet” of Philae’s three legs, and the two seconds of landing audio they picked…

Instead Of A Batmobile, Medieval Knight Batman Rides A Giant Living Bat

We’ve seen one artist portray Batman as a medieval knight battling and endlessly grinning Joker dragon, but this illustration by Jason Kang focuses more on what the medieval Dark Knight’s armor might look like—and his might steed, the Bat…well…Bat. He even has a Robin. https://gizmodo.com/the-joker-is-all-smiles-as-a-nightmarish-dragon-facing-1526943582 Kang is a concept artist at Disney Interactive, and he…

Call it Orphan Black: Astronomers believe they’ve discovered a supermassive black hole that was kicked out of its home galaxy during a collision with another galaxy. Originally thought to be a supernova, the rogue black hole is adrift in interstellar space, some 2,600 light-years away from its host galaxy’s core. It’s considered the first discovery…

This Deceptively Cute Animation Illustrates The Horrors Of Addiction

At first, this animated short seems rather pleasant: A kiwi encounters a golden nugget, and upon consuming it, feels a glorious sense of bliss. But as the bird continues to chase that first high, things quickly turn dark. Nuggets is by German animator Andreas Hykade, who teaches animation at the Institute of Animation, Visual Effects…

Bankers Are More Likely To Cheat — But Only When At Work

A recent experimental study sought to answer the question as to whether bankers are more likely to cheat than people in other professions. You can probably imagine the results, but you’ll be surprised as to the reason why. There is something in the culture of banking that lends itself toward making otherwise fairly good people…

Olly Moss Releases Three Breathtaking Wilderness Posters

These utterly gorgeous posters don’t celebrate Star Wars or other classic films the way some of our favorite Olly Moss posters have. But they’re still incredibly beautiful and will fill you with a love of the great outdoors. And they’re on sale for four days. https://gizmodo.com/the-real-reason-why-mondos-posters-look-so-much-cooler-5931682

An Ultra HD Time-Lapse Of Earth That Is 100% Worth Watching

It’s strange that we can be blasé about space-imagery, our appetites glutted by a steady stream of “mesmerizing,” “humbling,” and “mindblowing” footage of our planet. It takes more than a view from the ISS to give us pause. So trust us when we say that this video is definitely worth the watch. The video in…

Two groups of healthy green sea turtles are thriving off the coast of Peru. This is hopeful news, as these turtles are part of an endangered group and their numbers were shrinking. It seems that protecting their habitats has worked, and their populations are growing again.

Even James Gunn Thinks This Is How GotG Should Have Ended

The How It Should Have Ended guys have gotten their hands on Guardians of the Galaxy to the delight of everyone, including director James Gunn, who wrote: “Haha! I love these. Having a ‘How It Should Have Ended’ is better than winning an Oscar.” Doesn’t this mean they should direct GotG2? Or at least the…

Alfred Kicks Ass, Flirts With Fish Mooney In This Exclusive Gotham Clip

Pennyworth and Bullock hit the streets looking for Bruce Wayne. And what we get is a totally great, ass-kicking Alfred Pennyworth. Take an exclusive look at next week’s episode now. The clip opens with Bullock screaming, “Am I the only one in this town who waits for backup?” Before wildly firing his gun into yet…