The True Story of the Computer Worm that Took Down a Nuclear Facility

The Stuxnet worm was the first known example of a digital weapon developed by the U.S. government — and it actually worked. Discovered in 2010, it had already destroyed several nuclear centrifuges in Iran. Now, veteran computer security reporter Kim Zetter has an action-packed book about it. We’ve got an excerpt. If you really want…

What Offensive Storytelling Trope Should We Finally Retire?

Sometimes, a narrative convention is so ingrained in literature that writers reach for it even after it becomes clear that it’s not so much “classic” as “offensive.” What trope do you see time and time again that simply makes you cringe? A big one that bothers us is the convention that has become known as…

Orphan Black Season Three Teaser Is Astoundingly Clever

Here is the first-ever teaser trailer for the third season of beloved clone drama Orphan Black. Sadly, there’s no footage, but unsurprisingly, they still managed to make a pretty clever teaser. Anyone catch that the strands of DNA on the “H” are both blue and pink? FORESHADOWING, PEOPLE. At least, we hope. There’s no limit…

Science Needs More Women (And Not For The Reason You Think)

You’re probably thinking it has to do with the lack of women conducting research. And yes, you’re right, that is a problem. But the issue we’re talking about, while connected to the absence of women in scientific research, is actually the relative shortage of women having research performed on them. Above: In 1927, the Fifth…

10 Fad Diets, Debunked

What should you cut out of your diet to be more healthy? Everything. According to the most popular diet books on the market, there’s barely a food on Earth that’s safe to eat. But what is the actual benefit of these diets? Here’s what science has to say. 10. Cut Out Wheat to Slim Down…

These Are the Movies Recommended by the Church of Satan — Here’s Why

Tucked away on the official Church of Satan website is a list of recommended films, offered up without much context or explanation. Naturally, we had to find out more, so we reached out to Magus Peter H. Gilmore, the Church of Satan’s High Priest. He gave us an amazing lesson on what Satanists look for…

Help Come Up With a Better Star Wars Title Than “The Force Awakens”

In a tweet heard ’round the galaxy, the title of Star Wars Episode VII was revealed to be the somewhat gratifying but also quite puzzling The Force Awakens. Just because J.J. Abrams slapped some space words together doesn’t mean we can’t do better. The internet is already putting its best ideas forward. Surely you’ve got…

Geoengineering could be used to prevent catastrophic climate effects caused by giant volcanic eruptions. New research suggests it may be possible to counteract these effects through deliberate emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, dampening the abrupt impact of a massive eruption. Such measures could stave off perpetual winters that follow these eruptions. Image: ESO

Captain America 2 Is Even Better As A Low-Budget ’80s Action Flick

2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier? Pretty good. Captain America: Winter Soldier, as if it had been made by legendary B-movie producers Golan and Globus as part of their cheese-tastic Cannon Films line? GLORIOUS. You know, if Marvel skipped Civil War and just made this, I’d be totally fine.

If You’ve Never Seen An Insect Breathe, You Are Seriously Missing Out

Honestly, I’m not sure what to say except that YouTuber Precarious333’s video of a Giant Texas Katydid (Neobarrettia spinosa) chirping, breathing, and grooming is way more captivating than I expected it to be. Full screen it, and crank it to the highest resolution your Internet connection can muster. You won’t regret it. Pretty incredible, right?…

The LEGO Movie‘s Batman Is Jealous Now That Emmet Has Become Star-Lord

LEGO Batman was always pretty secure in the fact that he was much cooler and darker than everyone else in The LEGO Movie, especially Emmet. But when Emmet turns into another character played by Chris Pratt—Guardians of the Galaxy’s Star-Lord—Batman finally feels a twinge of jealousy. The folks at How It Should Have Ended teamed…

Stephen Hawking Biopic Might Steal Your Heart, But Won’t Blow Your Mind

The Theory Of Everything is a remarkable, moving portrait of Stephen Hawking, who overcame unthinkable obstacles to revolutionize science. It’s a beautiful romance that spans the 1960s through the 1980s. Too bad the movie mostly glosses over the actual science that Hawking became famous for. Minor spoilers below… Based on a book by Hawking’s first…

Vladimir Putin’s Batshit Crazy Attempt To Create an Alternate History

Russian president Vladimir Putin is saying that Britain and France are responsible for allowing the Nazis to run roughshod around Europe before the war, while saying there was nothing wrong with the USSR’s pact with Hitler. It’s a pathetic attempt by Putin to abuse history in a way that asserts his authoritarian rule. These comments…

Here’s How We’ll Build A Cheap, Safe Lunar Base

The “magnificent desolation” of the Moon might offer some great views, but otherwise it’s a lousy place to live. Human explorers would need protection from a constant bombardment of radiation and extreme temperature shifts. A new video shows how we can inexpensively build an ideal shelter with robotic 3D printers. The concept video, produced by…

A New Obscene Superyacht Is Getting Its Own Private IMAX Theater

How’s this for obscene. Yacht-maker Ken Freivokh Design is in the process of engineering a brand new 500-foot superyacht for a client that will boast the world’s first floating private IMAX theater below deck. And when it’s not being used to show movies, the Nemo Room, as it’s being called, will display live underwater images…

The Biggest Lies About Science in the U.S. Government’s “Wastebook”

Over the last five years, Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) has published an annual Wastebook, documenting what he considers the 100 most wasteful federal projects. This year he got a lot of media mileage by ridiculing several science grants—which, in fact, were among the cheapest and most worthwhile projects on his hit list. Coburn and his…

These Are The Pages Being Ripped From A Biology Text Book In Arizona

The Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board in Arizona recently voted to “redact” a page from a ninth-grade biology text book because it includes a brief section on an abortion pill. School officials have responded by literally tearing the page from the texts. Thankfully, the Internet has come to the rescue. The offending section from Campbell…

Climate change deniers may find it hard to make their case when they’re constantly sneezing. Allergy-causing grasses produce more pollen when atmospheric CO2 is higher, says a new study. An increase in atmospheric C02 levels from 400 ppm (current level) to 450 ppm could result in a 25% increase in pollen production

Test Subjects Made To See Ghosts In “Disturbing” Lab Experiment

In an experiment that could explain why some people see ghosts, participants were made to feel as though they saw phantoms around them and that ghosts were touching their backs with invisible fingers. The illusion was so real that some test subjects begged for it to stop. Scientists from Switzerland’s Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne…

Big Hero 6 Is One Of The Year’s Best Science Fiction Films, Period

Disney’s new film, Big Hero 6, is a celebration of science and the joy of innovation. In the guise of a superhero origin story, it tells a smart, inventive tale about young science geeks who grapple with issues around the responsible use of technology. It’s one of the best science-fiction films in ages. Minor spoilers…