In California, Rich People Use the Most Water

As the California drought worsens, the State Water Resources Control Board has released hard numbers on which regions drain the state’s water supplies most. It turns out that the biggest water users tend to be wealthy suburbanites … with one exception. Photo by Rick Loomis via LA Times The numbers come from September to October…

Seriously, Why Isn’t Hogwarts Using All That Magic To Explore Space?

We’ve all asked it at some point or another: if the wizards of the Harry Potter universe can conjure up such amazing miracles, why don’t they use it to solve the energy crisis or explore the wonders of the universe? Boulet’s latest webcomic dreams up all magical possibilities for the wizarding world. Boulet is one…

This Owl Is Flying Straight Into Your Face

This is a detail from a photograph that captures what an owl looks like when it is zooming straight at the camera, angling its feet forward as it prepares to land on a branch. All I can say is that our hovercrafts are made of feathers. Russell Savory is a photographer in Essex, UK. To…

Netflix Is Adapting A Series Of Unfortunate Events As A TV Series

Unfortunate things are coming to Netflix—miserabile, vile, carnivorous things. Lemony Snicket’s dark and droll A Series of Unfortunate Events is coming to the screen again, this time as a series from Netflix. Image from the series’ Facebook page. Deadline has the rather amusing press release announcing that Netflix will be adapting the trials and tribulations…

The New Ghostbusters That We Really Want To See

The new Ghostbusters reboot on its way has a lot of people torn: On one hand, more Ghostbusters! On the other, we’re already pretty happy with just the Ghostbusters we’ve got. Here’s an idea for the forthcoming Ghostbusters movie that we love, though. In response to this original cast reunion, several commenters spun an idea…

Denmark Will Stop Using Coal by 2025

Denmark is already one of the greenest countries in the world, thanks to its offshore wind farms, and now its climate minister has made a dramatic promise. The nation will stop burning coal for energy in ten years. Photo via Vattenfall Because Denmark already has a fairly robust alternative energy infrastructure, this plan might actually…

Universal has staked out April 21st, 2017, for its third installment in its new classic monster cinematic universe after 2016’s The Mummy. Despite my use of the word “stake”, it’ll probably be feature Frankenstein’s monster of the Wolf Man, since Dracula’s origin has so recently been Untold. [Via The Dissolve]

Asmara, Eritrea: A Forgotten Piece of Italy in Africa

Asmara, the capital city of Eritrea, was an Italian colony between 1890 and 1941. The city was populated by a large Italian community (53,000 of 98,000 inhabitants in 1939), so the architecture is a unique blend of Italian modernism and Eritrean style. Here are the most amazing examples. The city center was rebuilt in various…

The Worst News From Yesterday’s Elections

Senator James M. Inhofe, the Oklahoma Republican who calls climate change “the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people” and compared the Environmental Protection Agency to the gestapo, will “almost certainly” be the next chair of the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee. All together now: Fucking fuck. Photo Credit: Sue Ogrocki/AP Senator Inhofe,…

A Dramatic Emergency Maneuver Just Prevented A Possible Space Disaster

The European Space Agency has revealed that, last week, the International Space Station confronted its most urgent threat ever from space debris. When ground stations detected a piece of a Russian satellite on a collision course, they managed to protect the station with just hours to spare. Stations on Earth continuously track space junk, since…

For its next stab at original programming, Netflix is venturing into kid-land with a series based on Daniel Handler’s Lemony Snicket books. The series is a partnership with Paramount, which produced the 2004 Jim Carrey film. How great would it be if Carrey starred in the series, too? [Variety]

DC Comics Lego Variants in stores now. New comic book day!

From Bricks to Bothans is reporting that the Lego variant covers that were announced back in August are hitting the racks of your favorite comic stores now. The first four hit stores today, so if you are planning on grabbing them, now is the time. You’re reading Leg Godt, the blog with the latest Lego…

Step Inside The Retro Spaceship On Syfy’s Ascension—It Has A Beach!

OK, we expected Syfy’s retro space drama to have a lot of cool swinging ’60s moments, but we did not expect to see a space beach. SPACE. BEACH. We’ve got an exclusive look inside Ascension with this brand-new trailer. The premise of Ascension is this: Back in 1963, JFK sent a spaceship full of citizens…

Sabrina, The Teenage Witch Becomes A Horror Movie In Chilling Fan Film

Forget the Melissa Joan Hart-starring Sabrina, the Teenage Witch TV series. This fan film was inspired by the new Archie comic The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, in which Sabrina’s magic is truly dark and her witchy aunts have condemned their souls to Hell. Ricardo Uhagón Vivas wrote and directed Witch Girl, taking his cues from…

Katniss Gets A Televised Surprise In The First Mockingjay Clip

Poor Katniss. She just wanted to eat her dinner and watch a little TV, and then… well, this first clip from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 happens. Sure, it’s kind of good news and bad news at the same time, but either way it’s definitely not going to help her digestion. As hinted at…

What Movie Debate Are You Tired Of Having?

What was the REAL ending of Inception? Does it matter that Han shot first? Is Star Wars not really science fiction? These are just a few of the many old-ass movie debates we are ready to retire. Personally, I never want to talk about the end of Inception any more as long as I live.…

Why Scientists Need Surfers to Study the Ocean

Earth’s oceans remain largely unexplored. But some of the most difficult waters to study aren’t in the middle of nowhere, but just off shore, where crashing waves can make data collection dangerous. Engineer Benjamin Thompson thinks he has a solution: water-monitoring surfboard fins. Above: Board Formula’s Smart Phin | Credit: Board Forumla Thompson’s invention, which…

The Most Exciting New Science Fiction And Fantasy Books In November

Science fiction and fantasy never stop moving forward. Because the future is endless, and so is the power of the unknown. So another month brings another slew of incredible books about spaceships, assassins, robots and wizards. Here are 20 books you absolutely cannot miss in November. Top image: U.S. cover of Proxima by Stephen Baxter…

Discovery Claims It Will Show A Man Being “Eaten Alive” By An Anaconda

In a bizarre bid for TV ratings, the Discovery Channel has announced an upcoming special Eaten Alive, in which a wildlife filmmaker in a “snake-proof” suit will supposedly crawl inside a live anaconda. Uh…does the anaconda get a say in this? Photo from Discovery Channel. Paul Rosolie has agreed to dive into a snake’s maw…

Why the Woman Who Found Snowden Doesn’t Want More Whistleblowers

A few days ago, I found myself in a crowded Manhattan office watching Laura Poitras sign posters for her new documentary. Each signature appeared above the film’s title—Citizenfour—and below the film’s subject—Edward Snowden. She didn’t think she had time, but her handler insisted. It’s taken me a while, but only now do I realize what…