The 10 Types of Fictional Apocalypses (And What They Mean)

The Apocalypse rules pop culture. Half the biggest literary novels these days are apocalyptic, and meanwhile The Walking Dead is a huge hit. Post-apocalyptic stories are what space opera was in the Space Age. But what are they about? Here are 10 types of apocalypses, and what they each signify. Before we get started, a…

James Bond’s Secret Origin Will Be Revealed In New Comic Book Series

Dynamite Entertainment has announced the worldwide rights to the James Bond comic book license. The world’s greatest spy will star not only new adaptations of Ian Fleming’s original novels, but new canonical adventures as well — including Bond’s life prior to his first official mission. Dynamite’s press release specifies their first comic will detail Bond’s……

Chickens are getting bigger. A lot bigger. A new study charts the growth of the bird to almost 5 times its size from less than 50 years ago. That change, due mostly to changes in breeding, has brought not only a meatier bird, though, but also one with some new health issues. Image by Poultry…

The D&D 5th Edition Monster Manual Is a Cornucopia of Classic Creatures

You like monsters, right? Of course you do. What about a whole book full of monsters? That sounds cool. What if I told you about the best book of monsters ever? The 5E Monster Manual just might be the one. I have a predisposition to liking books full of monsters. Bring out your creature catalogs,…

Terrifyingly Brilliant Spider Creates Stunningly Advanced Web

A European garden spider recently stumbled upon a rather amazing solution to a serious problem. It wanted to weave its web across the top of a garage, but the angle of the roof was too shallow for anchoring. So it did what any industrious spider would do — it suspended a rock to anchor the…

Is Sony Thinking About Letting Marvel Use Spider-Man In Its Movies?

Do you have still have some of that salt from yesterday’s rumors? Then pull it back out because word is that Sony may be discussing the possibility of sharing Spider-Man with Marvel, so both companies can make movies starring the webslinger. But here’s why you don’t need to consider Spidey an Avenger just yet. Besides…

New York Times Apologizes For Racist Cartoon On India’s Space Program

India is basking in the success of sending a probe to Mars, so it comes as little surprise that the country’s media was offended by a political cartoon published in the New York Times that commemorated this technical achievement by portraying Indians as stereotypical, cattle-rearing rubes. The cartoon — showing a turban-clad Indian, accompanied by…

Syfy’s Next TV Series Is About Famous Ghosts Who Help Hunt For Treasure

Lately Syfy has been ramping up the press for their new 12 Monkeys series and Ascension, but what will come after these debuts? Well, wait no more, because the channel has optioned the comic book series Five Ghosts, which is apparently about using famous ghosts (including Dracula!) for monetary gains. Syfy announced via press release…

This Inverted Ice Pyramid Grew Out of a Bird Bath

The pyramid-shaped ice formation you see here growing from a bird bath in England is a natural variation on a phenomenon known as “ice spikes.” Most spikes are thin lances growing from ice cube trays and, occasionally, small ponds. Ice pyramids are more rare – and harder to form. Ice Spikes If you go out…

You can now watch the the third episode of Star Wars Rebels for free on iTunes and WatchDisneyXD before it airs on October 13th. Over the weekend, Rebels premiered its hour-long pilot movie and now the first normal episode, “Droids in Distress,” is getting an free, early release online. [Slashfilm]

What Unforgettably Terrible Tech Were You Happiest To See Disappear?

Some old products inspire their own little cult of nostalgia long after they’re gone (who wouldn’t still want to receive a telegram?) and some merely disappear, forgotten. And then there’s a third category of things that you really just can’t believe managed to hang around for as long as they did. Tell us in the…

How Toad Licking Gets You High (And Then Kills You)

Toad licking has long been recognized as a stupid, risky way to try to get high. But do you know the biochemistry that determines how stupid and risky it actually, and how high you could get. Let’s squeeze some toads. The first problem with toad licking is that it isn’t just any toad that will…

Sony Wants A Robin Hood Cinematic Universe Because Why The @$% Not

Dear every screenwriter in Hollywood: would you like a major studio to purchase your pitch? Then call your idea a “cinematic universe like the Avengers,” and they’ll be tripping over themselves to write you checks —just like Sony is doing for a massive Robin Hood movie franchise. Sigh. Called Hood — because using full names…

Citing a threat from rat poison used on illegal marijuana farms, federal biologists are proposing Endangered Species Act protection for West Coast populations of the fisher, a larger cousin of the weasel. Pot farms — both legal and illegal — are also endangering fish species by diverting streams for irrigation.

Who Is Ant-Man‘s New Secret Character and Why Is He So Important?

Did Mark Hamill give away Star Wars: Episode VII’s big twist back in 2006? Michael B. Jordan describes the gritty look for the Fantastic Four costumes. Ben Affleck promises Batman v. Superman won’t be the disappointment that Daredevil was. Another Game of Thrones character won’t be back this season. Spoilers now! Top image: Ant-Man test…

James Franco’s Batman Recreates the Beetlejuice Dinner Party

Come for Batman, the Joker, Catwoman, and Robin lip-synching to “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song),” stay for the inevitable Michael Keaton joke. This is the product of Franco’s partnership with AOL, resulting in the Making a Scene series. in which a Wheel O’ Movie Scenes determines the mash-up that must be made. In the third…

Surreal Collages of Animals, Plants, and Body Parts Are Subtly Creepy

Put these on your walls for a classier Halloween vibe than the one at my home. (I once recreated the X-Files “I Want to Believe ” poster entirely in pumpkin.) Seriously, though, these are somehow scarier than the fake blood handprints that just won’t come off the walls. (Another decorating decision I’ve made in the…

The Kitty Bank Is So Much More Secure Than the Piggy Bank

On the other hand, I’m not sure how easy it is to get money back out of the bank. The Iron Bank of Purrvos will have its due. Even so, this furry version is 100% better than the one with a “magical” mechanical hand.

The Supreme Court Won’t Hear the Superman Copyright Case

Today brought news from the Supreme Court of the United States, as they announced which cases they would and would not be taking. And in that latter category was an appeal from the estate of one of Superman’s creators, meaning the surviving Joe Shuster heirs have exhausted judicial remedies. It looks like settling with Marvel…

Once Upon A Time Returns To Its Throne Of Bad Decision-Making

Once Upon A Time is back and so are the slew of bad decisions that plagues every single resident of Storybrooke. So pull up a chair and check out what is essentially an hour-long advertisement for Frozen. First up, apologies for missing the premiere; I was out of the country. However, it doesn’t appear as…