io9 | Page 4221 of 5931 | We Come From the Future

Mothers and babies can instantly synchronize their hearts just by smiling at each other

Mothers and their babies are often said to share a deep, intimate connection…but even so, this new discovery is weird. Simply by looking and smiling at each other, moms and babies synchronize their heartbeats to within milliseconds of each other. Researchers at Bar-Ilan University in Israel found that visible affection from their mothers had tangible…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

New clues about what caused the collapse of Mayan civilization

The abandoned cities and giant monuments of the Maya, found throughout the Yucatán, are one of the greatest mysteries in human history. Why did this great empire collapse suddenly in 950 AD, leaving its massive urban centers to be consumed by jungle? New evidence suggests that the Mayans may have created such vast farms that…

io9 Annalee Newitz

In 1963, Ray Bradbury sent this letter to explain symbolism in his work

In 1963, science fiction writer Bruce McAllister was 16, taking high school English courses where he was told about a mysterious thing called “symbolism” in literature. Trying to get a grip on what his teacher was talking about, the enterprising McAllister wrote to 150 of the most famous writers of the day asking them about…

io9 Annalee Newitz

This leopard is so happy to be alive it can barely stand it

The photo you’re looking at is of a Persian leopard — the largest subspecies of leopard on Earth — and it is just elated to be here. Where is here, exactly? That would be Afghanistan’s Central Highlands, where this photo was taken. Until recently, Persian leopards were believed to have vanished from this rocky region…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez

Nichelle Nichols reveals that the original Spock was a woman

What if our beloved pointy-eared science officer was actually a she-Vulcan? According to Nichelle Nichols — who played the gorgeous Lt. Uhura — Spock could have been a lady! How does she know? Because she auditioned for the role. Is there any grain of truth to this highly illogical reveal? Image by Jesus Diaz While…

io9 Meredith Woerner

Satanic Christmas light display irks Tennessee motorists

Jackie Blevins of Carter County, Tennessee has a singular dream: to display his automobiles dolled up in pure Satanic majesty at local car shows. But when his customized cars were kicked off the lot, Mr. Blevins protested the way aggrieved folks have been doing for decades — by adorning their homes with blinking Satanic missives:…

io9 Cyriaque Lamar

Triffid chic: Indonesian bikers wear potted plants as helmets

To call attention to the environmental toll of fossil fuel consumption, a group of motorbikers/performance artists in Yogyakarta, Indonesia strapped weighty shrubbery to their heads and tooled around town. This is a smashing look for the incognito Hell’s Angel looking to masquerade as office foliage. Explains the Szpilman Awards, which celebrate ephemeral artwork: Sara Nuytemans…

io9 Cyriaque Lamar

We can encrypt secret messages in opal

A special kind of lab-created opal can be used to carry several encrypted messages at the same time. Find out how it can keep secrets for someone — and tattle on that same person — depending on what you spray it with. To do so, this lab-grown opal is applied to a metal chip in…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

What flavor is this shape?

No ideas? What about a passing train — has listening to one ever evoked a specific color in your mind? The questions I’m asking you have to deal with something known as synesthesia — a rare condition wherein a person’s senses become entangled, causing them to associate different senses with one another. A person with…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez

The Star Trek sequel casts a science fiction legend. Plus tons of spoilers for the Doctor Who Christmas special!

Bryan Fuller and Bryan Singer’s The Munsters reboot might be nothing like you expect. Michael Shannon talks playing General Zod against a green screen. Tom Hiddleston reveals his favorite scene in The Avengers. Plus the latest on Jurassic Park 4! Spoilers from here on out! Top image from The Avengers. The Dark Knight Rises Composer…

Television Alasdair Wilkins

Streaming Movie of the Night: Fireplace For Your Home (AKA The Reason to Reactivate That Netflix Account!)

I know your relationship with Netflix is a bit tempestuous, but it’s time to put all that behind you. Just in time for the holiday season, there’s now a Yule Log—sitting in a fireplace, soaked in flames—streaming in HIGH DEFINITION. Who’s in it? Technically nobody. But if you’re one for anthropomorphism, then Fireplace For Your…

Movies Adrian Covert

Picture of the Day: December 5, 2011

SPACEPORT FEVER | Detail of Sparth’s beautiful cover for The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year, Volume 6. See the whole thing here. Want to read today’s io9 stories a different way? Check out our blog view. Or visit Observation Deck, our general discussion forum.

io9 Charlie Jane Anders

Kurt Vonnegut died a bitter man [UPDATED]

Kurt Vonnegut finally got his first major biography recently, and so far everybody who’s reviewed it has been shocked by one thing: just how bitter Vonnegut was, in his last years. Biographer Charles Shields spent a lot of time with Vonnegut while working on And So It Goes: Kurt Vonnegut: A Life. And by all…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders

Gorgeous concept art of newly-discovered “Earth 2.0” planet

What would it look like on the surface of Kepler-22b, the planet that NASA today called “the most Earthlike planet yet discovered”? Science artist Ron Miller offers these visions of a planet that could be home to future human colonies. Bathed in water, with streams of clouds covering the view of its many sister planets,…

io9 Annalee Newitz

Tropical fish can adjust to warming oceans, which could bode well for the future

As global temperatures rise and the oceans heat up, a huge question is how fish that are adapted to one set of temperatures will survive this upheaval. Now we know at least one species could adapt fast enough to survive. Generally speaking, fish require very precise temperatures to survive in a way, leaving them far…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins

Once Upon A Time: Prince Charming is kind of a dick

We love Once Upon A Time’s hunky hunk Prince Charming. He’s got those big, purple Kool-Aid stained lips, golden retriever locks and beautiful baby blues. But this week’s episode painted him as kind of a dick, stringing along our favorite dowdy schoolmarm Ginnifer Goodwin. Not good sir. But then again, he did fight a giant…

Television Meredith Woerner

Read an exclusive preview of the comic adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s The Dunwich Horror

Courtesy of IDW Publishing, here’s a seven-page preview of the next issue of their adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s classic short story The Dunwich Horror. Acclaimed horror novelist Joe Lansdale is on scripts, and the issue hits stands this Wednesday, December 7. Here’s the plot rundown: H.P. Lovecraft’s The Dunwich Horror #3 (of 4) Joe R.…

io9 Cyriaque Lamar

Celebrate the season with t-shirts that make your friends’ chests fun to look at

T-shirts always make the best presents, plus they’re a way of gift-wrapping yourself and your friends in cool images and slogans. We’ve put together a collection of classic, seasonal, and downright insane tees for you to bestow upon your loved ones — and yourself. Snow-lek It’s a seasonal tribute to your favorite authoritarian cyborg-supremacist. Pick…

io9 Annalee Newitz

Book Cover Art That’ll Make You Wish You Lived on a Space Station

Jonathan Strahan’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year is always a brilliant collection of mind-blowing short stories. But Strahan’s collections also always have the best covers. And Volume Six, which comes out in March, has our favorite cover out of all of them so far, by Sparth. We’re lucky to be able to…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders

Chuck Palahniuk is Damned in Episode 50 of The Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy

Chuck Palahniuk, author of Fight Club and new novel Damned, joins us to discuss chatting with telemarketers, being appalled at Hollywood hypocrisy, and writing stories that make people faint dead away. Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy is hosted by John Joseph Adams and David Barr Kirtley. You can download the MP3 for this episode here,…

io9 Johnjosephadams

Mothers and babies can instantly synchronize their hearts just by smiling at each other

New clues about what caused the collapse of Mayan civilization

In 1963, Ray Bradbury sent this letter to explain symbolism in his work

This leopard is so happy to be alive it can barely stand it

Nichelle Nichols reveals that the original Spock was a woman

Satanic Christmas light display irks Tennessee motorists

Triffid chic: Indonesian bikers wear potted plants as helmets

We can encrypt secret messages in opal

What flavor is this shape?

The Star Trek sequel casts a science fiction legend. Plus tons of spoilers for the Doctor Who Christmas special!

Streaming Movie of the Night: Fireplace For Your Home (AKA The Reason to Reactivate That Netflix Account!)

Picture of the Day: December 5, 2011

Kurt Vonnegut died a bitter man [UPDATED]

Gorgeous concept art of newly-discovered “Earth 2.0” planet

Tropical fish can adjust to warming oceans, which could bode well for the future

Once Upon A Time: Prince Charming is kind of a dick

Read an exclusive preview of the comic adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s The Dunwich Horror

Celebrate the season with t-shirts that make your friends’ chests fun to look at

Book Cover Art That’ll Make You Wish You Lived on a Space Station

Chuck Palahniuk is Damned in Episode 50 of The Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy

The New ‘Backrooms’ Trailer Is Packed Full of Endless Dread

Logitech Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo Falls Under $25, a Budget Bundle Deal in the Final Hours of Spring Sale

Liquids Crack With an Audible Snap, Study Finds

Dyson V15 Detect Plus Cordless Vacuum Is a Late Spring Sale Deal at a Record Low on Amazon

The New ‘Supergirl’ Trailer Is Filled With Krypto, Lobo, and ’60s Soul

Vaping Comes With a Cancer Risk, Review Finds

ASUS Eye Care Monitor Hits an All-Time Low, Only Hours Left to Grab a 27″ Screen at a 15.6″ Budget Price on Amazon

How to Watch Artemis 2, NASA’s First Crewed Mission to the Moon in 54 Years

AirPods Max 2 Review: Still Ridiculously Expensive and Ridiculously Nice

DJI Osmo 360 Review: The Best 360 Camera for the DJI-Pilled

Aqara Smart Lock U400 Review: Hands-free Unlocking at Its Best

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Laptop With Some Glaring Flaws

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound

Asus ROG’s Massive Swift OLED Gaming Monitor Epitomizes Excess in the Best Way

The Ikea Varmblixt Smart Lamp Fills a Donut Hole in My Life

Let us help find what you are looking for...