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25% of the population are supertasters — are you one of them?

About a quarter of the population of the world has super-powered tongues. They experience taste more intensely than the rest of us. Find out if you’re one of Them below. Some people have particular tastes in food. They’re considered overly picky and too sensitive. It turns out they could just be tasting things on a…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

“Rationality” sets science fiction apart from fantasy

In an article published in the journal CLCWeb:Comparative Literature and Culture, Simone Caroti argues that “cognition” is what sets science fiction apart from fantasy, using Greg Bear‘s Blood Music as an example. The act of cognition, of rationally making sense of – and coming to terms with – the estranging elements, increases the sense of…

Books & Comics Peggy - Biology in Science Fiction

Zardoz as a 1980s videogame

YouTube user Nickcrisculo created this intro for a Zardoz videogame. He designed it to look like an Amiga game, but I could see this in an arcade cabinet, barking “THE GUN IS GOOD, THE PENIS IS EVIL” at confused passers-by. Thanks for the tip, Roy!

io9 Cyriaque Lamar

What if the Avengers formed in the 1500s?

Black Panther artist Francesco Francavilla has dreamt up a roster for the Avengers circa the Age of Discovery. Meet Earth’s First Heroes, a team that includes “Captain Amerigo” and a Celtic Hulk. The artist created this piece for the always entertaining Comic Twart blog. Says Francavilla: So I give you, for the first time I…

io9 Cyriaque Lamar

Will Victor from Dollhouse be the new flame on Torchwood?

Enver Gjokaj (a.k.a. Victor from Dollhouse) is reportedly in the running to play Rex Matheson, a hard-bitten CIA agent on Torchwood: New World who’s oblivious to his coworker’s crush. Cue Captain Jack stepping in and breaking some hearts. Gjokaj is best known for playing Victor the Active on Dollhouse and is not the only actor…

Television Cyriaque Lamar

Watch out for the Blues Brother space vampire, Traci Lords!

The 1988 remake of Roger Corman classic Not Of This Earth has the following things that are unarguably awesome: Space vampires, mind control, “sparkly eyes” weaponry, and Traci Lords in a nurse outfit. It’s a simple tale of space vampires who dress like the Blues Brothers (unless they are women, in which case they dress…

Movies Annalee Newitz

Cloudy With a Chance of Gigantic Penis

OK, as far as inadvertent weather forecast genitalia goes, it really doesn’t get much better than this. Does this guy realize it? Do the producers realize it? We’ll never know for sure. In any event, good work, Texas/Mexico border. [TheInternetToday]

Television Kyle VanHemert

Brad Pitt and Will Ferrell spar in new Megamind clips

The best part of the blue-headed supervillain movie Megamind has got to be Will Ferrell’s decision to mispronounce every word in the English language. Watch as Megamind and Metro man give their best superhero banter performances to date! MEGAMIND ‘What’s the Plan’ Exclusive Clip Trailer Park Movies | Myspace Video And here’s the footage they…

Movies Meredith Woerner

20 heroic librarians who save the world

If information is power, then there’s no hero mightier than a librarian. Librarians are superheroes, adventurers, explorers and invaluable guides to other heroes. Here are 20 amazing librarians who save the world every day! As Spider Robinson writes in The Callahan Touch, “Mary Kay is one of the hidden masters of the world — a…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders

Why creature features are my comfort food

There’s nothing like a movie about a giant killer ape to relax you after a really stressful day. Here are five reasons why a monster movie can be the most soothing thing in the world. 1. They require nothing of you. Some films take you on deep emotional journeys. They make you fall in love…

Movies Esther Inglis-Arkell

A robot uprising comedy from Jack Black and the director of Hot Tub Time Machine?

Now that Steven Spielberg is adapting Daniel H. Wilson’s Robopocalypse, another Wilson book is becoming a movie. Jack Black and Hot Tub Time Machine director Steve Pink have scooped up the rights to How To Survive A Robot Uprising. Inside sources tell io9 that Wilson’s first book, a humorous look at a robot uprising, was…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders

The best way to slow global warming is to stop having babies

Despite the many possible technological and political solutions to global warming, one highly effective way to reduce carbon emissions is pretty straightforward: stop procreating. This seems, at first, like one of those painfully self-evident scientific conclusions. Fewer humans generate less greenhouse gases, so global warming slows. This study, published in the Proceedings of the National…

io9 Ed Grabianowski

Duck and cover! Steven Spielberg officially directing Robopocalypse movie

It’s official: Steven Spielberg will direct the movie version of Robopocalypse. Expect big, wide-screen, tentpole robot-revolution action, coming sometime in 2013. And there are the first details on Daniel H. Wilson’s next book after Robopocalypse. According to Deadline, Spielberg is officially on board to direct Robopocalypse, with a script by Drew Goddard (Cloverfield, The Cabin…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders

New evidence that Alzheimer’s disease is infectious

Alzheimer’s disease is caused in part by a build-up of protein debris in the brain. Scientists already knew that this protein debris, called amyloid peptides, is infectious. But now it turns out that it’s easier to catch than they thought. Neurologist Yvonne S. Eisele and her team had already proven that mice could catch Alzheimers…

io9 Annalee Newitz

Watch the audition that landed Sigourney Weaver the role of Ripley

Check out Sigourney Weaver’s screen test for the part of Ripley in Alien. Nailed it — damn do we miss this brand of asskicking female hero. The clip is part of the Alien anthology box set, out Oct. 26th.

Movies Meredith Woerner

Six Flags’ new Green Lantern roller coaster: the blackest vomit

Six Flags has two new superhero roller coasters. Watch the video of the Superman: Escape From Krypton ride and the new Green Lantern coaster, which looks like a surefire vomit-making machine. See them both in action! Click to view [Comics Alliance via topless robot]

Movies Meredith Woerner

I Think We Can All Empathize With the Chess Computer’s Evolution

What happens next is the chess computer goes the way of Chris from Into The Wild. I won’t spoil the ending, but poor, poor chess computer. You once had everything and now, nothing. *weeps* [Tom Gauld via Eggshell Robotics via BotJunkie]

Books & Comics Kat Hannaford

Real-life star maps show where the spice flows and Babylon 5 is stationed

Project Rho has a large variety of star maps that show what real-world stars are famous scifi locations. For major geekery, check out the Star Trek Universe and the spreadsheets of data about the stars in Dune. [Via Project Rho]

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

Why I want to fuck J. G. Ballard

So I can have his babies, that’s why. Though I’m reliably informed that this may no longer be possible, if indeed it ever was…which is a pity. I’ve been a big fan of Ballard’s since I discovered The Atrocity Exhibition. Your mid- to late teens are a great time for discovering new ways of seeing…

Books & Comics Alan Glynn

Bad news for Caprica: Syfy making another BSG prequel

Are there any gaps in the life story of William Adama you’re dying to fill? Because Syfy has got your back. In addition to Caprica, they’ve just greenlit another prequel, focusing on the future Admiral’s time as a viper pilot. TVSquad’s Maureen Ryan broke the news that Syfy will air Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome…

Television Charlie Jane Anders

25% of the population are supertasters — are you one of them?

“Rationality” sets science fiction apart from fantasy

Zardoz as a 1980s videogame

What if the Avengers formed in the 1500s?

Will Victor from Dollhouse be the new flame on Torchwood?

Watch out for the Blues Brother space vampire, Traci Lords!

Cloudy With a Chance of Gigantic Penis

Brad Pitt and Will Ferrell spar in new Megamind clips

20 heroic librarians who save the world

Why creature features are my comfort food

A robot uprising comedy from Jack Black and the director of Hot Tub Time Machine?

The best way to slow global warming is to stop having babies

Duck and cover! Steven Spielberg officially directing Robopocalypse movie

New evidence that Alzheimer’s disease is infectious

Watch the audition that landed Sigourney Weaver the role of Ripley

Six Flags’ new Green Lantern roller coaster: the blackest vomit

I Think We Can All Empathize With the Chess Computer’s Evolution

Real-life star maps show where the spice flows and Babylon 5 is stationed

Why I want to fuck J. G. Ballard

Bad news for Caprica: Syfy making another BSG prequel

Tesla Goes Ahead and Admits Its Robotaxis Are Sometimes Fully Human-Controlled

School Forced to Replace Toilets After Kids Flush Vapes

‘Scream 7’ Just Won’t Stop Making Money as ‘Scream 8’ Gets Started

The Curtain Has Closed on Meta’s Movie Rating-Inspired Content Filters

Good News! You Can Finally Change That Ridiculous Gmail Address

ExpressVPN Just Launched ExpressAI: Your Prompts Are Now Invisible

VR Just Took Another Massive Body Blow

The Best Gadgets of March 2026

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

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