How Many Universes Exist in the Multiverse? Physicists May Have a Number

If we do, in fact, live in a multiverse, with multiple universes arising out of the Big Bang, how many are there? Andrei Linde and Vitaly Vanchurin at Stanford University have been working to calculate a number, based on quantum fluctuations in the early state of the universe. Their tally indicates that there are at…

Nathon Fillion Dons The Browncoat One Last Time Before Slipping Into A Cape?

Is the brave Captain Mal Reynolds toying with the idea of becoming the Greatest American Hero? But in other, more pressing news, guess what Nathan Fillion’s new character, Castle, dresses up as? In an interview with IFC Fillion revealed his dreams to revive the old curly-headed superhero series, but with minor updates to the suit:…

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Schwarzenegger Explains Why Technology Is Great

“This conference is all about pumping you up,” Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger told Oracle’s annual OpenWorld gathering. He went on to list all the ways technology had improved his life, from the substances he used to take as a body-builder, to all the special effects in his movies. Added Arnie: It’s an honor to be in…

Sweden’s Homes Heated with the Power of Bunny Blood

We’ve seen lamps that run on human blood and examined robots that eat corpses for fuel. Sweden is already using flesh-based biofuel, but it’s not humans they’re using to heat their homes; it’s rabbits. https://gizmodo.com/light-bulb-runs-on-human-blood-5374196 https://gizmodo.com/will-new-intelligent-combat-robots-use-dead-bodies-for-5315547 Why rabbits? The fuzzy critters have actually become a bit of a pest in Sweden; wild and stray pet…

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American LARPers Are Useless!

This wins the prize for Best Rant Ever. A German live action role player (LARPer) named Kalle yells at Americans for being poseurs when they LARP. It devolves into Kalle beating the photographer with a stick. Of course this indictment of LARPing in the USA is itself an exercise in role-playing. “Kalle” is Viennese performance…

Woody Spills The Truth, Man! And President Danny Glover’s In Trouble In New 2012 Clips!

Finally the first explosion-free clip from 2012, stuffed with wild-eyed Woody Harrelson conspiracy theories and Danny Glover’s dusty president. And check out some behind-the-carnage moments from 2012. What was the movie John Cusack was watching? Why, it’s this… Also here’s some more information 2012 collected about the inevitable end of the world and the roots…

Douglas Adams to Return to TV, No Hitchhiking Involved

While Eoin Colfer tries to extend The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series past its expiration date, the BBC looks to adapt a different chapter of Douglas Adams‘ work. Coming to a television near you: Dirk Gently‘s Holistic Detective Agency. Ed Victor, a literary agent who represents the late author’s estate, told British humor outlet…

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Doctor Parnassus Goes Porcelin Princess Plus Behind The Scenes Clips

Terry Gilliam‘s latest poster for his tripped out Dr. Parnassus movie is absolutely gorgeous. Check out Lily Cole in her full stunning glory. Plus a mind-bending behind-the-scenes clip. This film is starting to look better and better. [Images from Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus]

Glowing Jetpack Kitty Commands You to Love Science

The webcomics world has gifted us with a bevy of science-themed t-shirts, including this glow-in-the-dark proof that science is awesome. Also, the world’s most romantic shirt about radiation poisoning, and the real reasons mammals survived when the dinosaurs went extinct. These shirts all come from TopatoCo, which sells products from various webcomics creators. There are…

Japan’s Past Prime Minister Is A Three-Hundred-Thousand-Year-Old Ultraman King

Junichiro Koizumi, Japan’s former Prime Minister, hasn’t retired from governing just yet. Koizumi will be voicing the iconic Ultraman King who is 300,000 years old, 58 meters tall and can fly up to mach 20. [Time]

It’s The io9 Redesign – Now With More Commenter Powers!

You may have noticed that the site looks a little different today. It’s day one of our latest redesign, so things may be a bit buggy. But they will also be more awesome – now we have forums and more! Let’s start with the basic changes. For one thing, all our tags look like Twitter-style…

Bill Murray Talks Ghostbusters 3. And Meet Doctor Who’s Newest Alien Monster!

Don’t count on Bill Murray being in Ghostbusters 3: let Bill explain. Set pics reveal another Lost comeback, and a FlashForward biker. More Heroes death clues and broody New Moon pics. Also: Snowpiercer, Fringe, Doctor Who, Supernatural, Smallville and Stargate. Ghostbusters 3: Don’t count on Bill Murray being in this threequel — he tells Britain’s…

Passage for the Narrowest of the Great Steam Ships

This is a rare image of otherworldly tranquility from concept designer Thomas Crausaz. Usually his work tends towards gorgeous desolation and destruction, as you can see in our gallery. But here he managed to portray a massive steamship looking delicate. You can see more of Thomas’ amazing work – including a ton of videogame design…

This is a secret communication from the Ministry of Silly Walks.

Has Moscow Been FlashForwarded?

A strange cloud formed above Moscow last Wednesday which “scientists” dismissed as an”optical illusion” – about one BS excuse step below the “swamp gas reflected the light from Venus.” We, however, think otherwise: Moscow’s been FlashForwarded. First the evidence: I’m loving the “scientist” excuse, come on people that’s the oldest trick in the book. If…

Jon Favreau Won’t be Uniting the Avengers

Jon Favreau hates to disappoint, but he won’t be taking the helm on The Avengers movie. The Iron Man 2 director explains why he’s not the best man for the job, and explains a bit more about Marvel’s interlocking films. After Marvel pushed back The Avengers’ release date by a year, we crossed our fingers,…

Vampire Care Packages and Disney’s Take on Twilight

In this vampire news update we’ve got details on the Disneyfied Twilight (with sexy ladies), plus a 30 Days of Night 2 tease. Plus, see the warning that comes from Amazon when you order New Moon goodies. A reader sent in this little tidbit above – this is the packaging for the New Moon movie…