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Master Lock Dial Speed Review: For When Numbers Are Too Complicated

Was the last number 23, or 32? Wait, is this even my lock? If you’ve ever been late for class or stuck at the gym because of a frozen analog combo lock, you’re in luck. With this digital directional lock, it doesn’t matter if you can’t memorize a string of numbers—but you still have to…

The Experiments That Tested Out Cleopatra’s Magic Aphrodisiac

Cleopatra, that famous ruler and seducer of all men, is famous for having won the heart and soul of Marc Antony — by melting down a pearl and drinking it, to entrance the Roman with the pearl’s aphrodisiac properties. But could this actually work? In the 1950s, scientists tested it out. So was Cleopatra’s aphrodisiac…

These Batman Mimobot Flash Drives Are The USB-Drives-Gotham-Needs-Them-To-Be Deal of the Day

USB is just the best thing ever. You can stick pretty much anything into those little drives and get something amazing. Whether lighting up my world, cooling down my face or even charging my iPhone, is there anything USB can’t do? These days it seems like the USB Flash Drive has actually sort of fallen…

Futurama tries for a social message, and doesn’t quite make it

In last night’s Futurama episode, Viva Mars Vegas, the gang decides to pull off a casino heist. Everything about that’s fun. But the show also tries to hit a social message — and that’s not quite as successful. Also, there’s Zoidberg. We start the episode with a slam on Jar Jar Binks, as the Binks…

Facebook For Android Is So Crappy, Zuck’s Reportedly Forcing His Crew to Use It

When you were a kid your mom made you eat brussels sprouts. They were awful. But you ate them because you had to. Similarly, Facebook employees are reportedly being forced to use Facebook for Android. But not because it’s great and they just don’t see it, because they need to be reminded what a piece…

The Greatest Science Fiction Opera Composer in History

Rock music has Ziggy Stardust, Yoshimi and Rush. P-Funk’s Mothership gave birth to ATLiens, Dr. Octagon, and Janelle Monae’s alter ego Cindi Mayweather. So why hasn’t classical music embraced science fiction the way popular music has? After all, it’s a genre that simply adores mythology. Everyone from Monteverdi to Milhaud has done an Orpheus opera.…

Amazon invites press to September 6th event in Santa Monica but provides no interesting details. Kindle Fire 2, maybe?

A Photo of the Most Elite Pilots on Earth Looking Incredibly Badass

No, that’s not a scene from The Right Stuff. It’s 14 pilots of the ultra-high-altitude Lockheed U-2 in full pressure suits posing like action heroes in front of their beautiful plane. Eat it, Ed Harris. Here’s an explanation of what’s going on from the Air Force: I wanted to send you a photo you might…

Scientists Clear Path to the Fountain of Eternal Youth

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have discovered an efficient and totally safe method to turn adult blood cells “all the way back to the way [they were] when that person was a 6-day-old embryo.” The discovery could be the key to cure the incurable—from heart attacks to severed spinal cord to cancer—and open the door, some…

Transformers 3 screenwriter penning remake of Videodrome

Transformers: Dark of the Moon scribe Ehren Kruger is writing a remake of David Cronenberg‘s creepy classic Videodrome. And the studios want a commercial director, Adam Berg, to lens the project. Yep, basically the worst thing ever. Deadline is reporting that Kruger — who also worked on Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and is currently…

Rare neurological patient shows that self-awareness does not require a complex brain

Neuroscientists who study consciousness have suggested that self-awareness depends on the presence of very specific “higher order” regions of the brain. In turn, that means that any serious impairment to these critical areas would virtually eliminate any sense someone has of themselves as a separate person. At least, that’s how the theory goes. But now,…

Mark Danielewski is here to answer your questions about The Fifty-Year Sword

Mark Z. Danielewski is famous for experimental, challenging novels like House of Leaves and Only Revolutions. Now he’s back with The Fifty-Year Sword, a strange novella that was originally released in a tiny print run from a Dutch publisher and is now coming out in a 75,000 copy print run. There’s also a snazzy limited…

13 Creepy Captions From Movies That Let Us Know It’s The Future

You know you’re in the future when a title card pops up letting you know, and giving you a glimpse of the future world. This is one of our absolute favorite tropes from movies and TV. These establishing shots can be delicate (like this shot from Gattaca) or wonderfully obnoxious (like in Demolition Man) —…

Would You Ever Let a Doctor Touch Your Breast With This Weird Glove?

The video above demonstrates the second prototype of the Med Sensation breast exam glove. Developed by, er, students at Singularity University, the glove is stacked with sensors, which are supposed to give doctors unprecedented feedback while performing breast exams. In theory that could lead to better results and saved lives. Except a lot of people…

Cobra bites Farmer. Farmer bites cobra back. This kills the cobra.

Let this be a warning to cobras everywhere: if you bite Mohammed Salmodin Miya in his rice paddy, you better hope it kills him, and quickly, because he will find you. He will bite you. And he will continue biting you until one of you is dead. “When I realised that a snake had bit…

This Is the Closest Look We’ve Ever Gotten at a Neuron’s Moving Parts

Scientists just captured the most detailed footage of a single neuron in action ever. In the timelapse video above you can even see individual proteins moving through different pathways within the cell. This is what your feelings look like. The study published in Cell Reports offers an explanation you’ll be forgiven for not understanding: The…

And now, some sharks swimming to Massive Attack

Because we have yet to hit our daily quota of carnivorous fish hunting to the dulcet vocals of reggae legend Horace Andy, here are some grey reef sharks swimming off of the Ray of Hope shipwreck in the Bahamas, all set to Massive Attack’s “Angel.” Enjoy. [Sarosh Jacobs via Presurfer]

Facebook’s Updated iOS App Is Fully Native and Free of HTML5

Facebook just released its updated iOS app, which it says is twice as fast as before. The reason for the speed boost? Instead of serving as a container for HTML5 content, its now fully native. Among the improvements to the app is the ability to scroll faster in News Feed, access new stories and notifications…

What Happens When You Don’t Click On Those Free iPod Nano Pop-Ups

You’ve never clicked on pop-ups free iPod Nanos. Why would you? But all those products they’re giving away have to end up somewhere. As it turns out, that sad place is a Fonz-owned warehouse. Unless you’re a total gullible numb nut, you’re not clicking on those ads that promise you extreme weight loss and a…

Tiltpod Mobile Review: Does Your Phone Need a Cradle?

The idea of a tiny camera stand with a little magnetic slot for your iPhone seemed pretty useless at first. Turns out, it works. And it’s not entirely useless! What Is It? A rotating and tilting foot that grips the side of an iPhone and doubles as a keychain. Who’s It For? FaceTime talkers, self-portrait…