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Scientists Discover Motherfcking Flying* Snakes

Snakes can fly and they don’t need a plane to do it. The freaky freaky beasts flatten their bodies and angle their heads so they glide through the air, which make them capable of flying from tree to tree. Virginia Tech’s biomechanist Jake Socha have discovered the mechanism, analyzing video frames and creating a computer…

Tech News Jesus Diaz Nov 24 '10

The loneliness of the long-distance exoplanetary anthropologist

There are two kinds of offworld anthropology: Near Distance and Long Distance. With typical Earth-centrism, the “distance” is measured in light years from the Blue Marble. Try explaining to a Gorgolian that he’s “Long Distance” when you’re on his doorstep. At least Gorgolians won’t spit in your face when you try to interview them about…

io9 Annalee Newitz Nov 24 '10

The Tallest Building In the World From the Highest Resolution Satellite Around the World

The Burj Khalifa—which Tom Cruise likes so much—is complete, a needle of glass surrounded by turquoise water in the middle of the desert. Here’s how the complex looks, photographed by GeoEye 1, the highest resolution imaging commercial satellite. https://gizmodo.com/why-is-tom-cruise-sitting-on-top-of-the-worlds-tallest-5693238 GeoEye 1 is at an altitude of 684 kilometers over the surface of the Earth, and…

Tech News Jesus Diaz Nov 24 '10

Amazon’s Black Friday Deal: Kindle 2 For $89

Amazon’s own Black Friday deal is a good one: they’ll be selling the last-gen-but-still-good Kindle 2 for just $89, starting at Noon EST on Friday. They’d like to remind you it uses the same e-ink tech as the current Nook! The deal’s been confirmed on their Twitter and Facebook for limited quantities of the Kindle…

Commerce Kyle VanHemert Nov 24 '10

R.I.P. Ingrid Pitt, Britain’s Queen of Horror

Ingrid Pitt survived a Nazi Concentration Camp and evaded the Communist police to become one of Britain’s most beloved horror stars, reigning over Hammer films like The Vampire Lovers. She also rocked Doctor Who. She died last night, aged 73. Pitt was born in 1937, and her mother was of Jewish descent. Her birth came…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders Nov 24 '10

This Tombstone Needs Upgrades

I’m sure he thought 640KB was good enough for all eternity. *rimshot* [Thanks Charles!]

Tech News Jesus Diaz Nov 24 '10

Florida Woman Busted for Selling Millions Worth of Phony Computer Chips to the Military

Stephanie McCloskey is in about as much processor-related trouble as you can get, having netted major bucks by selling counterfeit chips to the military. The Chinese fakes were so shoddy that her company had to clean them off with erasers. The military often frets that Chinese components aren’t up to snuff—or worse, might have hardware…

Tech News Sam Biddle Nov 24 '10

Is Zack Snyder trying to “Avatar-ize” the new Superman movie?

Rumor has it director Zack Snyder visited Avatar’s special effects crew, because he wants his version of Superman — rumored to be Watchmen’s Matthew Goode — to be fully CG. Has Snyder been smoking the Ava-crack? Movienewz is reporting that director Snyder, “has plans to rely heavily on CGI for the Man of Steel.” Which…

Movies Meredith Woerner Nov 24 '10

Watch Focused Sunlight Melt Steel, Rock, and Anything Else

Anyone who ever set fire to ants using a magnifying glass: first of all, shame on you! Second of all, you’re going to love this. Sunlight, focused intensely enough that it can (and does) burn any material on earth. Just how hot does it get in that ring of fire sunshine? Over 6,300 degrees Fahrenheit.…

Tech News Brian Barrett Nov 24 '10

Superman reboot might focus on a young Clark Kent. And Aronofsky’s Wolverine may not be what Fox expected.

Zack Snyder’s Superman might be exploring how Clark Kent really became Superman… plus another possible actor for Lois Lane. Darren Aronofsky says Wolverine will still be a Darren Aronofsky movie. Plus Tim Burton talks Dark Shadows, and more! Spoiler rampage! Superman Reboot Reports of a basic plot synopsis have surfaced, supposedly based at least in…

Television Alasdair Wilkins Nov 24 '10

Apple I From 1976 Sells For $213,000

One of the original 200 Apple Is from 1976 sold at auction yesterday at Christies of London, for £130,000—the equivalent of $213,000. It’s only in kit form, so the winning bidder must build his own case if he wants to actually use it. Check out our very own Brian “Barry” Barrett on NPR talking about…

Tech News Kat Hannaford Nov 24 '10

One Guaranteed Awesome Gift For That Person In Your Office Who Types Really Loud

Most people type in relative silence, but there’s always a few noisemakers—those people who type not by simply pressing keys but by smashing their fingers down on them like little ball-peen hammers. Buy them Thanko’s Keyboard Quiet Cover. The cover comes from the ever-ludicrous Thanko and reduces noise from keyboard clatter. A nobile aim! A…

Tech News Kyle VanHemert Nov 24 '10

iPhone Owners Must Download This Free Tron Game Immediately

Please ignore the fact that this game is Coke Zero-branded. The most important thing is that it’s a location-based game for Tron: Legacy, which uses the iPhone’s GPS for LightCycle battles on your daily travels. The game revolves around the virtual Tron map, which is based on your own location. Gamers create light trails based…

Tech News Kat Hannaford Nov 24 '10

O Gather ‘Round Ye Comcast Yule Log On Ye 3DTV

It’s true—Comcast’s infamous yule log TV channel has gone 3D for the festive holiday season. Tune in, spike the eggnog and cop off with your sister’s best friend. It’s how Father Christmas would’ve wanted it. [Comcast/Image: Patrick Cecilian]

Television Kat Hannaford Nov 24 '10

UberTwitter App Moves From BlackBerry to iPhone

When I use my BlackBerry Bold, Ubertwitter is my Twitter app of choice. The official BlackBerry Twitter app may be better-designed, but UberTwitter’s just got too many features to ignore—and it’s stable, too. iPhone users can now download it for free, and view links within tweets thanks to the new UberView preview feature, which doesn’t…

Tech News Kat Hannaford Nov 24 '10

Kitchen Computing Goes Star Trek

Some people install monitors in their walls for kitchen-computing, but usually stop at Windows or OS X for the OS. Not Dutchman Pascal, though—who created a Windows XP skin inspired by Star Trek’s LCARS interface. His sleek, modern pad suits the futuristic LCARS UI well, as you cans see in the video above. He uses…

Tech News Kat Hannaford Nov 24 '10

Angry Birds For PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii Coming Next Year

Angry Birds hasn’t even turned one yet, but already its makers Rovio are planning a console version. While the iPad helped make it a family-friendly game rather than solitary hair-puller, slingshotting feathered friends on the Wii would be even better. Rovio’s CEO Peter Vesterbacka said that they’re working on a version for the PS3, Wii…

Tech News Kat Hannaford Nov 24 '10

eBay’s iPhone App Now Uses Barcode-Scanning For Penny-Saving Purchases

Barcode-scanner apps are one of those novelties you download for your iPhone or Android, but never use past that first day. Integrating the tech into eBay’s iPhone app is probably the smartest use I can think for it. The 2.0.0 update to the app has brought many new features, but it’s that RedLaser barcode scanning…

Tech News Kat Hannaford Nov 24 '10

Step Away From the Colorware’d MacBook Airs, People

Most times, I don’t mind Colorware’s spray-painted gadgets. Sure, they’re pricey, but I’m all for a premium gloss over otherwise identikit products. But the MacBook Air? No. Just no. Prices start at $1,850 for Air + paint-job. [Colorware]

Tech News Kat Hannaford Nov 24 '10

The TSA in Action: Loaded Gun Magazine Found on Plane

A loaded gun magazine was found in the seat-back pocket of a Southwest Airlines plane. By a kid. Don’t sweat it, though. It was only left behind by a federal law enforcement agent! The magazine got kicked out of the pocket and on to the floor by some (terrorist?) kid crawling around on the seats…

Tech News Max Read Nov 24 '10

Scientists Discover Motherfcking Flying* Snakes

The loneliness of the long-distance exoplanetary anthropologist

The Tallest Building In the World From the Highest Resolution Satellite Around the World

Amazon’s Black Friday Deal: Kindle 2 For $89