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Watch NASA scientists create fake vomit for zero-gravity barf bags

Not all NASA gigs involve rockets and spacesuits. Zero-G motion sickness is a common problem for astronauts, and someone has to test the bags o’ biliousness. Meet those intrepid scientists who make NASA’s fake vomit. Here’s the description of the video from NASA’s Youtube channel: After answering the question of how the space potty works,…

Sound waves could someday cool down your refrigerator

Refrigerators are the source of much joy in the world, and the fridge is made possible by continually-cycled, selectively-pressurized gas. But someday, sound waves may replace this system in your fridge. In your modern refrigerator, the gas (called a refrigerant) starts its journey outside the fridge, where it is pumped through a series of coils…

I Guess You Can Throw Yourself Into The Airport X-Ray Instead Of Walking Through The Metal Detector

Why jumping onto the conveyor belt for an x-ray would cross anyone’s mind is beyond me. If you’re trying to prove that you’re not carrying metal, you’ve succeeded. But you’ve also proved that you’re crazy enough to be a terrorist. And of course the cynic in me is sad that this could be fake. But…

The final blog post of Satoshi Kon

Paprika and Paranoia Agent director Satoshi Kon passed away this week, but before he died, he wrote a final blog post to his friends, family, and anime colleagues. https://gizmodo.com/r-i-p-satoshi-kon-director-of-paprika-5620836 Kon’s post is a meditation on death and tying up loose ends. In one particularly sad passage, the director regrets that he wasn’t more open about…

Could The Samsung Galaxy Tab Be Headed To Verizon or Sprint ?

A CDMA version of the oft-spotted Samsung Galaxy Tab has been found, which could point toward an eventual Verizon (or Sprint) 3G version of the tablet. Or not. Whatever, all I need to know is that the Tab runs Android 2.2. According to the developer who has this CDMA test unit on hand, the Galaxy…

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The next season of Doctor Who will be split into two parts

At the Edinburgh International Television Festival, Steven Moffat revealed that the upcoming 13-episode season of Doctor Who would be split down the middle into 7-episode spring arc and a 6-episode autumn storyline. Moffat divulged that the break next season wouldn’t be the dreaded mid-season hiatus, but rather a split between two distinct stories: Looking at…

iPad Finally Shipping In 24 Hours

I’m not sure how long it’s been the case but Apple’s online store now lists the iPad as now shipping in 24 hours. That goes for all versions of the pad, from the 16GB Wi-Fi only to the 64GB Wi-Fi + 3G Model and everything else in between. [Apple via TiPb]

How Astronauts’ Experience Could Help Trapped Chilean Miners

The trapped Chilean miners may face their most severe psychological challenges in a couple of months’ time, if experience from space missions is anything to go by. A recent NASA study suggests rescuers need to be especially vigilant at the halfway stage of the project. It found that the morale of astronauts on the International…

10 awesome science fiction stories for gamers

Ever since ET for the Atari 2600 wowed gamers worldwide, science fiction and video games have been natural bedfellows. Here are 10 great scifi tales that embrace the aesthetics, technology, and popular tropes of the gaming world. Death Race 2000 (1975) This cult classic was based on a short story by Ib Melchior and produced…

The Embrace Infant Warmer Acts As A Cheap Incubator For Developing Countries

In developing countries, low birth weight babies don’t always have the luxury of an incubator to help them. Hopefully this $25 Embrace Infant Warmer can become a viable alternative, it was successfully tested on its first baby a week ago. The idea behind the Embrace is rather simple. A heating pouch is slipped into the…

The Sonar Image Of The Titanic’s Debris Field Is Bigger Than Expected

The first sonar images of the Titanic have been mapped and the ship’s debris field is much larger than scientists anticipated. Here’s what the dots in the sonar image is actually showing. We’re looking at the Titanic’s bow and if you squint your eyes (or can translate sonar) you can see the mast, superstructure, funnel…

Toshiba SmartPad’s Specs Leak, Runs Android 2.2 And Is Supposedly Called The Folio 100

What we once knew as the Toshiba SmartPad will now be known as the Toshiba Folio 100. Along with the name change, specs for the Folio 100 have leaked and it’s supposed to run Android 2.2. https://gizmodo.com/toshiba-smartpad-gets-a-leaky-close-up-the-ports-5619412 According to Notebook Italia, the Folio 100 will have: OS: Android 2.2 Processor: Nvidia Tegra 2 Display: multitouch…

The shiniest stories on io9 this week (maybe NSFW)

What a week! We kicked off Science Fiction 101 to share our love of all things scifi. We also talked to Eli Roth and pondered exorcisms and piranha-induced castrations. Finally, here’s a totally baffling kaiju dance video just because! Seriously, the above video has nothing to with this week’s articles. It’s too perplexing not to…

A Dress Made From Computer Wires Is A Tangled Geeky Mess

I love girls. I love computers. Then why don’t I love this girl wearing a dress made from computer wires? I think it’s because I want to see the wireless version. I mean, it’s 2010 already! [Tina Sparkles via Make]

What’s the key to a successful cinematic infodump?

Infodumps are a double-edged sword. They allow filmmakers to cram a ton of worldbuilding into a short amount of exposition but can also bludgeon the audience into a glassy-eyed stupor. What’s the secret to cramming plot into the audience’s earholes? Over at The Wrap, Michael Lee analyzes what makes the infodumps of three recent blockbusters…

Eureka shows the past should stay buried as old friends and enemies return

On last night’s Eureka, our heroes were haunted by the ghosts of their past, as beloved (and not so beloved) characters returned to wreak havoc. It was a twisty, crazy episode, and Eureka is clearly just getting warmed up. Let’s just get this out of the way right now – as soon as it became…

Japan Reveals Its Execution Room For The First Time

This stark, almost peaceful looking room is actually Japan’s execution room. The ring on top holds the noose, the red square outlines the trapdoor and this is the first time Japan has ever shown these rooms off. Much of Japan’s execution process has been shrouded in mystery. In fact, when local news outlets were previously…

Educational Chemistry Crayons: “Hey Mom, Pass the Barium Nitrate Flame”

At least that’s what the creator of this product hopes your child will say when they get these crayons, which are labeled with the actual chemical used to give each colored wax stick its hue. If the information sticks, your kid should have an edge up in high school chemistry… and possibly a little confusion…

What do we mean by “how much oil is left” in the Gulf?

Flip on the news and you’ll see pundits a-go-go discussing the amount of oil left in the Gulf of Mexico. But how does one actually determine this amount? Diandra Leslie-Pelecky explores the fluidity of the figures and potential clean-up solutions. If Shakespeare were alive today, he might suggest that PR/branding/marketing people should go before lawyers.…