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Here’s What a “Mysterious Chunk of Space Trash” Looks Like

Earlier this week, the internet worked itself into a frenzy over the “mysterious chunk of space trash” — actually a spent rocket fragment — that’s making an ominous but not-at-all dangerous homecoming on a Friday the 13th in November. Wonder what that terrifying cosmic garbage will look like before it burns up in orbit? Probably,…

Tech News Maddie Stone Oct 29 '15

Your Evening Soundtrack: GWAR Covers Cyndi Lauper’s “She Bop”

Costumed shock rockers GWAR paid a visit to A.V. Undercover this week to destroy, nay, annihilate, Cyndi Lauper’s “She Bop” (with a bonus segue into another instantly recognizable “Bop” song). It may not quite eclipse the band’s take on “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car” … and it won’t replace the sodden, sordid…

io9 Cheryl Eddy Oct 29 '15

Reader IT Horror Story: When Bad Managers Go Rabid

Ever work for a manager who gets meaner the more they don’t know? Ever gone to HR, only to realize they are not on your side? One commenter’s experience doing IT for a law firm drives a life lesson home: if you are in this sort of situation, get out while you can. I’m compiling…

Tech News Kaila Hale-Stern Oct 29 '15

Philip K. Dick Inspired a Whole Wave of Trippy Euro Prog Rock

You think U.S. and U.K. prog rock groups like Emerson Lake & Palmer or Yes were trippy and futuristic. But some groups in France and Italy, inspired by the works of Philip K. Dick, went even further. Over at RedBullMusicAcademy, there’s a great article about some of these European prog bands like Heldon, Magma and…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders Oct 29 '15

I Used To Be Too Scared To Check These Books Out of the Library

I remember the exact place where they were kept. They hovered together, trapped tightly between two wood slabs until they could be freed. I tried to ignore them, but they called out to me, over and over, in a deep low-pitched moan. Aliiiiiiiiissa. Aliiiiiiiiiissa. In third grade I discovered these three books of short stories…

Books & Comics Alissa Walker Oct 29 '15

Watching This Vampire Bat on a Treadmill Never Gets Old

We think of bats as swooping through the air to hunt their prey, but the vampire bat is known to creep along the ground to stalk its prey. Put it on a tiny treadmill, and the crafty critter can also break into a full gallop, using its wings to propel itself along the ground. The…

Biology Jennifer Ouellette Oct 29 '15

You’ll Soon Be Able to Read a Classic Judge Dredd Comic Uncensored for the First Time Since 1978

The Cursed Earth is an infamous epic in the long history of Judge Dredd comics—but ever since it was first published 37 years ago, you’ve only ever been able to read the censored version. But a new change in UK law means that you’ll be able to experience it as was intended, for the first…

Books & Comics James Whitbrook Oct 29 '15

A Play Casts a Sinister Spell on Its Actors In Takashi Miike’s Spooky New Film

Takashi Miike has made nearly 100 films in 25 years. And his maniacal drive is reflected in his work—his films are often edgy to the extreme (just a few examples: Audition, Ichi the Killer, Thirteen Assassins). His latest, Over Your Dead Body, infuses a classic Japanese story with his signature flair. Here’s the official synopsis:…

Trailers Cheryl Eddy Oct 29 '15

Watch the First Footage of the Planet’s Most Elusive Whale

An international team of marine biologists has made the first-ever field observations of rare Omura’s whales—one of the least known species of whales in the world — while working off the coast of Madagascar. Omura’s whales are so rare that scientists are not sure exactly how many exist. “Over the years, there have been a…

Tech News George Dvorsky Oct 29 '15

On American Horror Story, the Hotel Cortez Hosts the Craziest Dinner Party Ever

It’s Halloween at the Hotel Cortez, and the “Mount Rushmore of murder” gathers for Mr. March’s annual soiree. The exclusive guest list has a new name this year: John Lowe, who soon rather regrets his decision to attend. Nearby, another major character makes her own regrettable choice. Spoilers! “Devil’s Night” assumes that American Horror Story:…

Television Cheryl Eddy Oct 29 '15

NBC Is Trying to Make the New True Blood

True Blood bit its last throat in 2014, but NBC is hoping it can duplicate HBO’s mega-success by adapting another fantasy series from works by author Charlaine Harris, called Midnight, Texas. It’s based on Harris’ trilogy about a small town filled with spooky secrets. According to Deadline: Midnight, Texas is a Southern tale with supernatural…

Television Cheryl Eddy Oct 29 '15

Wow, This Poster Of The Death Star Blueprints Is Insane

The first Death Star blueprints are some of the most important items in the history of Star Wars. It was those plans, inside R2-D2, that brought Luke Skywalker out of obscurity and ultimately ushered in the Return of the Jedi. Now you can be R2, and hold onto the plans to Death Star II. Artist…

Movies Germain Lussier Oct 29 '15

Toyota’s Cupholder Robot Could Keep You Safe on the Road

How can we make smart robots as popular and widely used as smartphones? Ploppin’ ‘em in your pocket is a good place to start—or your cupholder, in this case. At the Tokyo Motor Show this week, a miniature version of the first talking robot in space was revealed. It can hitch a ride in your…

Tech News Bryan Lufkin Oct 29 '15

Cosmic Rays Could Help Unlock the Secrets of the Pyramids

There’s a long and colorful history of people trying to unlock the secret of how the Egyptian pyramids were built—and possibly find hidden rooms and corridors, for good measure. And now, a new international project aims to peer through the stone walls of these ancient structures, using cosmic rays. Actually, the ScanPyramids Project will use…

Tech News Jennifer Ouellette Oct 29 '15

Watch this mega machine erect a bridge

There’s a lot of moving parts when it comes to the construction of a bridge. Like, how do you build a bridge without the help of a bridge? The easiest way? This SLJ900 machine. It moves in coordinated parts to deftly erect a bridge or viaduct, balancing its weight on the beams before laying out…

Sploid Casey Chan Oct 29 '15

Which Epic Book Series Would Benefit From Being Shortened and Combined?

Everybody loves to dive into a pile of books that spin out an epic, immersive storyline. There’s nothing more satisfying than a trilogy or series with deep worldbuilding. But some book series could stand to be a bit shorter—and maybe also fewer books. Earlier today, we had an essay from Kim Stanley Robinson about the…

Books & Comics Charlie Jane Anders Oct 29 '15

Is It a Coincidence That the Internet’s Birthday and National Cat Day Are the Same Day?

Probably. The first packet of data was sent between two of the original nodes of the ARPANET, an early iteration of the internet we use today, at 10:30pm on October 29, 1969. National Cat Day was first declaredon October 29, 2005 by “a large group of overly passionate (Ok! Ok! OBSESSED) cat lovers with a…

Tech News Adam Clark Estes Oct 29 '15

Bask in the Beauty of Pluto at Sunset

Oh, wow. Because the tiny sliver of Pluto at sunset wasn’t enough, now we get the full view of what the New Horizons spacecraft saw just moments after its closest approach. And it’s absolutely gorgeous. The wide-angle view was captured by New Horizons just 15 minutes after the spacecraft’s closest approach on July 14, 2015.…

Tech News Mika McKinnon Oct 29 '15

Scott Kelly Breaks Single-Spaceflight Duration Record for American Astronauts

Today, Scott Kelly breaks NASA’s record for longest single spaceflight of an American astronaut, surpassing the previous record of 215 days held by Michael Lopez-Alegria. Kelly is currently on a one-year mission, scheduled to return to Earth in March 2016. The qualifying adjectives specifying this is an American record is necessary—Kelly is sharing this year-in-space…

Tech News Mika McKinnon Oct 29 '15

WSJ: Google Is Feeding Chrome OS to Android

Google’s Chrome operating system is not long for this world, according to the Wall Street Journal. Soon, Android will be Alphabet Inc.’s one true OS. This isn’t surprising news. Android already is Google’s one true OS. It’s the world’s most popular operating system, while Chrome took a tiny corner of the market, powering Google’s Chomebooks.…

Tech News Kate Knibbs Oct 29 '15

Here’s What a “Mysterious Chunk of Space Trash” Looks Like

Your Evening Soundtrack: GWAR Covers Cyndi Lauper’s “She Bop”

Reader IT Horror Story: When Bad Managers Go Rabid

Philip K. Dick Inspired a Whole Wave of Trippy Euro Prog Rock

I Used To Be Too Scared To Check These Books Out of the Library

Watching This Vampire Bat on a Treadmill Never Gets Old

You’ll Soon Be Able to Read a Classic Judge Dredd Comic Uncensored for the First Time Since 1978

A Play Casts a Sinister Spell on Its Actors In Takashi Miike’s Spooky New Film

Watch the First Footage of the Planet’s Most Elusive Whale

On American Horror Story, the Hotel Cortez Hosts the Craziest Dinner Party Ever

NBC Is Trying to Make the New True Blood

Wow, This Poster Of The Death Star Blueprints Is Insane

Toyota’s Cupholder Robot Could Keep You Safe on the Road

Cosmic Rays Could Help Unlock the Secrets of the Pyramids

Watch this mega machine erect a bridge

Which Epic Book Series Would Benefit From Being Shortened and Combined?

Is It a Coincidence That the Internet’s Birthday and National Cat Day Are the Same Day?

Bask in the Beauty of Pluto at Sunset

Scott Kelly Breaks Single-Spaceflight Duration Record for American Astronauts

WSJ: Google Is Feeding Chrome OS to Android

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