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20 Weird, Insane And Extremely Disturbing Barbie Dolls

There are plenty of lists about the “weirdest” Barbie dolls on the internet, but they only scratch the surface of the insane, sometimes terrifying world of the best-selling doll. Here are 20 totally real, official Barbies that prove she hasn’t just conquered girls toys, she may have literally conquered the universe. 1) The Birds Barbie…

io9 Rob Bricken

Timeline shows the potential future of Russia’s next-gen fighter jet

Here’s the potential timeline for Russia’s T-50 PAK-FA, the fifth generation multirole fighter that will get the designation Su-50once it gets into production on January 2016. The nemesis to the American F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II will fly with the flag of Russia, South Korea, India and Iran. January 2016 Sukhoi has already produced…

Sploid Jesus Diaz

If Iron Man Wore a Watch It Would Look Exactly Like This

HYT Watches has made a name for itself in the horological world with timepieces that use fluids pumped through bellows and tubes to display the time. And while its new Skull watch is just a fun variation on its older HYT H1 and H2, superheroes and super-villains alike will no doubt be clambering to strap…

Gadgets Andrew Liszewski

Learn “What Every Girl Should Know” From Margaret Sanger

Among the many science papers preserved online is the famous (and at one time, infamous) column written by Margaret Sanger. It only ran for a short while and was banned for obscenity, but now remains one of the more interesting historical documents out there. Stanger coined the term “birth control” in 1914. Think about what…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

Plan Your Next Trip To Mordor With This Google Map Of Middle-Earth

Because Middle-Earth can be a confusing, perilous place, Reddit user mbingcrosby created this Google Maps-style guide to the journey from Hobbiton to Mordor. As you can see, it’s expected to take six months (“four months without Orcs”), and be ready, because “this route has trolls.” [Via Laughing Squid] Image via Imgur.

io9 Cheryl Eddy

Feds Caught the Silk Road Mastermind With… A Google Search

“Dread Pirate Roberts,” the mastermind behind the online drug market Silk Road, seemed like a smart dude. He amassed a multimillion dollar fortune in drug money in just a few years! And he did it using the deep web and cryptocurrency usually associated with sophisticated cybercrime. But if 30-year-old self-styled “Robert Pattinson lookalike” Ross Ulbricht…

Tech News Kate Knibbs

Project Almanac Proves It’s Possible For A Movie To Be TOO Self-Aware

Project Almanac, the “found footage” time travel movie in theaters today, is kinda cute. And some people have praised the self-aware way it references other, better time-travel films like Bill and Ted and Looper. But on reflection, that self-awareness isn’t a strength, it’s the reason Project Almanac falters. Spoilers ahead… Project Almanac is one of…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders

What Languages Will We Speak In The Future? Ask Your Questions Now

What languages might go extinct in the future, and how can we expect the surviving ones to change? Linguist John McWhorter is here to answer our questions. Top Image: Language Tree by Minna Sundberg / SSSScomic. McWhorter teaches linguistics, American Studies, philosophy and music at Columbia University. He has a PhD in linguistics from Stanford…

io9 Ria Misra

An Exhaustive Guide to Will Ferrell Twitter Accounts

Twitter is a mess, but parody account Twitter is a social networking hellscape unto itself. Between the Black Stewie Griffins and Pharrell’s hats is a black hole as old as time, pulling all of #teamfollowback into its gaping maw. I’m talking, of course, about the Will Ferrell accounts. Of all the parody twitter account flavors…

Tech News Eric Limer

The Game Of Thrones Season 5 Trailer Is Here And OMG—Update! NOW IN HD

Updated: Here’s the official trailer! And here it is on the show’s Facebook page, too, for those who can see it. Included with the recent Game of Thrones IMAX screening, this new trailer for the show’s upcoming fifth season is, in a word, YOWZA. We’ve got the first look at Dorne, the other Martells, the…

Trailers Rob Bricken

Plan C: America’s Nuclear Doomsday Plan to Declare Martial Law

Newly released documents show that the U.S. government drew up a plan in April of 1956 for how to deal with an impending nuclear war. What was its strategy? Declaration of martial law, evacuation of top American personnel to secret offices, and the immediate detention of over 12,000 people with ties to “subversive organizations.” It…

Tech News Matt Novak

Neat new image sequence of Rosetta’s lander descending to the comet

Check out this sequence of 19 photos of the Philae lander descending to the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko on November 12, 2014, taken by Rosetta’s OSIRIS imager. ESA says the timestamp marked on the images are in GMT. SPLOID is delicious brain candy. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

Sploid Jesus Diaz

Exclusive Clip From Alien Outpost Turns Everyone Into A Soldier

Set after an alien invasion, the citizens of Earth have been waging war against an invading alien army for years (and winning). Alien Outpost is a fauxmentary that takes place at the last alien outpost, hence the name. And we’ve got an exclusive clip. Out this weekend in select theaters and available on VOD &…

Movies Meredith Woerner

Square-Enix’s Iron Man Isn’t As Crazy As You’d Expect, But It Is Badass

Part of what I love about Square-Enix’s Play Arts Kai Variant line is how absolutely batshit insane they can get – but their new Iron Man, the first in their Marvel series, isn’t really that crazy. He just looks downright awesome. The figure doesn’t really do that much to Iron Man’s look – he keeps…

Tech News James Whitbrook

New Technique Reverses Aging By Decades In Cultured Human Cells

Scientists from Stanford Medical Center have devised a technique for extending the length of human telomeres. It’s a breakthrough that could eventually result in therapies to treat a host of age-related diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. It could also result in longer, healthier lives. Telomeres are those critical protective caps located on the tips…

io9 George Dvorsky

How the Hell Are These Popular Spying Apps Not Illegal?

Here are some sordid scenarios. Your ex-girlfriend can see every time you swipe right while using Tinder. Your former husband is secretly listening to and recording your late-night Skype sessions with your new boyfriend. Some random slippery-dick is jacking off to the naked photos in your private photo library. For millions of people, it’s not…

Privacy & Security Kate Knibbs

Specially-Developed Plastic Runners Let This Sled Slide On Sand

It might not provide the same technical challenge as skiing or snowboarding, but it’s hard to argue that sledding isn’t one of the best ways to take advantage of the winter. But what about those other snow-free seasons? Wouldn’t it be fun to sled all year round? Of course it would, so Germany’s KHW has…

Tech News Andrew Liszewski

How Chemistry Transforms Crackers Into Apple Pie

Mock-apple pie filling is made, primarily, of crackers. There are no apples in it. Still, most people who taste it swear that they are eating real apple pie. What is the chemistry that tricks our senses? If you want to make mock apple pie, here’s what you need. • 2 cups of water • 1…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

The FAA Says It’s Banning Drones at the Super Bowl Because of 9/11

The FAA sent us a bit more detail about why it’s banning drones at Sunday’s Super Bowl. As you may have predicted, the ban stems from legislation passed after 9/11. An FAA spokesperson explained in an email: The flight restrictions over major sporting events were imposed by Congress in legislation passed after the 9/11 attacks.…

Tech News Adam Clark Estes

Come On In, GIFs! We’re Throwing You A Party.

Welcome, GIF-partiers! What did you do this last week? Fill us in on any news, describe any major storms you weathered (or missed), and tell (and show) us all about what’s happening with you. And, of course, do it with GIFs, because it’s party time!

io9 Ria Misra

20 Weird, Insane And Extremely Disturbing Barbie Dolls

Timeline shows the potential future of Russia’s next-gen fighter jet

If Iron Man Wore a Watch It Would Look Exactly Like This

Learn “What Every Girl Should Know” From Margaret Sanger

Plan Your Next Trip To Mordor With This Google Map Of Middle-Earth

Feds Caught the Silk Road Mastermind With… A Google Search

Project Almanac Proves It’s Possible For A Movie To Be TOO Self-Aware

What Languages Will We Speak In The Future? Ask Your Questions Now

An Exhaustive Guide to Will Ferrell Twitter Accounts

The Game Of Thrones Season 5 Trailer Is Here And OMG—Update! NOW IN HD

Plan C: America’s Nuclear Doomsday Plan to Declare Martial Law

Neat new image sequence of Rosetta’s lander descending to the comet

Exclusive Clip From Alien Outpost Turns Everyone Into A Soldier

Square-Enix’s Iron Man Isn’t As Crazy As You’d Expect, But It Is Badass

New Technique Reverses Aging By Decades In Cultured Human Cells

How the Hell Are These Popular Spying Apps Not Illegal?

Specially-Developed Plastic Runners Let This Sled Slide On Sand

How Chemistry Transforms Crackers Into Apple Pie

The FAA Says It’s Banning Drones at the Super Bowl Because of 9/11

Come On In, GIFs! We’re Throwing You A Party.

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AirPods Max 2 Review: Still Ridiculously Expensive and Ridiculously Nice

UGREEN Bluetooth Tracker 4-Pack Now Just $7 Each With iOS and Android Support, While AirTag Stays at Full Price

Trump Posts Concept Art of His Presidential Library, and It’s AI Slop

Forget Tower Desktop, GMKtec Mini PC Drops to a Record Low as Amazon Clears Out Final Spring Sale Stock

‘Fallout’ Season 2 Was a Hit Despite That Unsatisfying Release Strategy Change

JBL Authentics 500 Retro-Style Home Speaker Hits 40% Off, Now at Its Lowest Price as Amazon’s Spring Sale Clearance Begins

ExpressVPN Spring Sale Special: Up to 73% Off + Free eSIM and Password Manager

You Too Will Learn to Fear the XenoFrog

Latest Reviews

DJI Osmo 360 Review: The Best 360 Camera for the DJI-Pilled

Aqara Smart Lock U400 Review: Hands-free Unlocking at Its Best

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Laptop With Some Glaring Flaws

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound

Asus ROG’s Massive Swift OLED Gaming Monitor Epitomizes Excess in the Best Way

The Ikea Varmblixt Smart Lamp Fills a Donut Hole in My Life

Nothing Headphone A vs. Headphone 1: Which Pair of ANC Wireless Headphones Wins?

Let us help find what you are looking for...

Latest

20 Weird, Insane And Extremely Disturbing Barbie Dolls

Timeline shows the potential future of Russia’s next-gen fighter jet

If Iron Man Wore a Watch It Would Look Exactly Like This

​Learn “What Every Girl Should Know” From Margaret Sanger

Plan Your Next Trip To Mordor With This Google Map Of Middle-Earth

Feds Caught the Silk Road Mastermind With… A Google Search

Project Almanac Proves It’s Possible For A Movie To Be TOO Self-Aware

What Languages Will We Speak In The Future? Ask Your Questions Now

An Exhaustive Guide to Will Ferrell Twitter Accounts

The Game Of Thrones Season 5 Trailer Is Here And OMG—Update! NOW IN HD

Plan C: America’s Nuclear Doomsday Plan to Declare Martial Law

Neat new image sequence of Rosetta’s lander descending to the comet

Exclusive Clip From Alien Outpost Turns Everyone Into A Soldier

Square-Enix’s Iron Man Isn’t As Crazy As You’d Expect, But It Is Badass

New Technique Reverses Aging By Decades In Cultured Human Cells

How the Hell Are These Popular Spying Apps Not Illegal?

Specially-Developed Plastic Runners Let This Sled Slide On Sand

​How Chemistry Transforms Crackers Into Apple Pie

The FAA Says It’s Banning Drones at the Super Bowl Because of 9/11

Come On In, GIFs! We’re Throwing You A Party.

AirPods Max 2 Review: Still Ridiculously Expensive and Ridiculously Nice

UGREEN Bluetooth Tracker 4-Pack Now Just $7 Each With iOS and Android Support, While AirTag Stays at Full Price

Trump Posts Concept Art of His Presidential Library, and It’s AI Slop

Forget Tower Desktop, GMKtec Mini PC Drops to a Record Low as Amazon Clears Out Final Spring Sale Stock

‘Fallout’ Season 2 Was a Hit Despite That Unsatisfying Release Strategy Change

JBL Authentics 500 Retro-Style Home Speaker Hits 40% Off, Now at Its Lowest Price as Amazon’s Spring Sale Clearance Begins

ExpressVPN Spring Sale Special: Up to 73% Off + Free eSIM and Password Manager

You Too Will Learn to Fear the XenoFrog

DJI Osmo 360 Review: The Best 360 Camera for the DJI-Pilled

Aqara Smart Lock U400 Review: Hands-free Unlocking at Its Best

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Laptop With Some Glaring Flaws

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound

Asus ROG’s Massive Swift OLED Gaming Monitor Epitomizes Excess in the Best Way

The Ikea Varmblixt Smart Lamp Fills a Donut Hole in My Life

Nothing Headphone A vs. Headphone 1: Which Pair of ANC Wireless Headphones Wins?

Let us help find what you are looking for...

Learn “What Every Girl Should Know” From Margaret Sanger

How Chemistry Transforms Crackers Into Apple Pie