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Concept Art Writing Prompt: An Unusual Brush With Death

This little girl has a rather, well, unorthodox relationship with the Grim Reaper. If this image inspires you, write a story that tells us what on Earth is going on here. “Emily’s Brush with Death” is by concept artist Jeremy Vickery, and it’s a fun image—or is something more sinister happening? As always, we invite…

io9 Lauren Davis

Inside The Minds And Lives Of Real-Time Translators

The world’s most powerful computers can’t perform accurate real-time translation. Yet interpreters do it with ease. Meet the neuroscientists who are starting to explain this remarkable ability Photo Credit: Ffion Atkinson via flickr | CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 One morning this summer I paid a visit to the sole United Nations agency in London. The headquarters…

io9 Geoff Watts – Mosaic

Why Are All Your Credit Cards The Same Size?

Money comes in every size, shape, and color imaginable. But your credit cards — though they may be remarkably different in how they work — are probably remarkably consistent in terms of size. Why is that? Keller Easterling, an architect and professor at Yale, joined us today to take questions about the role of infrastructure…

io9 Ria Misra

Watching this machine punching through metal = Total satisfaction

Behold the TRUMPF TruPunch 2020! I don’t know if the TRUMPF TruPunch 2020 is the best. I don’t know how much the TRUMPF TruPunch 2020 costs. Hell, I don’t know anything about the TRUMPF TruPunch 2020. Except watching it in action is a surprising source of inner satisfaction. Also, trumpf should be a verb. SPLOID…

Sploid Jesus Diaz

Babies With ‘Three’ Parents Are About To Become A Reality In Britain

The U.K. is set to be the first country in the world to legalize a controversial three-parent reproductive technique. After years of ethical debate, countless council sessions, and the ironing-out of legal guidelines, British MPs will be asked to approve the procedure in an upcoming parliamentary vote. Called “three-person IVF“, the reproductive technique is aimed…

io9 George Dvorsky

What’s The Best Example Of Science Fiction Subverting A Stereotype?

Science fiction and fantasy are supposed to be mind-expanding and thoughtful — but sometimes these genres fall prey to dumb stereotypes. So it’s always thrilling when they manage to rise above and do something different. What’s the best example of genre storytelling that avoids (or subverts) a stereotype? Please include a picture, book cover, clip,…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders

Sony Just Accidentally Released a New Promo for The Interview

Despite the fact that Sony has absolutely no plans to release The Interview in any way anytime soon, a new promo just popped up on YouTube. Somewhere out there, a PR intern is about to have a very, very bad day. Update 7:22pm: Sony has taken down the video, but you can watch a clip…

Tech News Ashley Feinberg

Report: Sony Hackers Got In With Stolen Admin Credentials

CNN is reporting that whoever hacked Sony Pictures Entertainment did so by stealing credentials from a systems administrator. They’re currently citing unnamed U.S investigators as their source. CNN’s sources also claim that the stolen credentials are what led them to conclude that this was not an “inside job” by some employee at Sony who was…

Tech News Matt Novak

On The 100, You Can Be A Fool For Love Or You Can Be A Lunatic For Love

If any character has changed for the worse on The 100 while living on the ground, it’s Finn. But this week’s episode reveals that Finn has always done things for love that can get him killed. The question is whether he’ll manage to survive this time around. First off, I apologize for not recapping last…

Television Lauren Davis

Seeing a giant rubber band ball being cut in half is freaking gross/cool

This has to be one of the grossest and coolest things I’ve seen in a while: A guy cutting a giant rubber band ball in half. At one point it feels like the thing is alive and getting ready to jump on the dude’s face and suck his bodily fluids out of his eyes, mouth,…

Sploid Jesus Diaz

Ascension Ends With A Final Supreme Moment Of WTF

So we didn’t especially like Ascension’s first chapter, which seemed to promise one thing and then deliver another. Fortunately, the second and third chapters had better pacing and some great moments… before ending with another huge moment of WTF. Spoilers ahead… The first episode of Ascension ended with a somewhat rug-pulling reveal: the main characters…

Television Cheryl Eddy

Cool animated infographics show how things work

Aside from creating cool illustrations and infographics from his clients, Jacob O’Neal runs Animagraffs, site where he reveals the inner workings of objects like handguns, speakers, car or jet engines with great detail. Going through his motion graphics is always interesting. See the complete handgun graphic here. See the complete speakers graphic here. See the…

Sploid Jesus Diaz

Meet The Modern Day King Arthur’s Court In 6 Kingsman Featurettes

Kingsman: The Secret Service is a return to the world of spy-fi—the fun, gadget-filled, sexually deviant spy films where you just want to see a total lunatic try and take over the world. Six new character intros take you deeper into the new world. You guys are going to love it. And now, the villains:

Movies Meredith Woerner

The Best And Worst Television Moments of 2014

This year’s science fiction and fantasy television delivered amazing highs and some cringe-worthy lows. We’ve rounded up the year’s best moments, along with some of the absolute worst (in no particular order) for your viewing pleasure. SPOILERS AHEAD. Best TV Moments from 2014: Community – Meow Meow Beans Community’s GI Joe intro was really good,…

Television Meredith Woerner

7 Films We Should Probably Ban Right Now, You Know, Just In Case

So you’ve no doubt heard about American cinemas’ near unanimous decision to pull The Interview from theaters. Not to be outdone in cowardice, Paramount is also telling some theaters to not play 2004’s Team America: World Police in its place in deference to our new cultural overlords in Pyongyang. Since we’ve officially abandoned all reason,…

Tech News Darren Orf

A Vastly Improved Protective Suit For Healthcare Workers In Ebola Zones

As the ongoing Ebola epidemic rages in West Africa, it’s becoming increasingly obvious that the protective suits worn by healthcare workers are extremely inadequate. To address this, researchers as Johns Hopkins have designed a new suit that should dramatically reduce infection risk. The prototype is specially designed to keep healthcare workers from coming into contact…

io9 George Dvorsky

Did Sony Reveal Its Next Smartphone in Leaked Bond-Movie Product Pitch?

For years, Sony’s smartphones have been competent but uninspired. Maybe product placement in Spectre, the Bond flick whose script was recently leaked, can help? At the very least, these product-placement pitches, sent from Sony’s electronics team to its movie studio, show that Sony could be fancying up its flagship smartphone for Hollywood and beyond. The…

Tech News Ashley Feinberg

This Batman Cowl Replica Comes With A Light Up Bruce Wayne Head

Screw the Cowl replica. I want this because it’s a 1:1 copy of Bruce Wayne’s head THAT LIGHTS UP. That’s like, the best/worst idea for a lamp in the world. The replica, by Triforce, is full-scale 35lb hunk of shiny replica goodness, and based on the cowl design seen in the video game Batman: Arkham…

Books & Comics James Whitbrook

Mondrian Sticky Notes Make Every Reminder a Masterpiece

For the forgetful art lover in your life comes this simple collection of multi-colored sticky notes that when arranged together bear a striking resemblance to one of Piet Mondrian’s Composition pieces. But you won’t need millions of dollars to adorn your office with this functional masterpiece. PA Designs is selling it for just shy of…

Tech News Andrew Liszewski

What Happens When You Step On Molten Lava? This Video May Surprise You

Definitely don’t try this at home (or if you happen across a volcanic vent), but if you’ve ever wondered what would happen if you pressed down on hot lava, this video is a must-watch. It’s a great lesson in how the reality of lava differs from the way many people think of the substance. Alex…

io9 Lauren Davis

Concept Art Writing Prompt: An Unusual Brush With Death

Inside The Minds And Lives Of Real-Time Translators

Why Are All Your Credit Cards The Same Size?

Watching this machine punching through metal = Total satisfaction

Babies With ‘Three’ Parents Are About To Become A Reality In Britain

What’s The Best Example Of Science Fiction Subverting A Stereotype?

Sony Just Accidentally Released a New Promo for The Interview

Report: Sony Hackers Got In With Stolen Admin Credentials

On The 100, You Can Be A Fool For Love Or You Can Be A Lunatic For Love

Seeing a giant rubber band ball being cut in half is freaking gross/cool

Ascension Ends With A Final Supreme Moment Of WTF

Cool animated infographics show how things work

Meet The Modern Day King Arthur’s Court In 6 Kingsman Featurettes

The Best And Worst Television Moments of 2014

7 Films We Should Probably Ban Right Now, You Know, Just In Case

A Vastly Improved Protective Suit For Healthcare Workers In Ebola Zones

Did Sony Reveal Its Next Smartphone in Leaked Bond-Movie Product Pitch?

This Batman Cowl Replica Comes With A Light Up Bruce Wayne Head

Mondrian Sticky Notes Make Every Reminder a Masterpiece

What Happens When You Step On Molten Lava? This Video May Surprise You

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