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A Man Tired By Space Exploration Finds an Outlet in This Animated Short

“Planètes après planètes / Planets after planets” by Titouan Bordeau feels so much like a short from childhood that I’m almost convinced I did see it then. Watch as a terminally bored by exploring astronaut has his life shaken up by a pack of ducks. Space ducks. [via Vimeo Staff Picks]

io9 Katharine Trendacosta Jan 15 '15

Person of Interest Shows Us Why Stephen Hawking Is Worried About AI

In real life, many of the world’s most respected scientists are signing onto an open letter urging technologists to be careful about inventing AI. And on Person of Interest, we’re getting a good look at why they might be right. This was the final episode in a three-episode arc devoted to escalating conflict between the…

io9 Annalee Newitz Jan 15 '15

Are There Any Michael Crichton Books Left To Turn Into Movies Or TV?

Michael Crichton is one of the authors with the best track records of being adapted successfully to movies and television, from Andromeda Strain to Jurassic World. So it makes sense that super-agency ICM has signed a deal to develop his work, especially previously unfilmed works. But what’s left to adapt? Image via Maverik Education According…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders Jan 14 '15

Prominent Scientists Sign Letter of Warning About AI Risks

Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk, and many other prominent figures have signed an open letter pushing for responsible AI oversight in order to mitigate risks and ensure the “societal benefit” of the technology. The open letter was put together by the Future of Life Institute, a group mobilized by Skype co-founder Jaan Tallinn, MIT’s Max Tegmark,…

io9 George Dvorsky Jan 14 '15

Realistic version of Reddit alien mascot is neat and creepy as hell

Kudos to redditor ChristopherDesign for this cool version of a three-eyed Reddit alien mascot, rendered in Cinema 4D and finished in Photoshop. He says it took him 30 to 40 hours to make: I’d say the actual amount of time to create what you see is about 30-40 hours, but I worked on it pretty…

Sploid Jesus Diaz Jan 14 '15

Jock Unveils Sleek, Dreamy Concept Art For Ex Machina

Ahead of the artificial intelligence thriller Ex Machina’s release (January 21 in the UK; April 10 in the US), artist Jock shared some of his early concept art on Twitter, highlighting the film’s sophisticated artificial intelligence, Ava (portrayed by Alicia Vikander). Machina is the directorial debut of novelist (The Beach) and screenwriter (28 Days Later,…

io9 Cheryl Eddy Jan 14 '15

The Dragon Mother Always Carries Her Young Atop Her Snout

“From me to you Little one, know that I will always watch over you, I will always protect you and I will always love you. Carry my example on to your children and you will make me proud.” Story and art by Lamin Martin. Over email, Martin told us a little bit about the inspiration…

io9 Lauren Davis Jan 14 '15

Danny Boyle Having “Serious” Conversations About 28 Months Later

We’ve been dreaming of Danny Boyle’s much talked-about return to the 28 Days Later zombie franchise for years. But maybe now he’s finally ready? In an interview with IGN, Alex Garland (director of Ex Machina and 28 Days Later screenwriter) revealed that, at the very least, Boyle is having conversations about the project, and he…

Movies Meredith Woerner Jan 14 '15

How To Prove A Geometric Formula With A Clementine And A Piece of Paper

Here’s a fun demonstration from Cornell maths professor Steven Strogatz. Take a clementine (or any spherical, peelable fruit) and trace around its widest part four times. Then peel it. Flatten out the peelings as best you can and divvy them up evenly among the circles. Voilà! Tangible proof that the the surface area of a…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez Jan 14 '15

Cookie-Based Research Suggests Powerful People Are Sloppier Eaters

This week’s video in the University of California system’s Fig. 1 YouTube series (tag line: “Get inside the mind of a researcher!”) offers a bite-sized lesson in why, exactly, powerful people tend to be so selfish. Turns out when people feel more powerful, it has a curious effect on the “empathy network” in the brain’s…

io9 Cheryl Eddy Jan 14 '15

The only way this guy could get closer to liquid lava is showering in it

I have seen some crazy closeup volcano photography before, but this is madness. Kawika Singson has gone closer to liquid lava than I have ever seen. Watch this footage of hot magma spilling right into the ocean while he’s on the water just a few feet away. Even if he used a stick, it is…

Sploid Jesus Diaz Jan 14 '15

This Is What It’s Like To Write Science Fiction Novels In China

What’s it like to write science fiction novels in China? Novelist Cixin Liu, author of The Three Body Problem takes us through the history, present, and the possible future of science fiction in China. Today, Cixin Liu joined us — along with the book’s translator Ken Liu, who also translated both our questions and his…

io9 Ria Misra Jan 14 '15

Here’s Why More Schools Should Schedule Recess Before Lunch

A study published in the latest issue of Preventive Medicine found that when recess is held right before lunch instead of immediately after, the amount of fruits and vegetables eaten by students increases by more than 50%. The NYT’s KJ Dell’Antonia has more details at Motherlode: Research has long suggested that students who have recess…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez Jan 14 '15

LCD Soundsystem: “Dance Yrself Clean”

Recently, I did a weirdo thing that might seem dumb to the tech-savvy readers of Gizmodo. I dug up the hard drive that held the entirety of my iTunes music collection until age 23, deleted everything but the Music app off my retired (and very cracked) iPhone 4S, and essentially turned it into an iPod.…

Tech News Sarah Zhang Jan 14 '15

Everybody Needs To Read PW Singer’s Book On Cybersecurity And Cyberwar

The recent Sony hacking scandal just proved what’s already been clear to a lot of people for years: cyberattacks are an ever-increasing threat, and we’re not ready. Luckily, a book released last year provides an excellent primer on this sort of situation: P.W. Singer and Allan Friedman’s Cybersecurity and Cyberwar: What Everyone Needs to Know.…

io9 Andrew Liptak Jan 14 '15

The Most Ridiculous Spider-Men Yet Just Joined Spider-Verse

When we last checked in with Dan Slott’s epic Spider-Verse event, he had just brought Supaidaman, star of the completely insane Japanese live-action TV show from the ’70s, and his giant robot Leopardon into the Marvel Universe. Let’s see what’s new in — oh my god. https://gizmodo.com/spider-mans-giant-robot-just-became-official-marvel-com-1678509168 Yes, apparently there is truly no stopping Slott’s…

io9 Rob Bricken Jan 14 '15

This Concept Drone Would Hunt Other Drones Using Bits of String

Got a pesky personal UAV hovering about your home, just out of broom-swipe reach? Well, before you try to burn it out of the sky, consider a slightly less treasonous option: Knocking it out of the sky with the help of an autonomous air wolf, the Rapere. https://gizmodo.com/this-mortar-hunting-war-truck-just-got-a-powerful-new-l-1482647200 Though still very much in the concept…

Tech News Andrew Tarantola Jan 14 '15

The Original Power Rangers Cast Reunites For The First Time Ever! [UPDATE]

If you were obsessed with television 20-odd years ago, then you probably have a soft spot in your heart for the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, the show that introduced the Japanese Super Sentai series to American audiences with an all-American cast (whenever the helmets were off.) And it’s hard to believe that original cast has…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders Jan 14 '15

Stare Into the Cold, Dead Eyes Of Your New Thunderbirds

The new Thunderbirds Are Go! characters totally look like awesome action heroes and not creepy little goblins who hover over your bed, watching you sleep, breathing in your exhaled breath and pushing their own little CG poofs of air back into your mouth. Here’s the first look at the new Thunderbirds! Thanks to a tipster,…

io9 Meredith Woerner Jan 14 '15

Forget Beanbags, Shotguns Could Soon Be Firing Shock Wave Slugs

The next time riot police open fire during your Constitutionally-protected demonstration, it might not be with tear gas canisters. It could be with shotgun-launched stun and pepper rounds. Enjoy your concussion and face full of capsaicin, citizen, and be glad they’re not murder bullets. http://gawker.com/5853372/occupy-oakland-protesters-attempt-to-reclaim-plaza The ShockRound and PepperRound are new non-lethal rounds from SmartRounds…

Tech News Andrew Tarantola Jan 14 '15

A Man Tired By Space Exploration Finds an Outlet in This Animated Short

Person of Interest Shows Us Why Stephen Hawking Is Worried About AI

Are There Any Michael Crichton Books Left To Turn Into Movies Or TV?

Prominent Scientists Sign Letter of Warning About AI Risks

Realistic version of Reddit alien mascot is neat and creepy as hell

Jock Unveils Sleek, Dreamy Concept Art For Ex Machina

The Dragon Mother Always Carries Her Young Atop Her Snout

Danny Boyle Having “Serious” Conversations About 28 Months Later

How To Prove A Geometric Formula With A Clementine And A Piece of Paper

Cookie-Based Research Suggests Powerful People Are Sloppier Eaters

The only way this guy could get closer to liquid lava is showering in it

This Is What It’s Like To Write Science Fiction Novels In China

Here’s Why More Schools Should Schedule Recess Before Lunch

LCD Soundsystem: “Dance Yrself Clean”

Everybody Needs To Read PW Singer’s Book On Cybersecurity And Cyberwar

The Most Ridiculous Spider-Men Yet Just Joined Spider-Verse

This Concept Drone Would Hunt Other Drones Using Bits of String

The Original Power Rangers Cast Reunites For The First Time Ever! [UPDATE]

Stare Into the Cold, Dead Eyes Of Your New Thunderbirds

Forget Beanbags, Shotguns Could Soon Be Firing Shock Wave Slugs

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