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The U.S. Will Stop Funding Research into Making Mutant Super Viruses

Should scientists be allowed to create mutant viruses deadlier than natural ones? The White House waded into this controversy today with a surprising announcement to cut all funding to such studies, pending a thorough review of this risky research. https://gizmodo.com/the-benefits-and-dangers-of-designing-mutant-super-vi-1599301288 The announcement is a big blow to a small but active contingent of scientists who…

Tech News Sarah Zhang

Wilco, Via Chicago

Wilco is turning 20 years old, but about 10 years ago I loved that band with a nerdy, eager cooped-up high schooler kind of feeling. They were my band when I was 16. They were from Chicago, like me. They had a pleasingly turbulent backstory and every lyric seemed to be about yearning. I wanted…

Tech News Kate Knibbs

Which Religions Would Have The Hardest Time Accepting Alien Life?

The list of known planets beyond our solar system is ever-growing. To many, this suggests the day when scientists detect signs of extraterrestrial life could soon be at hand. When that day comes, which religions will struggle to reconcile such a discovery with their beliefs – and which will adapt in stride? https://gizmodo.com/keplers-latest-exoplanet-hoard-graphed-1534690734 These are…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez

Celebrate Day of the Dead With Some Hauntingly Beautiful Artwork

Día de los Muertos is one of my favorite times of any year. So many artists are inspired by Muertos visuals, including my own Loteria card series. Here’s a gallery of Day of the Dead-themed works from artists across the contemporary science fiction, fantasy, and genre art spectrum. Art by Charlie Bowater. Imagine FX first…

io9 John Picacio

How Long a Yellow Light Should Be

Sitting at a red light can feel torturously long, but yellow lights often seem suspiciously short. It’s not all in your head: some yellow lights are too short. There is an ideal minimum length of a yellow traffic light. You just might never experience it (especially if you’re from Chicago). There’s no universal correct yellow…

Physics & Chemistry Kate Knibbs

Two Comet Chasers Pick Up An Alien Hitchhiker—And It Just Get Weirder

In this fun-filled animated short, Aurore and Liam are driving to Lake Frost to glimpse a comet. But after they pick up an alien hitchhiker, it becomes clear that the only beings headed their way are of an extraterrestrial nature. Morgane Schmitt Giordano, Gabriel Amalric, Hong Dan Mach Le, Morgan Massue, Maxime Neaud, and Simon…

io9 Lauren Davis

Is That a Depression-Era Projector In Your Pocket Or Are You Just…

The June 1930 issue of Science and Invention magazine featured this amazing little pocket projector. But much like other small handheld gadgets of the time, it was pretty impractical given its battery needs. https://gizmodo.com/this-1920s-shockwatch-was-like-a-taser-for-your-wrist-1541046903 From Science and Invention: A complete pocket-sized motion-picture projector has been introduced in Berlin, and has become very popular there. Current…

Tech News Matt Novak

Why Your Old Mac Can’t Use Handoff in OS X Yosemite

One of the coolest features of OS X Yosemite is Handoff, which allows you to transition your app session on an iOS device to a Mac and vice versa. Unfortunately, Handoff isn’t going to work with every Mac. How Handoff works The beauty of Handoff is that it’s easy to use. For starters you’ll need…

Tech News Mario Aguilar

Which Tie-In Books Are Better Than Some Of The Series’ “Real” Stories?

We’re always being told that tie-in books and comics “don’t count” — even when they’re really terrific and take the series in great directions. Doctor Who’s New Adventures, Star Wars’ Expanded Universe… they’re not “real.” But which series has spawned tie-in books, comics or audio stories that are better than some “official” installments? Please include…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders

Apple Just Banished Bose From Its Online Store

You can’t buy Bose products from Apple’s online store anymore. And if earlier reports are true, soon you won’t even be able to wink at a Bose product in an Apple Store, because Apple plans to scrub every trace of Bose from its vaunted retail chambers. I don’t know what they’d do to you if…

Tech News Kate Knibbs

Cory Doctorow’s Story Of Girl Gamers Is More Important Than Ever

In Real Life, the new comic out from Cory Doctorow and Jen Wang, is an adaptation of Doctorow’s 2004 story “Anda’s Game.” Ten years later, this tale of a young female gamer learning about wider social issues through a MMORPG still holds a valuable message for gamers (and non-gamers) of all ages. “Anda’s Game” is…

Books & Comics Lauren Davis

200 years ago today, the London Beer Flood killed eight people

On October 17, 1814, over a quarter million gallons of beer were unleashed onto London’s streets. The 15-foot tall tidal wave of booze crashed into buildings and flooded cellars, even killing eight especially unfortunate souls. The culprit? A bursting vat. The epicenter of the London Beer Flood was Horse Shoe Brewery on Tottenham Court Road,…

Tech News Sarah Zhang

Mystery spy spaceship lands on Earth after record 675 days in orbit

The X-37B—America’s spy space drone—has landed safely after a record-setting orbit of 675 days. While this was expected, that doesn’t make it any less incredible. The fact that this spacecraft has been in orbit for almost two years and has returned to Earth intact is an amazing technological feat. The spacecraft landed today at 9:24am…

Sploid Jesus Diaz

This Final Trailer For Ghibli’s Tale Of Princess Kaguya Will Wow You

Isao Takahata and Studio Ghibli’s stunning new film The Tale of The Princess Kaguya opens in New York and Los Angeles today, with a nation-wide release coming later. Not that you should need another reason to see this beautiful, haunting movie, but this final English-language trailer is especially stunning.

Trailers Rob Bricken

Italian Couple Become Bound At The Genitals While Having Ocean Sex

It sounds like a spell you’d learn in sex-ed at Hogwarts, but “penis captivus” is a real – if rare – medical condition, as one hapless Italian couple learned this week. https://gizmodo.com/what-if-hogwarts-had-a-mandatory-sex-ed-class-1646753786 https://gizmodo.com/draft-penis-captivus-is-a-real-condition-and-it-so-1494614954 Via The Local: …the amorous couple were making the most of a warm day, and a practically deserted beach, when they decided…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez

An Astronaut Made This Floating Candy Corn Sphere For Science

Astronauts are allowed to bring special “crew preference” items with them when they go into space. NASA astronaut Don Pettit chose candy corn for his nearly six-month mission aboard the International Space Station. But, this candy had a destiny much greater than being a Halloween snack. Pettit created a zero-g sphere using water and pieces…

io9 Mark Strauss

A Beverage Cooler With Retractable Legs Stands Tall Without a Table

It could very well mean the end of wacky sports bloopers where football players crash into sideline tables stacked with Gatorade. But now that drink coolers come with retractable, folding legs, you’ll never need to remember to bring a folding table to your next football game/family reunion/PTA meeting. For $70 these five-gallon coolers serve as…

Tech News Andrew Liszewski

The Lonesome Crowded Shopping Malls of the 1980s

When discussing street photography, locations like New York City or Los Angeles probably spring to mind. A less obvious setting is that icon of late 20th-century capitalism: the shopping mall. Stephen DiRado roved the halls of his local mall in the 80s and captured stunning portraits of the denizens within. Many of DiRado’s photos have…

Tech News Michael Hession

What if Egon filed patents for his Ghostbusting tools?

Egon Spengler’s delightful inventions are part of what make Ghostbusters such a great franchise – but what if Egon decided to patent the likes of the Proton Pack or his Ghost trap? Artist Timothy Anderson imagined just that with these stylishly minimalist prints. Anderson’s created 3 8×10 prints depicting patent imagery for the Ghost Trap,…

Tech News James Whitbrook

We Tried This Whiskey-Enhancing Stick of Wood So You Don’t Have To

Whiskey is in my blood. Not literally—well maybe a little right now—but since my dad’s side of the family is from Scotland and I grew up in Tennessee, I like to take the spirit seriously. So when I heard of a gadget that would make cheap whiskey taste top shelf, I was pretty excited. Until…

Tech News Adam Clark Estes

The U.S. Will Stop Funding Research into Making Mutant Super Viruses

Wilco, Via Chicago

Which Religions Would Have The Hardest Time Accepting Alien Life?

Celebrate Day of the Dead With Some Hauntingly Beautiful Artwork

How Long a Yellow Light Should Be

Two Comet Chasers Pick Up An Alien Hitchhiker—And It Just Get Weirder

Is That a Depression-Era Projector In Your Pocket Or Are You Just…

Why Your Old Mac Can’t Use Handoff in OS X Yosemite

Which Tie-In Books Are Better Than Some Of The Series’ “Real” Stories?

Apple Just Banished Bose From Its Online Store

Cory Doctorow’s Story Of Girl Gamers Is More Important Than Ever

200 years ago today, the London Beer Flood killed eight people

Mystery spy spaceship lands on Earth after record 675 days in orbit

This Final Trailer For Ghibli’s Tale Of Princess Kaguya Will Wow You

Italian Couple Become Bound At The Genitals While Having Ocean Sex

An Astronaut Made This Floating Candy Corn Sphere For Science

A Beverage Cooler With Retractable Legs Stands Tall Without a Table

The Lonesome Crowded Shopping Malls of the 1980s

What if Egon filed patents for his Ghostbusting tools?

We Tried This Whiskey-Enhancing Stick of Wood So You Don’t Have To

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