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Sony’s First Curved 4K TV Takes a More Subtle Approach

First, there was only LG and Samsung. Now, Sony has joined the growing curved 4k TV fray. With the Bravia S90, Sony showcases its take on the future of the living room, and it’s definitely a future I want to be part of. Available in the totally reasonable sizes of 65 and 75 inches, the…

New Book Of Life Trailer Makes Us Want To Live In The Afterlife

Seriously, we’d like to crawl inside the Day of the Dead-inspired movie Book of Life, even if it means occasionally being pursued by giant skull boulders. Both the Land of the Remembered and the Land of the Forgotten look simply stunning. Directed by Jorge Gutierrez and produced by Guillermo del Toro, Book of Life looks…

Deals: Fox Searchlight 20th Anniversary Collection, MST3K XXX

The Fox Searchlight 20th Anniversary Collection packs in 20 critically acclaimed movies in one pretty package. All Blu-ray, a few special editions, and an Amazon-exclusive inclusion of Once. It’s also $170 off MSRP today with your preorder, bringing the set down to $130, or $6.50 a movie. [Fox Searchlight 20th Anniversary Collection] 127 Hours 28…

10 Great Novels That Will Make You More Passionate About Science

Many of the world’s greatest scientists were inspired to go into their fields by reading science fiction books. And it’s easy to see why. A lot of the best science fiction features scientists who solve problems and make breakthroughs. Here are 10 great novels that will inspire you with a new love of science. Top…

Kanye West Said a Crazy Thing About Drones But Was Also Right

Kanye West is a worrier. Except these days, he’s not upset about Bonnaroo or water bottles, he’s worried about adult stuff, like the safety of his one-year-old daughter North. More specifically, he’s worried about her getting electrocuted by a paparazzi-piloted drone while she’s swimming. As with most things Kanye, it’s an insightful point flecked with…

How You Fold This Origami Measuring Spoon Determines Its Capacity

Unless your measuring spoons are all tethered together (which is annoying unto itself) you’ve probably spent too much time sifting through kitchen drawers trying to find the one you need. Rahul Agarwal’s Polygon measuring spoon solves that problem with an easy-to-store flat design that simply folds to whatever capacity you need. Pre-etched and labeled score…

Are We There, Yet? The Challenges Of Landing On A Comet

After traveling for more than ten years and four billion miles, Rosetta became the first spacecraft in history to rendezvous with a comet. But, it some ways, the spacecraft’s work has only just begun. One of the next challenges will be selecting a safe spot for Rosetta’s lander, Philae. [Image: NASA] [Image: ESA] Over the…

For a measured take on the ongoing Ebola outbreak, follow Tara C. Smith. The infectious disease epidemiologist is the author of Ebola and Marburg Viruses, and has done a standup job of keeping misinformation about the disease in check. Her most recent post, in which she debunks five common Ebola myths, is a must-read.

NFL Now Brings Your Phone More Football Than You Could Ever Handle

NFL Now, the league’s new video highlight app, just launched today. It somehow crams over 6,000 minutes of original video content, and nearly 5,000 minutes of video per team, into every week of the season. Clearly, the world is about to run out of minutes. Available for free on Android, iOS, Windows, and Kindle mobile…

The Palestine conflict history explained in one absurd animation

This animated short by Nina Paley—in the tradition of the best Monty Python music skits—might not be an orthodox history lesson, but it’s an accurate depiction of the horrible 6,000-year bloodshed in the region of Palestine, with dozens of tribes and nations fighting each other to claim ownership of that land. Here is a summary…

These Smart, Bendable Bricks Could Build Truly Flexible Robots

These may look like Lego pieces, but don’t be deceived: the smart building blocks are made of flexible plastic and stuffed with fluidics channels and electronics, designed to build simple, adaptable robots in double-quick time. The basic 6×9 stud blocks are 3D-printed using a soft and flexible plastic—a type of elastomer—and can be easily trimmed…

The 5 Most Impressive Infrastructure Projects of the Year

Each year, the American Society of Civil Engineers gives out an award to celebrate the sheer size and complexity and awesomeness of infrastructure projects built by Americans. From an Antarctic research station on hydraulic stilts to an flyover railroad crossing, this year’s five finalistsare truly remarkable. Building gigantic structures is not usually glamorous, but the…

Galaxy Note 4 Rumor Roundup: Everything We Think We Know

The Galaxy Note 3 is a monster, both in size and importance. It was the best-selling device in Samsung’s Galaxy lineup last year, and more importantly made phablets something you’d actually want to use. But with Apple potentially about to enter the biggie-sized smartphone space, the upcoming Note 4 has a whole lot more riding…

A Student Film Suppressed By Anti-Vaxxers Has Finally Been Released

Two years ago, students at Carlsbad High School began filming a documentary, The Invisible Threat—a report on the “science of disease and the risks facing a society that is under-vaccinated.” But it is only now that the public is able to see the film, which became the target of a national anti-vaxxer campaign. The 40-minute…

The Aberration of Starlight Explains Why the Stars “Jump”

In the 1600s, astronomers noticed that the stars seemed to jump in a way that made no sense. During certain months, stars seemed to leap out of place through no phenomenon that they could understand. Then along came James Bradley, who used wind and rain to explain what he called the aberration of starlight. In…

Report: Windows 9 Will Ditch the Charms Menu, Add Virtual Desktops

While thenext update to Windows 8.1 is set to be minor, new reports suggest that Windows 9 will see Microsoft distance itself yet more from the bold Metro styling of the current OS. The Verge claimsto be able to confirm reports that Microsoft plans to remove the Charms bar from Windows in the next iteration…

This Staircase Disappears When Viewed From The Perfect Angle

From most angles, this set of steps resembles any other staircase. But relocate to a specific spot in the room, and the stairway becomes enshrouded by its supporting beams. This imaginative twist on perspectival anamorphosis was created by Milan-based design studio Storage Associati. Anamorphic illusions come in all shapes and sizes. Some are small enough…

Incredibly beautiful windows made from stacked laser-cut paper

Eric Stanleyuses laser-cut paper layers to create these amazing 3D sculptures inspired by gothic and Islamic low relief windows. He got the idea when laser cutting Cheerios boxes for another project and he realized that he could create very complex and beautiful forms by stacking them together. Eric is an Associate Professor of Studio Art…

When you build an amazing spacecraft like NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, you have to be methodical—and just look how neatly organized their workspace is. This photo was taken a few weeks ago at Northrop Grumman, where the pathfinder backplane of the telescope was assembled. It will soon head to NASA Johnson for cryogenic testing.…

Lee Pace Will Lead The Alien Resistance In Prisoner of War

Now this is what we’re talking about, Lee Pace is set to star in an aliens vs. humans action hero movie called Prisoner of War. Finally we’ll get to see those eyebrows in action. Deadline is reporting that Pace is replacing Alex Russell of Chronicle for the lead in Prisoner of War. The film is…