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Why Radio Should Never Have Worked (Even Though It Does)

When Marconi first popularized the radio, no one expected it to go far – literally. Radio waves ought to be stopped in their tracks by the curve of the Earth. Marconi proved they weren’t, but no one knew why. Radio technology offered people a whole new way to experience the world. They could, communally, hear…

The Ultimate Breakdown of How People Watch Porn Online

If there are any two things that define the tech-minded modern millennial, they are his operating system and his porn preferences. Fortunately for our inquiring minds, our data-crunching friends over at Pornhub have to access to both. As with the browser battle that came before, we asked the Pornhub Insights team how each operating system’s…

100 Discounted Audiobooks, Futurama, Locke and Key, Hot Lunch [Deals]

124 episodes and 4 feature-length adventures, all yours in one complete, attractive set for $60, with a 2014/3014 calendar thrown in. [Futurama] http://www.walmart.com/ip/Futurama-The-Complete-Series-With-2014-3014-Calendar/29679088 Amazon has brought back 100 of their best audiobook deals for your listening pleasure. Check out the selection and recommend some favorites in the comments. [Audible] http://www.amazon.com/b/?tag=gizmodo08c-20 Here are some great PC…

Save on Gift Cards, Steam Your Clothes, Warm Your Lunch [Deals]

We usually have a gift card deal or two to report on every day, but eBay has a nice roundup going on with deals from 8 popular stores and services. Some of the best include $100 at StubHub for $85, a year of PlayStation+ for $40, a $50 Jiffy Lube card for $40, and 30%…

There’s a Giant Green Roof Hidden Above NYC’s Biggest Convention Center

The Javits Center is a 2.1 million square foot behemoth convention center located on the west side of Manhattan. It’s host to some of the largest events that occur in New York City, opening its doors to two million visitors every year. And as of this spring, it’s home to the largest green roof in…

Instagram Hyperlapse Hands On: Video Simplified and Stabilized

Instagram just launched Hyperlapse, a super quick and easy way to make timelapse videos with your phone. It’s an exemplar of simplicity, allowing even the shakiest of individuals access to smoothed out video in a flash. Apps don’t come much more minimal than this. There are literally only two screens making up the entire experience.…

The 10 Most Gruesome Torture Techniques From Medieval Europe

During the Middle Ages, torture was considered a legitimate way to extract confessions, punish offenders, and perform executions. Some methods were considerably crueler than others — these 10 being among the most barbaric and brutal. Europe’s Medieval period lasted from the 5th to the 15th century. During this time, torture was often used to extract…

Are we about to hit “peak meat”? Globally, meat production has skyrocketed since the ’60s. But though our appetite for meat shows no signs of slowing, our ability to devote huge swaths of land, water, and feed to its production may be hitting its limits. Image: Worldwatch Institute

Cheap Airplane Seats Shouldn’t Recline at All

Yesterday, we shared the amusing case of the cross-country trip that was diverted when two passengers got in a battle over a reclining seat. But the real villain here isn’t our travel-addled selves. It’s that we still let airplane seats recline at all. Yes, the story of two middle-aged adults grounding a plane because they…

Weird Microscopic Structure Found In Martian Meteorite

Scientists have found a strange structure resembling a microbial cell inside a Martian meteorite, but they’re not claiming that it’s evidence of Red Planet life. The researchers discovered the microscopic oval object within the Nakhla Mars meteorite, which fell to Earth in Egypt in 1911. While the structure’s appearance is intriguing, it most likely formed…

Leaked iPhone 6 Guide Appears to Confirm Announce Date, Other Details

iPhone rumor season is just days away from becoming iPhone reality season, and a new leak from a usually reliable source appears to confirm some basic details. The French tech blog Nowhere Else just published images of an iPhone 6 Quick Start guide. The document includes the rumored iPhone 6 name as well as the…

The Herd Mentality Of The Anti-Vaxxer Movement

It’s not just the myth about autism that’s driving down vaccination rates. Many parents believe that as long as most other children are vaccinated, their kids won’t get sick. It’s a faulty interpretation of “herd immunity” — and it’s prompting families to prioritize exaggerated, imagined risks over actual benefits. September is fast approaching, which means…

Jump Safely from Burning Buildings Wearing This Window Escape Pack

As more and more cities battle urban sprawl by building taller and more densely-packed buildings, threats from fire, terrorism, or similar calamities become more pronounced, especially for people living and working on the upper floors where the designated exits are their only options. But this lifesaving device aims to gently lower its wearer to safety…

Weird Al’s Game Of Thrones Parody Was The Highlight Of the Emmys

Yes, a lot of people were honored for their television accomplishments during last night’s Emmy awards, but the award for most entertaining part of the Emmys goes to Weird Al Yankovic for his medley of television theme song parodies, including one for Game of Thrones. Andy Samberg also got a bit more mileage out of…

What Crowdfunded Project Has Screwed You Over the Hardest?

Crowdfunding isn’t the same as preordering. It’s a gamble at best. And with the Keryos Meteor coming out as one of the biggest crowdfunding fails in recent memory, we got to thinking: What other crowdfunding disasters have managed to slip under the radar? What projects have you backed that just didn’t follow through, either because…

Concept Art Shows The Live-Action TMNT Could Have Been Much Creepier

We’ve all complained about the weird, nostril-flaring faces of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the critically unacclaimed hit movie produced by Michael Bay. But as this newly revealed Turtle concept art proves, they could have been far more terrifying. The art comes from concept artist Anthony Francisco, but was ultimately rejected. Possibly because the…

Instagram’s New App Creates Nifty Hyperlapse Videos With Your Phone

Wired is reporting that later today Instagram will announce an all-new standalone app called Hyperlapse, which allows the creation of stabilized moving timelapse videos. It’s a feature previously only available to those with more advanced photographic gear and know-how. Update: Here’s our hands-on! The app prompts you to record a video, after which it uses…

You’ll Never Need a Second Person To Use This Tiny Laser Measure

Despite being small enough to fit in your pocket, a tape measure is one of those tools that is almost impossible to use by yourself. Laser measuring devices are far easier to wrangle if you don’t have an assistant—even with just one hand—but it’s taken decades for a company like Bosch to finally create a…

James Dashner Is Here To Answer Your Questions About The Maze Runner!

Author James Dashner is here to answer our questions about his Maze Runner trilogy, its forthcoming movie adaptation, and anything else you want to know! In addition to his bestselling Maze Runner trilogy and its prequel, Dashner is also the author of several other books, including his new series The Mortality Doctrine. The Maze Runner…

The Overgrown, Disused Railway That Still Runs Around Paris

Paris has a lot of history embedded in its sprawling urban grid, which has seen thousands of years of structural change. But even though space is at a premium, there are still spots that have evaded development and slowly drifted into obscurity. When photographer Pierre Folk was new to the city, he happened upon Chemin…