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Project Morpheus Hands-On: The Virtual Future Is Very, Very Bright

When Sony announced its intentions to take Oculus Rift head-on, we were excited. The Rift (rightly) gets all of the attention and praise for its VR prowess, but a little competition would be good for the emerging technology. Today at E3 in Los Angeles we finally got to try Project Morpheus for ourselves. And man,…

One Last Look at Brooklyn’s Disappearing Domino Sugar Refinery

The Domino Sugar Refinery isn’t long for this world—at least in its current form. Soon, this 132-year-old industrial site will be transformed into a luxury residential development that’s been long-dreaded by current residents. Photographer Paul Raphaelson got a look inside the decaying refinery in its current state, and the resulting images are stunning. Check them…

In Defense Of Typos

The Internet is a landscape filled with—some would say plagued by—typographical errors. But how much should we really worry about a misplaced apostrophe or a mistyped word? Top image by Jeremy Keith. Responding to the tut-tutting grammar tweet recently tweeted by actual Nazis, Author John Higgs defends the value of typos in an essay at…

Yes, Humans Are Animals — So Just Get Over Yourselves, Homo sapiens

Even though you are reading this on a sophisticated electronic device, you are an animal. That’s the most radical idea to come out of Charles Darwin’s groundbreaking studies of evolution, and even today, it still freaks people out. Photo by Carleigh, via Humans Hugging Dogs I know this because last week I wrote an article…

This Photo Spoiled The Rocketman Magic Back in 1951

Many American kids of the 1950s and 60s were absolutely obsessed with all things space. They were particularly enamored with the space action heroes that they saw on TV — in shows like Captain Video, Space Patrol, and Commando Cody. One can’t help but think that kids like Elroy Jetson (a mid-21st century stand-in for…

You Can Explore These Remote Astronomical Observatories on Street View

By nature, astronomical observatories have to be remote—far away from humans and cities and light pollution. That makes these extraordinary facilities difficult to visit, unless you’ve got Google Street View. Three of Chile’s most remote observatories are now open to the digital tourist, and we’ve found you some of the coolest views. Very Large Telescope…

Gargantuan Ghostbusters Infographic Fills Your Head With Old Ghosts

Fill up on all the Ghostbuster trivia that’s not only clever, but pleasing to the eye. We’re basically sluts for infographics here, and this one designed by Mike Seiders is pretty fantastic.

A Bizarre WWII-Era Supermaterial Made of Ice Is Making a Comeback

Steel was in short supply during the height of World War II, and there was nothing to be done but invent a replacement. One proposal was called Pykrete, a mixture of ice and sawdust that melted incredibly slowly. The idea faded away once the war ended—but now, a group of Dutch architects and engineers are…

Star Wars and Skateboarding Were Meant To Be Together

To help commemorate a bunch of new Star Wars-themed products from skateboarding companies Vans and Santa Cruz, Black Book Gallery in Denver, Colorado, put on an exhibit of Star Wars-inspired art. And it included this AT-AT model, which artist Derek Keenan made from reclaimed skateboard decks. Would this piece look amazing on your desk at…

The Worldbuilding in Lockstep Is So Good It Will Make You Giddy

Every now and then I encounter a book that utterly thrills me, and Karl Schroeder’s new novel Lockstep is one of them. It’s about a young loner, battling an oppressive corporate regime that controls space by controlling how people experience time. And the lockstep is the key to it all. In the far future, people…

I Watched Sony’s E3 Experience From a Movie Theater in Alabama

Last night, Sony simulcast its E3 press conference to dozens of movie theaters across the United States, including the Regal Trussville Stadium 16, a Big Lots-facing megaplex just off of County Highway 10. That’s where I watched it, along with a few dozen PlayStation faithful. Disclaimer: I am not a gamer. I can handle myself…

This Adventure Time Table Is Approximately An Episode’s Worth Of Fun

This Adventure Time-themed table gives a surprisingly complete look into the Land of Ooo. The table was made by commenter Will Heigh, who dubbed the project “Adventure Table”: The Adventure Table. Acrylic and ink on wood, 140×140. It’s been a real labor of love but finished at last. All the family’s favorite characters, including Jaaaaaames…

Recharging This Backup Battery Takes As Little As 15 Minutes

A backup battery can be a lifesaver if your phone is on the brink of dying—but only if it isn’t dead as well. External power packs can usually take hours to charge depending on their capacity, but UNU claims its new Ultrapak GO and TOUR batteries can be charged enough to top off a smartphone…

Apple Maps Will Soon Remember Where You Parked Your Car

It looks like Apple’s doing everything it can to get its in-house Maps software back in our good graces. Thanks to a hidden asset buried deep in iOS 8, new icons seem to reveal a Maps feature that would remember exactly where users last parked their cars. Of course, how the new feature would actually…

You can now buy your new Kindle or Kindle Fire on an installment plan from Amazon.

Violent crime is down in Denver since Colorado legalized marijuana. Data shows murders, assaults and burglaries declined during the first three months of the year, compared with the same period for 2013. Some opponents, however, say the criminal effect of decriminalizing marijuana won’t be felt for several years

Before the Hollywood Sign Found Fame, Others Signs Dotted LA’s Hillsides

HOLLYWOODLAND’s voice was not alone. Other hillsides also spoke. Across Los Angeles in the 1920s, signs announced new real-estate subdivisions in big block letters perched high above the city. BEVERLY CREST. BRYN MAWR. TRYON RIDGE. Time has largely forgotten these other signs. One still rusts away in the chaparral day, toppled and discarded long ago.…

Report: Amazon Is Launching a Service To Help You Find a Babysitter

Reuters reports that later this year Amazon will start testing a marketplace for services, where users can find and hire everything from babysitters to handymen. It will be testing the service in limited areas to gauge demand and figure out logistics before moving forward with a broader launch. According to the report, Amazon has been…

This Weird Household Machine Was the Future of Voting in 1945

Some day a President of the United States may be elected “electronically.” This sentence wouldn’t look out of place in any news story from the 21st century, despite quotes around the word “electronically.” But believe it or not, that prediction comes from a magazine article in 1945. Under the headline “Votes by Radio: An Electronic…

This Wireless Keyboard Contraption Brings Your Desktop to Your Lap

Anyone who tries to play PC games on their TV inevitably runs into the same problem: What do you do with that damn keyboard and mouse? Roccat has a clever if not super elegant solution. Just put an entire desk-top on your lap. You could do that with a normal keyboard, sure, but Roccat’s new…