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Fred Gambino’s Cosmic Artworks Will Restore Your Sense Of Wonder

You’ve probably seen Fred Gambino’s artwork on the covers of Isaac Asimov books, in movies like Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius and Ant Bully. But now, a new book showcases tons of his artwork — including his personal multimedia project Dark Shepherd — and we’ve got an exclusive gallery. Here’s the official description of Dark Shepherd:…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders Jul 29 '14

OKCupid’s Experiments Are Like a 2014 Version of This Old Romcom

OKCupid announced yesterday it had been messing with us —far more intrusively than Facebook had been . Among other things, the online dating site deliberately told some users they were great matches when they were in fact awful matches and vice versa. The whole scenario recalled for me, of all things, a 1998 romcom about…

Tech News Sarah Zhang Jul 29 '14

Could This New Competition Replace The Turing Test?

Nuance Communications has announced a new annual competition to develop artificially intelligent agents capable of solving the “Winograd Schema Challenge”, a possible alternative to the Turing Test — and one that’s intended to provide a more accurate measure of genuine machine intelligence. Indeed, the recent proclamation that the “Eugene Goostman” chatbot had passed the Turing…

io9 George Dvorsky Jul 29 '14

Dire Straits Sold Tons of CDs Because They Were Pimping the New Format

“Money For Nothing” by Dire Straits is a song remembered for many things: a dirty hook to kick things off; background vocals by Sting; a cool, early-VR-style video; and the inevitable Weird Al parody. It was a successful single on Brothers in Arms, a successful album that was one of the first major hits on…

Tech News Jordan Kushins Jul 29 '14

Someone Needs To Make All These Fake Movies For Real

Whether tapping into the Hulk’s sensitive side or taking the epic battle of Superman and Batman to the venue that it was always meant to end in (small claims court), the fact that these movies don’t really exist will never stop making us sad. Fortunately, we’ve at least got the posters. Top image: The Incredible…

Movies Ria Misra Jul 29 '14

A Redesigned Zoo Where Humans Stay Hidden Could Be Better For Animals

Even the most zoo-friendly amongst us probably harbor mixed feelings about the undeniable psychological and physical toll that captivity takes on animals. The Danish architects at Bjarke Ingels Group think they’ve designed a better way. A Zootopia, if you will, where humans are usually hidden from animals by grass shelters and mirrored pods. According to…

Tech News Kelsey Campbell-Dollaghan Jul 29 '14

Joe Abercombie’s Half A King Is A Coming-Of-Age Tale Soaked In Blood

If you’ve been waiting for the right time to check out acclaimed fantasy novelist Joe Abercrombie, then his new novel Half a King is probably the perfect jumping-on point. It’s short, with a sympathetic main character, a fast-paced plot, and plenty of neat world-building. Highly recommended. Spoilers ahead… In Half a King, Prince Yarvi is…

Books & Comics Charlie Jane Anders Jul 29 '14

Here’s Why Comic Con 2014 Was Actually Great For Comics

Is San Diego Comic Con still for comics? For years, people have bemoaned the fact that SDCC is increasingly about movies and TV, and now comics retailers are giving up. Yesterday, we listed comics as one of the “losers” of Comic-Con, but veteran journalist and Image Comics staffer David Brothers disagrees. Here’s why. Top image:…

Books & Comics David Brothers Jul 29 '14

This Redesigned Airplane Cabin Would Give You More Room For Everything

You board the plane and instinctively duck to clear the overhead container doors. They’re all full already, so you cram your carryon under the seat in front of you while the slob next to you reaches across your face to adjust the reading light. No more: one design firm’s new cabin concept eliminates all those…

Tech News Bob Sorokanich Jul 29 '14

Recreation of Richard III’s Skeleton Shows Why He Was Called an Imp

Tourists visiting the Richard III Visitor Centre in Leicester can gaze into the empty grave where the king’s skeleton was discovered in 2012. His actual bones are being reinterred in Leicester Cathedral. But a 3D-printed replica is there, revealing details such as the late monarch’s twisted spine and mortal wounds. King Richard III was killed…

io9 Mark Strauss Jul 29 '14

Netflix Is Also Shelling Out to AT&T For Better Streaming

When we heard that Comcast was bullying Netflix into paying for better connectivity, we foresaw a sad streaming future. When news slipped that Verizon was doing the same thing, that pretty much confirmed it. Now Mashable is reporting that Netflix also has a similar streaming deal in place with AT&T, thus completing the trifecta of…

Tech News Darren Orf Jul 29 '14

Why is the speed of darkness faster than the speed of light?

Michael Stevens explains why darkness moves faster than light in this new episode of Vsauce. I usually find these explainers interesting because they delve not only into multiple science disciplines but often they touch philosophical questions too. This one really blew my mind. SPLOID is a new blog about awesome stuff. Join us on Facebook

Sploid Jesus Diaz Jul 29 '14

Incredible Transforming Apartments Turn Tiny Rooms Into Spacious Homes

Don’t be fooled by the small square footage of these apartments; they’re actually roomy homes in disguise. Thanks to walls the move, furniture that folds away, and disappearing kitchens, these apartments can store numerous rooms in a very tiny space. The 344-sq ft (32-sqm) home of Gary Chang in Hong Kong, with 24 rooms (via…

io9 Vincze Miklós Jul 29 '14

Outstanding Game of Thrones Make-Up Inspired By Each House

The Starks, Lannisters, Baratheons and more have never looked so fashionable! Fabulous artist Allison Chase designed these amazing GoT hair and make-up schemes inspired by all the main houses, and they’re gorgeous (okay, except for House Bolton’s. That one’s pretty gross). Check ’em out! [Incredible Things via Geekologie]

io9 Rob Bricken Jul 29 '14

What Museums Will Look Like After the Apocalypse

The Guggenheim Museum is instantly recognizable in this photo—but instead of being surrounded by a Manhattan skyline, it sits in a barren landscape, teetering on the edge of cliff. The photo is part of a series called “Apocalypse in Art.” “The spirit of apocalypses holds sway over modern culture and is slowly infecting everything around…

io9 Mark Strauss Jul 29 '14

Sherlock Holmes And The Doctor Team Up In An Inevitable Wholock Musical

It was really only a matter of time before someone paired Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor with Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Holmes in a musical number filled with lyrical one-upmanship. The duo agrees that they should team up, but which of them will be the assistant? Travis Kent stars as Sherlock and Sean Welsh Brown plays the…

io9 Lauren Davis Jul 29 '14

The Worst Badvertising and Best Radvertising of Comic-Con 2014

The bigger Comic-Con gets, the more the marketing madness spreads across San Diego. And this year, the advertising was everywhere. Some good, some pretty terrible. So we picked through the swag and the interactive experiences, to find the very best and the very worst of Comic-Con advertising. Badvertising: Graphic Anti-SeaWorld Comic Ad Peta uses a…

Movies Meredith Woerner Jul 29 '14

Scientists reveal the secrets of mysterious ship found under 9/11 ruins

Scientists have found the secrets of the old ship unearthed in 2010 under the ruins of the Twin Towers. First, the large vessel—buried under 22 feet (6.7 meters) of soil and wreckage—was built around the same time the Declaration of Independence was signed. There’s more—but there’s also one big mystery left unsolved. By comparing the…

Sploid Jesus Diaz Jul 29 '14

This Rubik’s Cube Fridge Will Forever Be Unsolved

If ThinkGeek’s Star Trek Borg Cube mini-fridge didn’t do it for you, maybe its follow-up effort will get your geeky juices flowing. Drawing inspiration from another cubic pop culture icon, this Rubik’s Cube fridge doesn’t spin so it can never, ever be solved. However, it does solve the problem of how to keep ice cold…

Tech News Andrew Liszewski Jul 29 '14

Instagram’s Snapchat Rival, Bolt, Just Launched In 3 Non-US Countries

Instagram’s new messaging app Bolt has launched in Singapore, New Zealand, and South Africa. Looks like Instagram is leaving it up to an international delegation of message senders to decide whether its first standalone app is distinct enough from competitors. An Instagram spokesperson told The Verge that the three launch countries were chosen for their…

Tech News Kate Knibbs Jul 29 '14

Fred Gambino’s Cosmic Artworks Will Restore Your Sense Of Wonder

OKCupid’s Experiments Are Like a 2014 Version of This Old Romcom

Could This New Competition Replace The Turing Test?

Dire Straits Sold Tons of CDs Because They Were Pimping the New Format

Someone Needs To Make All These Fake Movies For Real

A Redesigned Zoo Where Humans Stay Hidden Could Be Better For Animals

Joe Abercombie’s Half A King Is A Coming-Of-Age Tale Soaked In Blood

Here’s Why Comic Con 2014 Was Actually Great For Comics

This Redesigned Airplane Cabin Would Give You More Room For Everything

Recreation of Richard III’s Skeleton Shows Why He Was Called an Imp

Netflix Is Also Shelling Out to AT&T For Better Streaming

Why is the speed of darkness faster than the speed of light?

Incredible Transforming Apartments Turn Tiny Rooms Into Spacious Homes

Outstanding Game of Thrones Make-Up Inspired By Each House

What Museums Will Look Like After the Apocalypse

Sherlock Holmes And The Doctor Team Up In An Inevitable Wholock Musical

The Worst Badvertising and Best Radvertising of Comic-Con 2014

Scientists reveal the secrets of mysterious ship found under 9/11 ruins

This Rubik’s Cube Fridge Will Forever Be Unsolved

Instagram’s Snapchat Rival, Bolt, Just Launched In 3 Non-US Countries

Latest news

The iPad 11-inch Is at a Price on Amazon That Apple Would Never Allow on Its Own Site, and It’s Wild

Forget iPad, TCL TAB 10 Gen 4 New Android Tablet Now Costs AirPods 5 Money After Quiet Price Drops on Amazon

This DIY Creator Is Building a Compass That Only Points to Taco Bell

James Gunn Is Trying to Temper Your ‘Man of Tomorrow’ Expectations

Bissell Little Green Max Pet Carpet Cleaner Is Selling Fast After Amazon Drops the Longtime Bestseller to an All-Time Low

Amazon Offloads WD 4TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive at 20% Off, No Need to Wait for Prime Day

iPhone 18 Pro Buyers Need a Power Adapter, and Apple’s 20W USB-C Charger Is a Record-Low Steal on Amazon

Sam Raimi to Produce Roblox Adaptation ’99 Nights in the Forest’

Latest Reviews

Alienware’s AW3926QW Ultrawide Gaming Monitor Review: Size Really Does Matter

iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max Review: Apple Is Just Flexing Hard Now

AirPods 5 Review: A Ridiculously Great Value for ANC Wireless Earbuds

Steam Frame Review: Valve Shows Us VR Was Always Meant to Be a Toy

Maingear Zero (2026) Review: PC Gaming Bliss With a Price Tag to Make You Cry

Sony WH-1000XM4C Review: Still Kind of Goated

Back to School: All the Accessories You Need to Replace Your Laptop With a Foldable Phone

Sony’s New $70 Wireless Headphones Have Me Rethinking Everything

Let us help you find what you’re looking for...

Latest

Fred Gambino’s Cosmic Artworks Will Restore Your Sense Of Wonder

OKCupid’s Experiments Are Like a 2014 Version of This Old Romcom

Could This New Competition Replace The Turing Test?

Dire Straits Sold Tons of CDs Because They Were Pimping the New Format

Someone Needs To Make All These Fake Movies For Real

A Redesigned Zoo Where Humans Stay Hidden Could Be Better For Animals

Joe Abercombie’s Half A King Is A Coming-Of-Age Tale Soaked In Blood

Here’s Why Comic Con 2014 Was Actually Great For Comics

This Redesigned Airplane Cabin Would Give You More Room For Everything

​Recreation of Richard III’s Skeleton Shows Why He Was Called an Imp

Netflix Is Also Shelling Out to AT&T For Better Streaming

Why is the speed of darkness faster than the speed of light?

Incredible Transforming Apartments Turn Tiny Rooms Into Spacious Homes

Outstanding Game of Thrones Make-Up Inspired By Each House

What Museums Will Look Like After the Apocalypse

Sherlock Holmes And The Doctor Team Up In An Inevitable Wholock Musical

The Worst Badvertising and Best Radvertising of Comic-Con 2014

Scientists reveal the secrets of mysterious ship found under 9/11 ruins

This Rubik’s Cube Fridge Will Forever Be Unsolved

Instagram’s Snapchat Rival, Bolt, Just Launched In 3 Non-US Countries

The iPad 11-inch Is at a Price on Amazon That Apple Would Never Allow on Its Own Site, and It’s Wild

Forget iPad, TCL TAB 10 Gen 4 New Android Tablet Now Costs AirPods 5 Money After Quiet Price Drops on Amazon

This DIY Creator Is Building a Compass That Only Points to Taco Bell

James Gunn Is Trying to Temper Your ‘Man of Tomorrow’ Expectations

Bissell Little Green Max Pet Carpet Cleaner Is Selling Fast After Amazon Drops the Longtime Bestseller to an All-Time Low

Amazon Offloads WD 4TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive at 20% Off, No Need to Wait for Prime Day

iPhone 18 Pro Buyers Need a Power Adapter, and Apple’s 20W USB-C Charger Is a Record-Low Steal on Amazon

Sam Raimi to Produce Roblox Adaptation ’99 Nights in the Forest’

Alienware’s AW3926QW Ultrawide Gaming Monitor Review: Size Really Does Matter

iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max Review: Apple Is Just Flexing Hard Now

AirPods 5 Review: A Ridiculously Great Value for ANC Wireless Earbuds

Steam Frame Review: Valve Shows Us VR Was Always Meant to Be a Toy

Maingear Zero (2026) Review: PC Gaming Bliss With a Price Tag to Make You Cry

Sony WH-1000XM4C Review: Still Kind of Goated

Back to School: All the Accessories You Need to Replace Your Laptop With a Foldable Phone

Sony’s New $70 Wireless Headphones Have Me Rethinking Everything

Let us help you find what you’re looking for...

Recreation of Richard III’s Skeleton Shows Why He Was Called an Imp