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The Layers of Ganymede

Ganymede, one of three ocean moons of Jupiter, could be hiding layers under its icy exterior. New experiments on the behaviour of saline water under pressure suggest a complex, layered ocean with a rocky sea floor, not a single ocean sandwiched between crusts of dense ice. The oceans of Ganymede may be a hodgepodge of…

What is this secret code hidden in so many films and TV shows?

There’s a mysterious code hidden in an increasing number of films, shows, and videogames out there, from The Simpsons to South Park to Toy Story. The list goes forever, including live action features like Avengers, Star Wars, and Hunger Games. The code is the key to a secret society limited to a selected few. A113…

Earthling worms can be as disgusting as alien face huggers

Blood Worms. They look like gentle earthworms until they extend their mouths and show their teeth made of atacamite, “a copper-based chloride biomineral.” Their poisonous bite is painful for humans and kills whatever prey they find in the shallow marine waters where they live. As Don Garvey describes, they are used as bait for fishing:…

This Week’s Top Comedy Video: Every YouTube Video Ever

There’s a lot of great stuff out there on YouTube. And also lot of terrible, repetitive, utterly predictable crap that somehow gets billions of views and turns internet morons into viral celebrities. How the hell does that happen? Turns out, there’s a very specific recipe for YouTube success, and this is it. For the rest…

Extremely dangerous lava surf photography is completely worth the risk

CJ Kale is reportedly the first person ever to photograph lava entering the ocean from the surf, swimming near the scalding water and avoiding lava bombs just a few from where he was standing. Needless to say, the risk of dying is huge but his photographs are awesome. In 2011, he feel into a 20-foot…

Horse Racing and the Weaponized Landscape of Silicon Valley

Netflix added seven James Bond movies to its streaming library this week. With today’s Kentucky Derby in the books, one of those newly-added Bond titles seems particularly ripe for revisiting: 1985’s A View to a Kill, starring Roger Moore. It’s kitschy enough to make you cringe, but with a story line that weaves together horse…

Fake Camera Commercial Shows How Dumb Today’s Tech Will Someday Look

The Walley POS-86 is “the most advanced camera ever built.” It’s impossible to ignore all the power packed in its svelte 25-pound frame. And if you’ve watched a promo for any kind of consumer technology product in the past 10 years, you’ll get a chuckle out of this parody, because they nailed it. Everything about…

FlaskScarf Protects Against Chilly Breezes and Sobriety

Who among us hasn’t wished for a fashion accessory that’s also a secret booze stash? Wish no more. FlaskScarf is here to literally hang your hooch around your neck. Like a Saint Bernard, with style. This concept is so simple, so obvious, it’s a wonder that it’s taken mankind untold thousands of years to reach…

Continuum Could Develop Into One Of TV’s Sharpest Political Dramas

Continuum has always had some really interesting political questions at its core: the rise of corporate power, the independence of the police, and the morality of trying to preserve a flawed status quo. But the barbed latest episode proves this show might be ready to delve deeper. Spoilers ahead… The above clip shows my absolute…

There’s tons of talk about fitness trackers, but do any of them live up to the hype? Where did the internet phrase “me IRL” come from? What’s the internal pressure of a decomposing whale? Answers to all this and more, in this week’s Tech Reads. Nick Bilton takes a long hard look at fitness tracking…

Amalia the Expectorating Guanaco Regrets Nothing

Look at her face. Look at it. Is that the face of a penitent guanaco? No it is not. Amalia makes her home at Tucson, Arizona’s Reid Park Zoo. According to Neatorama, guanacos “are a species related to the llama, and are even more likely to spit on you.” NatGeo confirms. [Reid Park Zoo via…

Want to edit a Google Drive document from your mobile device? Now you’ll need not one, but three apps: Google just removed editing capabilities from the Drive app. You’ll have to install Docs or Sheets to get your editing powers back. [Android Police via TechMeme]

Alan Shepard: Astronaut, Pilot, Golfer

While astronauts are by definition cool, Alan Shepard holds a special place in my heart for his unique style. He was one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts, and the only one from the group to make it to the moon. …where he played golf, because he’s awesome. A very happy pre-launch Alan Shepard is…

The Chemistry of Skunk Spray

Why does skunk spray make you want to tear off your own face? The answer lies in two simple atoms which pull together and hitch a ride on other molecules. We’ll tell you what they are, and how you can neutralize them. Personally, I find the faint odor of skunk quite pleasant. I never knew…

What Are Fractals, And Why Should I Care?

Fractal geometry is a field of math born in the 1970s and mainly developed by Benoit Mandelbrot. If you’ve already heard of fractals, you’ve probably seen the picture above. It’s called the Mandelbrot Set and is an example of a fractal shape. This article originally appeared on George Dallas’s blog, which you should absolutely go…

Astronaut-History 2048

It looks like we’ve got another astronomy-themed version of the addictive 2048, this time for astronaut-history of who walked on the moon. With no dead ends, it’s less tricky than the stellar nuclear fusion version, but I can’t object to anything that honours moon-golf. Alan Shepard is a strong contender for my favourite astronaut ever,…

Reminder: Apple vs. Samsung Is Just a Professional Fanboy Fight

Yesterday, a verdict came down in the long, long line of Apple vs. Samsung patent disputes. But before you go thinking this is some huge deal, it’s important to note that nothing’s really solved and nothing will change. And that’s fitting, since this is just a giant fanboy fight. The accusations are big… This is…

Pyramids, Tunnels to Nowhere, Gizmodo’s Home of the Future, and More

What a week it’s been! We tested out strange new shaving implements, strolled through NYC’s newest subway tunnel, and learned how to win every single game of Rock, Paper Scissors. We also announced Gizmodo’s Home of the Future. What’s that? Read on and see. Save the Date: The Gizmodo Home of the Future is May…

8-bit super-hero poster makes me dream of perfect adventure games

I’m such a sucker for old superheroes and retro games that these Pixel Nostalgia posters by BrazilianBoo! Studioare a perfect storm of melancholy and awe to me. Looking at them makes me long for an Avengers or X-Men adventure game—one made by ex-Lucasarts’ Ron Gilbert, Tim Schafer and Dave Grossman. Check out their huge poster:…

The National Parks are Stunningly Beautiful

The National Park system in the United States provides affordable access to gorgeous and dramatic landscapes around the country. Amateur photography from the annual Share the Experience contest showcase beautiful places to tempt you to visit for your summer vacation. Double rainbows over the dunes in Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Photography credit:…