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LG G Watch Hands-On: A Smartwatch That Feels Like a Watch

Months after it was first announced, you’ll finally be able to pre-order LG’s Android Wear-powered G Watch for $229 this afternoon, and today, I had the chance to handle the hardware for the first time. And, for the first time, I saw a true smartwatch that actually works like a watch. The G Watch’s rectangular…

An Anatomical Chocolate Skull For Sweet-Toothed Cannibals

Mmmm, chocolate. So delicious. So healthy. Why settle for chowing down on a boring old bar when you could instead… nibble… on this anatomically correct… human… skull? Alas, poor cocoa; this might be the creepiest treat ever created. Yes, you can actually buy one of these 3.3-pound bony beasts (thanks, Etsy!). Each hand-cast head is…

Watch Japan’s Creepy Android Newscaster Deliver The Day’s Top Stories

Robotics professor Hiroshi Ishiguro has unveiled what he says is the world’s first news-reading android — eerily lifelike and possessing a sense of humor to match her perfect language skills. This latest plunge into the uncanny valley is named “Kodomoroid”—an amalgamation of the Japanese word “kodomo” (child) and “android.” After delivering news of an earthquake…

A revolutionary idea: bringing more science to science fiction conventions. This weekend’s Evolution Expo in Oakland combines science lectures and astronaut talks with TV and movie panels, to try and “put science back into science fiction.”

Bong Joon-ho Explains Why Snowpiercer‘s Violence Is So “Explosive”

At long last, the acclaimed post-apocalyptic film Snowpiercer is coming to select U.S. theaters this weekend. We were lucky enough to sit down with director Bong Joon-ho for an exclusive interview, and he unraveled the movie’s themes and the reasons for its unique visual style. Spoilers ahead… Note: We talked to Bong Joon-ho through an…

What Material Design Means For the Future of Android

Today at Google I/O, we were introduced to a new design language called Material Design. It’s Google’s first design manifesto, and within it lies a message about how the company sees its users interacting with everything from watches to cars. Here’s how to decode it. How Android Will Look Let’s start with what we can…

If The Lion King Was An Accurate Science Documentary

All was quiet on the arid plains of Africa when, suddenly, hundreds of animals rushed out of hiding and in a lumbering stampede ran towards Pride Rock, the highest point on the Serengeti. Elephants sounded, cheetahs bounded and flamingos soared in groups so large they darkened the sky. One thing and one thing alone would…

The Anti-Vaxxers Just Suffered A Major Legal Defeat

Three New York families fought against a policy barring non-immunized children from public schools during a disease outbreak, and lost. This is a major setback for the anti-vaccine cause, and an important precedent for public health. New York state law requires kids to receive vaccinations before attending schools. Exemptions are available for “children whose parent,…

Samsung Gear Live Hands-On: Turns Out Smartwatches Could Be Great

We got a surprise announcement at Google I/O today, with Samsung unveiling its first Android Wear, the Gear Live. We slapped it onto our wrist and got to play with it for a few minutes, and while it was in its demo mode so we couldn’t dive in too deeply, we were impressed. The hardware…

NASA Will Send Your Messages To Aliens Into Outer Space

Last year, when Voyager I left our solar system for the lonely pastures of interstellar space, it carried a message for extraterrestrial life: A golden record containing images and words selected by Carl Sagan and others. But that was almost 40 years ago. Now, NASA is making a whole new message from the Earthlings of…

Morgan Freeman Talks To io9 About The Potential For A Zombie Plague

Tonight’s episode of Through the Wormhole asks a question near-and-dear to our hearts: Could a zombie apocalypse actually happen? We spoke to host Morgan Freeman and producer Megan Parlen to learn more. The Science Channel’s Emmy-nominated show is back for its fifth season. Tonight’s episode, “Is a Zombie Apocalypse Possible,” airs at 10pm ET/PT. Most…

Google Cardboard Turns Your Android Into a DIY Virtual Reality Headset

Want a virtual reality headset, but can’t afford the hefty pricetag on most existing models (or to hold out for the future)? Google dropped an inexpensive solution today following its I/O keynote: Google Cardboard, an app that lets Android users transform their phones into VR headsets with the help of a DIY cardboard viewer. It’s…

Transformers 4 Actors Explain Why Michael Bay Hit Them With A Broom

How does an actor work with a co-star who is a giant CG robot that they can’t see on set? In our exclusive interview, two of the stars of Transformers: Age of Extinction explain how Michael Bay and a broomstick stood in for the Autobots and Decepticons during filming. We spoke with Transformers: Age of…

Deals: $150 Chromebook, Logitech Gear, Gunnars, Fandango Voucher

With excellent battery life, and the performance offered by a legitimate Intel chip, the Acer C720 is one of the best Chromebooks you can buy. If you’ve been on the fence, Acer is selling refurbs through Amazon today for just $150. Just today, Google announced that it’s bringing Android apps to Chromebooks, so this just…

This Nifty Tool Turns Google Street View Into a Graffiti Time Machine

Graffiti may be ephemeral, but then there’s Google Street View with its all-seeing camera. Inspired by Google’s recent to move to let users go back in time in Street View, Brian Foo at the New York Public Library Labs thought he could make us look at street graffiti from a new perspective—through time. Here’s the…

One of Russia’s Last Remaining Early-Warning Satellites Just Died

The Russian Ministry of Defense has announced that its only geostationary early-warning satellite — the Cosmos-2479, launched two years ago — is no longer functioning. With just two other observation satellites left in orbit, the chances of a false-alarm nuclear attack just escalated. An incident that occurred 20 years ago helps illustrate why this news…

The only known white humpback whale in the world resurfaces

Migaloo—the only known albino humpback whale—has just resurfaced off the coast of Sydney, Australia. He was first spotted in 1991. It’s an amazing animal, says Oskar Peterson, of the White Whale Research Centre: He’s been around for quite a while and he cruises up and down the east coast of Australia every year, but some…

Project Greenlight Is Back, But Only For Directors?

We loved Project Greenlight, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s reality TV show centered around discovering new movie-making talent and then greenlighting a project around their new finds—all the while, filming the many disasters that inevitably follow any film production. And now it’s back, but with one disappointing twist. So it turns out new screenwriters need…

Somehow That Episode VII Table Read Photo Is Even Better In Lego Form

It does what it say on the tin, folks — Lego tweeted a recreation of the original Star Wars: Episode VII table read photo, except everyone has been replaced by their brick figure dopplegangers. It’s simple, but still fantastic. Check out the original and compare!

10 Stunning Shots Of The Solstice

It’s the longest day of the year and the start of vacations, lemonade, and bee stings. It’s the summer solstice. Here are 10 stunning shots of our sun, by you. Winner: Long Engagement I liked the idea of using this public art piece and the sun to make it look like the diamond was glowing.…