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Mind Readers: The Scientists Setting Coma Victims Free

Thousands remain trapped between life and death. Three scientists are working to free them. Roger Highfield reports. “Imagine you wake up, locked inside a box,” says Adrian Owen. “It’s only just big enough to hold your body but sufficiently small that you can’t move. “It’s a perfect fit, down to every last one of your…

Virginia’s top court has ruled against global warming skeptics trying to obtain emails written by climate scientist Michael Mann when he was a UVA professor. The judge stated that the emails are proprietary and exempt from FOIA requests — and that releasing them would impair academic “free thought and expression.”

Lytro’s New Professional-Grade, Light Field Camera Is a Serious Stunner

Two years ago, a little startup called Lytro shook up the world of photography by introducing the world’s first light field camera. It hasn’t replaced normal cameras, but now Lytro’s got a new toy: professional-grade model and software platform. After you see what this camera can do, you’ll never look at still pictures the same.…

The Ugly SpaceX Launch is Beautifully Illustrated

The Falcon 9 launch last week was a successful in that only things that were supposed to blow up did, but the overcast skies made for underwhelming photographs. Thankfully, artist Wendy Clark brought out the dramatic beauty in a new sketch. A larger version of the picture is available on her shop.

Who Should Control the Internet?

This week, the world’s nations gather to discuss the influence the US wields over the internet and in particular ICANN—the web’s logistical core. But who, exactly, should have the keys to the internet? The U.S. Department of Commerce has already agreed to give up its control of ICANN—the body which coordinates the Internet’s global domain…

Your Internet Connection Is Almost Certainly Slower Than Advertised

Does your internet always seem too slow? Chances are, it is: a study by the Wall Street Journal suggests that the majority of ISPs deliver slower speeds than they advertise. The research, put together using data from Ookla and its online speed test Speedtest.net, shows that the majority of 800 cities studied suffer far slower…

How to Mold a Brain

Our brains are inherently plastic, and can be easily shaped to change our behavior. In this video Crash Course looks at the history of psychology to explain how possible to mold our grey matter Kicking off with Pavlov and his bells and then taking a deep dive into some of the most controversial psychology experiments…

Rumor: Danny Boyle to Direct Steve Jobs Movie With Leonardo di Caprio

The Hollywood Reporter claims that producers are tapping up Danny Boyle and Leonardo di Caprio to take on the the latest in a string of Steve Jobs flicks. Rumor has it that the director of Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire, and more recently even the London Olympics opening ceremony is to take on the movie after Aaron…

Airbnb Is Banning Thousands of Dubious New York City Listings

Bad luck, suspicious subletters: Airbnb is in the process of removing over 2,000 New York City listings that aren’t “providing a quality, local experience to guests.” It’s not clear what a lack of “quality, local experience to guests” actually means, but it does come on the back of an affidavit filed by the state Attorney…

Apple Now Recycles Any Product You Give Back (and Gives You Credit)

Starting today, all of Apple’s retail stores will accept any of the company’s ageing products for recycling—and, if it looks resaleable, you might even get some store credit, too. The scheme is part of Tim Cook’s ambition to “leave the world better than we found it.” As of today, then, Apple will provide “free, responsible…

Ridiculously powerful handheld cannon blows up on the street

Never get in a street fight in Poland because you never know what kind of garage made weapons they’ll bring out against. Like this makeshift cannon that can bring the boom like no other. The noise alone is intimidating. Eastern Europe seems like such a fun place for crazy people to do crazy stuff in…

Feudal Values Are Ruining Corporate Profitability

If you want your company to make a profit, don’t offer any of its executives a shot at knighthood. No, this isn’t a Game of Thrones joke. In countries where governments can grant knighthoods, executives are willing to do almost anything to get the coveted titles — including letting their companies fail. Over at Foreign…

Unexplained Intergalactic Radio Bursts Confirmed At Arecibo

Back in 2011 and 2012, astronomers working at an Australian observatory picked up a series of fleeting but powerful radio signals. These signals have never been detected elsewhere, casting doubts on their origin. But now, new observations from the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico suggest they’re for real. Top image: Impression of a blitzar —…

Finally, a Beer as Glorious as Kim-Jong Un Himself

Taedonggang Beer. Everybody’s favorite Dear Leader likes it and, therefore, so do you. Go on out right now and buy a few cases—show us all how much you like it. No, seriously, right now or you’re off to the work camps along with everyone you know.

Holy crap, watch this man narrowly escape getting hit by a train

This 77-year-old man from the Czech Republic has never been luckier. As he foolishly scurries across a train track, the man mis-times his walk and almost gets killed by a speeding train. The train comes so close to hitting him on the tracks that it actually does. His foot is clipped by the train and…

The Most Beautiful And Creative Cosplay of WonderCon: Final Batch!

No, we’re not done with WonderCon cosplay yet! We already posted loads of great costumes from Friday and Saturday — but the most dedicated and fantastic cosplayers were back on Sunday, with some super-clever and off-the-wall looks. See for yourself! First off, our very own Smeagol92055 posted a gallery of photos from the con: But…

Man, look how crazy close Blue Angels fighter jets fly together

Absurd. Like seriously. Look at this fleet of Blue Angels fighter jet planes fly in a perfect pattern in a practice session. The flight pattern they were practicing, I’m assuming here, is called “Let’s get these flying metal beasts as close as possible so that one inch of a mistake will kill us all”. I…

Here’s All The Crazy Biz From Adventure Time’s Season 6 Premiere

Holy Schram! Last night’s season premiere of Aventure Time was packed to the brim with major developments and general insanity. Don’t read on if you missed it or spoilers aren’t your thing, because there will be some big-time reveals below, plus pictures. You have been warned! The first part of the episode starts off with…

Experimental Music + Extraterrestrials + Earth Day

Tomorrow night, April 22, at 7pm I’m giving a guest talk at SETI, famously the acronym for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. It’s free if you’re in the neighborhood, by which I mean Mountain View, California, not our galaxy. April 22 happens to be Earth Day, and what better day than Earth Day to address…

Once Upon A Time Brings Back A Ghost Because It Has 22 Episodes To Fill

There were two big reveals on Once Upon a Time — one was pretty great, and the other was kind of OK. It’s not that I mind seeing Cora and her lips once again, but I would rather continue to watch the Wicked Witch Rebecca Mader’s chew up an entire studio lot’s worth of scenery.…