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Nope, Racial Groups Do Not “Genetically Inherit” Behavior

Former New York Times writer Nicholas Wade recent made a “scientific” argument for white supremacy, claiming that Europeans are genetically predisposed to “nonviolence, literacy, thrift and patience.” Now, Scientific American has published an essay showing why this is complete nonsense. University of British Columbia researcher Eric Johnson has been studying the intersection of politics and…

The motion capture in Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes is simply stunning

I knew the apes in Dawn of the planet of the Apes are entirely made with CGI using the actors’ facial expressions and body motion. Still, watching this side-by-side comparison between the motion capture work and the final VFX is still pretty amazing. The process was invented and perfected by Weta Workshop—Peter Jackson’s special effects…

Every Gestural Interface Should Be This Responsive and Snappy

Working alongside a company called zSpace, makers of interactive holographic displays, researchers at the Ishikawa Watanabe Laboratory in Japan have built a high-speed gesture recognition system that instantly responds to hand and finger movements. Which in turn enhances the immersiveness of these interactive displays. Practicality still remains an issue, given the system relies on a…

This Electric Helmet Looks Goofy But It Zaps Deadly Brain Cancer

Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive and deadly forms of brain cancer. Nausea-inducing chemotherapy can prolong life by a few months, but there’s another gentler though funnier-looking treatment: a cap that literally zaps the tumor away. The FDA approved this cap, called NovoTTF in 2011, when clinical trials found that it as effective as…

Brian Eno’s New App Turns His Latest Vinyl Into A Dazzling Cityscape

In support of his latest album, Brian Eno has released a free augmented reality app that turns the vinyl edition of his record into a series of stunning holographic-like visualizations. The interactive app is called “HoloDecks,” and it’s only available for iPhone. To make it work, you just hold your phone’s camera up to a…

The Case Against Antibacterial Soap

It’s been ingrained in us since childhood. Don’t want to get sick? Wash your hands with antibacterial soap. But the same compound we entrust to fend off the sniffles could actually be harming us—and creating an army of superbugs in the process. It’s time to ban antibacterial soap. https://gizmodo.com/your-antibacterial-soap-could-be-harming-you-5934895 If that sounds farfetched or alarmist,…

Can Game Of Thrones Be Explained By Science?

Joe Hanson of PBS’ ongoing series It’s Okay To Be Smart. decided to find out of science could explain the world of Game of Thrones, from its lengthy seasons to its geography to dragons to milk of the poppy. The answer: …uh, sometimes? I think “magic” would be the answer to these issues more times…

Here’s the Best Explanation of the Monty Hall Problem Yet

The Monty Hall Problem is a fantastic probability brain teaser based on the American television game show Let’s Make a Deal—and this video is the best explanation of it you’re likely to find. The problem is simple. You’re on a game show, and you’re given the choice of three doors: behind one door is a…

18 Amazing Places You Should Ride Your Bike Before You Die

One of the most rewarding way to explore a country is to get a bike and ride around for days—or even weeks—without hustle. By bike, you can explore stunning places that can’t be experience from the seat of a car or a bus. Here is our brief and totally incomplete selection of the most wondrous…

This enormous fog bank looks like a cotton wool tsunami

This enormous fog bank—which embraced Lake Michigan—looks like a beautiful cotton wool tsunami moving slowly across the water. Fog banks are usually caused by fast changing temperatures and are amazing to witness, as long as you don’t have to navigate through them. SPLOID is a new blog about awesome stuff. Join us on Facebook

Apple Admits iMessage Screw-Up, Has a Fix Coming… Sometime

If you’ve tried to transition out of your iPhone into an Android or Windows Phone device, you’ve likely known the singular frustration of having your text messages vanish into the iMessage ether. Today, in a statement to Recode, Apple acknowledged the problem, explained why it’s been particularly awful lately, and promised a fix. https://gizmodo.com/when-apple-damns-your-texts-to-imessage-purgatory-1575937398 The…

Matt Smith “Totally Will” Return to Doctor Who As Soon As Possible

Quicksilver will return for X-Men: Apocalypse. The IT remake changes studios. The cast of Arrow teases season three. And tons of news from The Vampire Diaries, Sleepy Hollow, and Person of Interest. Spoilers now! Top image: Doctor Who X-Men: Apocalypse In an interview with Total Film, writer Simon Kinberg said that Quicksilver would “absolutely be…

You Can Now Get Totally Free Voice, Texts, and Data on a Galaxy S4

The heralds of free data over at FreedomPop have finally extended their crazy free voice, text, and data plans to include some high-end Android phones. Meaning you could soon be slurping up free LTE data on a Galaxy S4. The first-of-its-kind free data plan (that is, free as long as you don’t go over your…

Beautiful Norwegian cliff is a nightmare for those afraid of heights

Trolltunga is one of the most spectacular cliffs in Norway. More than half a mile above the ground, the views are breathtaking. But to enjoy those views for yourself you need first to be in shape—it takes a five hour hike to get up there—and then, obviously, to not be afraid of heights like I…

This Is What Life Sounds Like Through a Cochlear Implant

Being deaf is extremely difficult—but there are technological solutions that allow some people to regain at least some of their hearing. Now, you can listen to what it’s like to hear through a cochlear implant. https://gizmodo.com/being-deaf-how-different-the-world-is-without-hearing-5912623 In this video Michael Dorman, a professor of Speech and Hearing Science, gives us a chance to listen to…

Look At Apple’s First 1980s Stab at the Smartwatch

A design book that promises to show the “true design story” behind Apple features some glorious retro designs from the company, including this early concept of a form of smartwatch that makes up for in buttons what it lacks in screen — and pairs with a wireless headset. The image is one of many from…

Try Your Hand at Quantum Computing With Google’s Quantum Playground

Ever wondered what all the fuss surrounding quantum computing was about? Well, now you can find out for yourself using Google’s Quantum Computing Playground, which allows you to write the kind of software you’d run on a quantum computer. https://gizmodo.com/whats-wrong-with-quantum-computing-1444793497 It might not look like the future, but the cloud-based simulator runs in Chrome and…

Guy sings on his driveway to introduce himself in new neighborhood

When Patrick Bailey moved into his new house he waited until his wife left town before he serenaded his new neighbors with an Ugly Kid Joe cover blasted over a speaker system. What is equally incredible is that the rest of his family stood by him during this car crash of an introduction. SPLOID is…

If you thought that Samsung’s Music Hub media subscription effort was ill-conceived, you’ve just been proved right: it’s shutting down on July 1st. It’s Book Hub may soon follow, too.

Stephen Colbert Tackles the Problem of Experimenting on Only Male Rats

“Any scientist knows it’s crucial to eliminate extraneous variable. Like half the global population.” Watch the video to see Colbert’s theory as to why more side effects for women will lead to more female superheroes.