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This sound system is so powerful no human could survive hearing it

Tremble at the sight of this huge sound horn inside the Large European Acoustic Facility (LEAF). It’s an ESA-built device that subjects satellites to the same levels of noise produced by rockets as they take off and fly through the atmosphere. Located in Noordwijk, Netherlands, and part of ESA’s ESTEDC Test Center, it’s one of…

Hundreds of Naked LEDs Make This Lamp Look Like a Starry Night Sky

The diodes on most LED-powered lamps are hidden from sight behind plastic or metal—after all, not everyone wants to see the electronic guts of their devices. But after a look at these beautiful lamps made from hundreds of raw diodes, it’s hard to imagine covering them up. Human Since 1982—aka the German-Swedish design duo Per…

Which villain should just quit while they’re ahead?

One thing you always know about great villains: they keep coming back. Again and again. But sometimes, a villain achieves such a masterstroke of evil, they ought to retire once and for all — instead of coming back with more penny-ante schemes. Which major villain ought to just declare victory and go home? Please include…

It’s Not the Snow, It’s Not the Politics: Blame the Car-Dependent City

There’s been plenty written about why the South suffered so much from this week’s surprise snowstorm. But there’s really only one thing to blame: those cold lumps of steel that are still abandoned on the side of the highway. What happened in Atlanta could happen any time, any place where people rely so heavily on…

Microsoft’s board is reportedly preparing to name Satya Nadella as the new CEO. Nadella is an internal candidate most recently in charge of the company’s enterprise and cloud endeavors. The company is also reportedly considering replacing Bill Gates as chairman. [Bloomberg]

Here’s what it looks like to watch a solar eclipse from space

This amazing footage shows you what it would like to watch a partial solar eclipse from space. One of the differences right away is that, due to the lack of atmosphere around the moon, there’s no fuzziness along the edge between the moon and the sun, but just as different are the colors. The observatory…

Build a Custom Garden Planter With These Lego-Like Blocks

It’s hard to argue the fact that Lego is one of the greatest toys of all time, but who says the plastic building blocks have to only be used as toys? The creators of these wonderful Togetherfarm Blocks—made from recycled food-grade plastic—are intended for use as planters and garden boxes in any shape or size…

Medical breakthrough could lead to functional artificial skin

Swiss researchers have achieved a major breakthrough in the development of bioengineered skin. The new grafts, which are about to undergo clinical trials, work a lot like the real thing — because they actually contain functioning blood vessels and lymph capillaries. The breakthrough was made by Daniela Marino and her team from the Tissue Biology…

How the Architecture of Our Buildings Shapes the Germs Around Us

We design buildings to make human lives better—but should we also design them to make bacteria healthier? A new study posits just that, suggesting that the microbial communities that live amongst us are deeply influenced by the design of our buildings. Wait—but aren’t microbes bad? Not exactly. “Do function, form and organization predict variation in…

Researchers Grow New Hair From Stem Cells For the First Time

Traditionally, baldness cures involve moving hair around, either from one part of the scalp to another, or from the toupee store to your dome. This week, scientists announced a potentially revolutionary discovery in hair science: they’ve successfully turned mature skin cells into stem cells that develop into hair follicles. It’s hair-raising! The discovery, published this…

How does science define a year?

It’s been a year since Joe Hanson took his fantastic science tumblr, It’s Okay to be Smart, to YouTube. To celebrate, his latest episode takes a look at the ways humans experience years biologically, and how we define them astronomically. All in all, it’s a clever take on the various ways that science – and…

How Much Snow It Takes to Cancel School Across the US

There’s been quite a bit of debate recently about the Southern states’ inability to handle what (at least to the North) might barely even qualify as a light dusting. Now, Reddit user atrubetskoy has taken the opportunity to create a fantastic map detailing just how much snow it typically takes to keep kids home. https://gizmodo.com/why-the-south-fell-apart-in-the-snow-1511566912…

Sorry Cat Lovers, Cats Are an Invasive Species, Too

When we think of invasive species, we tend to think of the exotic: Burmese pythons, Asian carp, or any of the bizarre creatures terrorizing Florida. But the truth is, our beloved cats can also be bad news for other species. https://gizmodo.com/whats-eating-florida-these-six-voracious-and-invasive-1508528313 The exclusive gated community of Ocean Reef Club in Florida is home to some…

Watch Scarlett Johansson play a weirdo alien in Under the Skin trailer

Scarlett Johansson is an alien. A sexy alien? And this sexy alien needs sexy men to feed her alien… hunger? Honestly I have no idea. Please someone tell me what is happening in this movie. Thanks to Hitfix, we now have another look at Jonathan Glazer’s Under The Skin, which stars Scarjo and a lot…

The Dark Side of the “Smart City”

The “smart city” is a futurist’s dream town. It’s carbon neutral because computers regulate its energy use perfectly. It has no traffic jams because sensors capture real-time data on the roads and guide drivers to optimal routes. Other sensors can quickly alert police to crime, or send information to your mobile about cool events. But…

Remarkable footage of a volcanic eruption, as seen from space

On June 12, 2009, Russia’s Sarychev Volcano erupted in spectacular fashion, issuing plumes of ash skyward in a phenomenal display of geophysical force. It was the first time Sarychev had erupted in over twenty years – and it happened, rather serendipitously, just as the International Space Station was flying overhead. There’s a lot going on…

Even if you hate Tomorrow People, you must watch this hilarious clip

Seriously, even if you don’t care about Tomorrow People, watch this clip. It’s exhibit A as to why Mark Pellegrino deserves a knighthood. And the look on Hillary’s face as she tries not to smile upon hearing of someone’s impending death is my new favorite thing. It’s one minute of pure glory. Spoilers ahead… The…

The Landscapes Of Suburbia Are The Real Science Fiction

Science fiction is often charged with naïve technological optimism and historical amnesia. But for present-day Californians struggling with a wide range of environmental and social problems, science fiction might just provide the perspective we need to successfully pivot from the boom times of the twentieth century to the messy prospect of the century ahead. It…

The Concrete Blocks at This Bakery Are Made From Empty Sacks of Flour

From afar, the walls at this Gowanus restaurant look like they’re made from grey fabric—but they’re actually made from concrete bricks poured into empty bags of flour from the resident bakery. Concrete masonry unit? More like cookie masonry unit! Sorry. Each block was made from an empty, 50-pound bag of King Arthur flour—emptied by the…

Where to hide in case of nuclear attack

This image—found by Erika Engelhaupt—shows the best places to hide in case of a nuclear blast, part of a recent government guide about what to do in case of a nuclear detonation. It’s scary to see that the US is still actively considering this risk. Take Michael B. Dillon, a scientist at the Lawrence Livermore…