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The Experimental Satellite that Gave Us Live International Television

Throughout the 1950s, broadcast television was limited to domestic transmissions simply because we didn’t have a means to relay signals far enough to span the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. It wasn’t until NASA shot Telstar, an unproven, newfangled “active” communications satellite into orbit in 1963, that mass media truly become an international phenomenon.…

Tech News Andrew Tarantola Mar 19 '14

Who Would Be The Worst Green Lantern In The Universe?

Greetings, all! You know I’m writing to you guys from the future, right? I don’t know how it works, since I’m a fake mailman and not a quantum physicist. Doesn’t matter. What matters is could one of you maybe bury a big box of booze, guns, and porn by the oak tree three miles north…

io9 Rob Bricken Mar 19 '14

Bugs Have Already Evolved Immunity to GMO Corn

Well that certainly didn’t take very long. According to a study published Monday, the Western Corn Rootworm (actually a beetle larvae) has already developed a resistance to not one but two strains of generically modified corn thanks to the over-reliance and improper implementation of the crops by farmers in Iowa. Researchers first discovered that the…

Tech News Andrew Tarantola Mar 19 '14

You Can Buy the Amazing New Oculus Rift Dev Kit for $350

When we saw the Oculus Rift Crystal Cove headset at CES we were blown away. It was incredible. And now there’s good news: you can pre-order your own for $350 today. It’s not the final product but it’s still fantastic. https://gizmodo.com/i-wore-the-new-oculus-rift-and-i-never-want-to-look-at-1496569598 Just like the version we saw at CES, the Oculus Rift Dev Kit 2…

Tech News Eric Limer Mar 19 '14

A new Game of Thrones trailer that you need to watch because fhqwhgads

Its April 6 premiere is around the corner, and the Game of Thrones Season 4 trailers keep piling up like dead Starks at a wedding. The new trailer shows fans—myself included—more stuff to make us go aaashkahgskjghslkjdghsdf. Enjoy! SPLOID is a new blog about awesome stuff. Join us on Facebook

Sploid Jesus Diaz Mar 19 '14

Translating Physicist to Human

Watching Andrei Linde and Renata Kallosh hear that BICEP-2 found gravitational waves is heartwarming. But with a bit of translating of everything left unsaid, it becomes even more gut-wrenchingly awesome. Allow me to translate for you to see this through a physicist’s eyes. https://gizmodo.com/have-physicists-detected-gravitational-waves-yes-1545591865 The first thing Dr. Chao-Lin Kuo says when the doctors open…

Physics & Chemistry Mika McKinnon Mar 19 '14

Star Wars, SPHERES, & the International Space Station

These are the droids NASA was looking for… These sphere-robots are openly inspired by the remotes from Star Wars. Their full name are the Synchronized Position, Hold, Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites, and they just went flying on the ISS. A seeker-remote from Star Wars. In fiction, the remotes are used by Luke Skywalker to…

Tech News Mika McKinnon Mar 19 '14

Sony’s Firmware Update For A7 and A7r Promises Faster AF, Startup Time

Sony’s full-frame mirrorless duo, the A7 and A7r, are about to become just a bit more capable with the latest firmware released today. Improvements include faster autofocus, improved startup time, and a vaguely stated ‘improved image quality.’ https://gizmodo.com/sony-a7-a7r-review-so-long-dslrs-hello-future-of-ph-1469132320 The update is available here, and will provide a slight but meaningful improvement to the camera that…

Tech News Michael Hession Mar 19 '14

Watch the Chinese Air Force bombing the Yellow River to destroy its ice

The Yellow River has been completely frozen for weeks. China’s flood prevention authority decided that, before the snow melts and a huge clusterfuck ensues, they should destroy de ice and make it flow again. So they said: “Let’s ask the air force to bomb it because—fun!” China’s Air Force sent a few airplanes loaded with…

Sploid Jesus Diaz Mar 19 '14

Woman Develops Remarkable Ability To Draw After Suffering Brain Injury

Two years ago, Pip Taylor suffered serious bruising to her brain after tripping and cracking her head on a flight of stairs — an injury that now appears to have endowed her with an incredible ability to draw. Pip Taylor, a 49-year old woman from England’s Liverpool, claims she used to be “terrible” at drawing…

io9 George Dvorsky Mar 19 '14

150 Megapixel Image Sensor Won’t Power Your Nikon, Might Save Your Life

Two Chinese companies, TowerJazz and Gpixel, have teamed up to develop the GMAX3005, a new massively high-resolution 150 megapixel CMOS image sensor. The goal is to use it for medical and industrial applications, so don’t expect it to see it in your next DSLR. Admittedly, we don’t have a lot of reference points for evaluating…

Tech News Mario Aguilar Mar 19 '14

A Double-Filtered Water Bottle That Lights–and Lightens–Your Load

It’s rarely the case that buying a two-in-one product is better than purchasing each component separately. But ÖKO makes a strong case for merging your flashlight and water bottle when you’re heading off into the wilderness. Its Odyssey provides both safe hydration and ample illumination when you’e trying to keep your backpack light. When it…

Tech News Andrew Liszewski Mar 19 '14

First Trailer For The Giver Is Absolutely Filled With Famous People

Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Katie Holmes, Alexander Skarsgård and yes, even Taylor Swift are all in the Hollywood adaptation of The Giver, which gives junior high school kids one less book they will actually have to read for school. It’s pretty jarring to see all these famous faces in this exceptionally familiar work. That being…

Trailers Meredith Woerner Mar 19 '14

Android Wear Video Walkthrough: It’s Got the Basics Down

Until Android Wear actually comes out on some real hardware, it’s not much more than a bunch of promises, some of which are a little lofty. But if you look at the developer preview, there’s some good news: Android Wear gets the basics right. https://gizmodo.com/android-wear-heres-the-future-of-android-smartwatchwe-1546388688 Macmixing took a spin through the preview of Android Wear,…

Tech News Eric Limer Mar 19 '14

The Final Amazing Spider-Man 2 Trailer Brings On The Bad Guys

Not all of the footage in this final Amazing Spider-Man 2 trailer is new, but the new footage is pretty great: more Rhino, more Electro, and most importantly, way more Green Goblin and his throwdown with Spidey. So I’m guessing the Rhino is the opening fight, Spider-Man tussles with Electro for the bulk of the…

Trailers Rob Bricken Mar 19 '14

This Woodworking Robot Used To Build Cars and Trucks

The auto industry in the US hit a few speed bumps over the past few years, and while many factories have closed, it’s good to see that some workers, like this industrial robot arm, have managed to find work elsewhere. Instead of building sedans, this arm now lathes solid blocks of maple into lovely wooden…

Tech News Andrew Liszewski Mar 19 '14

Today’s Your Last Chance to Get Amazon Prime for $79

If you’ve been on the fence about joining Amazon Prime (and you really shouldn’t be!), today’s your last chance to sign up for a new account without paying an extra $20 for your first year. https://gizmodo.com/amazon-prime-is-still-the-best-deal-in-tech-1542971643 Technically, the Prime price hike doesn’t go into effect until April 17, but since new members get a mandatory…

Commerce Shep McAllister Mar 19 '14

Which Jurassic Park Character Will Definitely Be In Jurassic World?

We now know how long the gap is between Return of the Jedi and Episode VII. How can you affect the direction of Captain America 3? George R.R. Martin offers solutions to the problem of Game of Thrones catching up to his books. Watch a new Godzilla trailer, and take a look Gotham’s Oswald Cobblepot.…

Television Katharine Trendacosta Mar 19 '14

Quirky’s New A/C Unit Smartens Up Your Dumbest Energy Hog

This is Aros, a Wi-Fi connected air conditioner aimed at energy-conscious consumers that Quirky and GE are launching today. It’s by far the biggest and most complicated product that Quirky has ever built, and it aims to help solve truly endemic problem: The window a/c unit, which has remained pretty much unchanged since the 1970s.…

Tech News Kelsey Campbell-Dollaghan Mar 19 '14

The Kindle Fire HD 8.9 Costs Less Than a Kindle Paperwhite Today

While at this point the year-and-a-half old 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD might be showing its age a bit, it’s still one of the best tablets you can buy. Especially considering that you can get one today for just $130—less than an e-ink Kindle Paperwhite. https://gizmodo.com/kindle-fire-hd-8-9-review-good-news-and-bad-news-5962540 The Fire HD that Amazon’s offering as a Gold Box…

Commerce Brian Barrett Mar 19 '14

The Experimental Satellite that Gave Us Live International Television

Who Would Be The Worst Green Lantern In The Universe?

Bugs Have Already Evolved Immunity to GMO Corn

You Can Buy the Amazing New Oculus Rift Dev Kit for $350

A new Game of Thrones trailer that you need to watch because fhqwhgads

Translating Physicist to Human

Star Wars, SPHERES, & the International Space Station

Sony’s Firmware Update For A7 and A7r Promises Faster AF, Startup Time

Watch the Chinese Air Force bombing the Yellow River to destroy its ice

Woman Develops Remarkable Ability To Draw After Suffering Brain Injury

150 Megapixel Image Sensor Won’t Power Your Nikon, Might Save Your Life

A Double-Filtered Water Bottle That Lights–and Lightens–Your Load

First Trailer For The Giver Is Absolutely Filled With Famous People

Android Wear Video Walkthrough: It’s Got the Basics Down

The Final Amazing Spider-Man 2 Trailer Brings On The Bad Guys

This Woodworking Robot Used To Build Cars and Trucks

Today’s Your Last Chance to Get Amazon Prime for $79

Which Jurassic Park Character Will Definitely Be In Jurassic World?

Quirky’s New A/C Unit Smartens Up Your Dumbest Energy Hog

The Kindle Fire HD 8.9 Costs Less Than a Kindle Paperwhite Today

Latest news

Not Just Game Discs: Sony’s Killing Its Blu-Ray Players, Too

Spotify Claims It Is ‘Unusually Well-Positioned’ for an Agentic AI Takeover

The Power of Your Wallet Compels You to Buy This Terrifying ‘Exorcist’ Figure

Record Viking Hoard Yields a Coin Not Found in Over 100 Years

Microsoft Says Its New AI Is More Than Twice as Good at Diagnosing Diseases as Doctors

Elon Musk Just Invested $1 Billion in the Company Set to Air a Documentary About Him: Report

Lost to Science for 89 Years, a Venomous Primate Has Been Sneaking Into People’s Homes and Gardens

‘Mass Effect’ TV Series Reportedly Still in Development Despite BioWare’s Closure

Latest Reviews

iBuyPower RDY Element Pulse X B02: Proud and Too Darn Loud

iPhone Duo Review: Waiting to Refine Foldables Was the Right Move

Fairbuds 2 Review: Decent for Your Ears, Better for Your Conscience

Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra Review: Complicated, yet So Damn Worth Getting Stuck In

Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 Review: The Prettiest, Most Comfortable Handheld You Can Buy

Lenovo Googlebook 15 Review: The Costs of Being an Early Adopter

Eufy Omni E35 Review: Finally, a Luxury Robovac That Doesn’t Piss Me Off

Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) Review: The King of Clip-Ons Is Re-Crowned

Let us help you find what you’re looking for...

Latest

The Experimental Satellite that Gave Us Live International Television

​Who Would Be The Worst Green Lantern In The Universe?

Bugs Have Already Evolved Immunity to GMO Corn

You Can Buy the Amazing New Oculus Rift Dev Kit for $350

A new Game of Thrones trailer that you need to watch because fhqwhgads

Translating Physicist to Human

Star Wars, SPHERES, & the International Space Station

Sony’s Firmware Update For A7 and A7r Promises Faster AF, Startup Time

Watch the Chinese Air Force bombing the Yellow River to destroy its ice

Woman Develops Remarkable Ability To Draw After Suffering Brain Injury

150 Megapixel Image Sensor Won’t Power Your Nikon, Might Save Your Life

A Double-Filtered Water Bottle That Lights–and Lightens–Your Load

First Trailer For The Giver Is Absolutely Filled With Famous People

Android Wear Video Walkthrough: It’s Got the Basics Down

The Final Amazing Spider-Man 2 Trailer Brings On The Bad Guys

This Woodworking Robot Used To Build Cars and Trucks

Today’s Your Last Chance to Get Amazon Prime for $79

Which Jurassic Park Character Will Definitely Be In Jurassic World?

Quirky’s New A/C Unit Smartens Up Your Dumbest Energy Hog

The Kindle Fire HD 8.9 Costs Less Than a Kindle Paperwhite Today

Not Just Game Discs: Sony’s Killing Its Blu-Ray Players, Too

Spotify Claims It Is ‘Unusually Well-Positioned’ for an Agentic AI Takeover

The Power of Your Wallet Compels You to Buy This Terrifying ‘Exorcist’ Figure

Record Viking Hoard Yields a Coin Not Found in Over 100 Years

Microsoft Says Its New AI Is More Than Twice as Good at Diagnosing Diseases as Doctors

Elon Musk Just Invested $1 Billion in the Company Set to Air a Documentary About Him: Report

Lost to Science for 89 Years, a Venomous Primate Has Been Sneaking Into People’s Homes and Gardens

‘Mass Effect’ TV Series Reportedly Still in Development Despite BioWare’s Closure

iBuyPower RDY Element Pulse X B02: Proud and Too Darn Loud

iPhone Duo Review: Waiting to Refine Foldables Was the Right Move

Fairbuds 2 Review: Decent for Your Ears, Better for Your Conscience

Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra Review: Complicated, yet So Damn Worth Getting Stuck In

Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 Review: The Prettiest, Most Comfortable Handheld You Can Buy

Lenovo Googlebook 15 Review: The Costs of Being an Early Adopter

Eufy Omni E35 Review: Finally, a Luxury Robovac That Doesn’t Piss Me Off

Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) Review: The King of Clip-Ons Is Re-Crowned

Let us help you find what you’re looking for...

Who Would Be The Worst Green Lantern In The Universe?