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Meet Mom Chung, The Massive Machine Digging Tunnels Under San Francisco

Deep beneath the streets of San Francisco, Mom Chung is making her move. In July, the massive tunnel boring machine (TBM) started construction on the Central Subway, the city’s brand-spanking new subterranean transit line (ETA 2019). For the last five months, the hefty azz mutha has been barreling through up to 40 feet of bedrock,…

It’s the field day of the Doctor in This Week’s DVDs

In The Day of the Doctor, the Doctor relived his darkest day. Now you can relive the Doctor reliving his darkest day by buying The Day of the Doctor tomorrow, which for Doctor Who fans shouldn’t be a dark day at all. Plus Futurama, Teen Wolf, Keanu Reeves, and more! • Doctor Who: The Day…

What story would be totally different with cellphones or birth control?

We live in an age of wonders. Modern innovations have transformed our world, notably including instantaneous global communication and birth control. Which story do you find yourself watching or reading, and thinking: “if only they could text each other, or use condoms, this would go way differently”? Please include a picture or clip of this…

People Who Did Not Get Rich and/or Famous Coding Want You to Code

If you find this new batch of Code.org PSAs hilariously awkward, you’re in good company. I literally yelped when I heard Nas say “I just did 15 lines of code.” There are more than a dozen new videos from the everyone can code organization, and they’re all just a wonderful gift. There’s absolutely no problem…

You’ll Actually Be Excited For Snow With This Gorgeous Toboggan

Is there anything more soul crushing than waking up and checking the weather on your phone, only to discover that there are inches of snow outside waiting to complicate your morning commute? Snow in the forecast doesn’t always have to be a letdown, though. With this steam-bent wooden toboggan from Lucky Bums, you’ll embrace every…

The First 64-Bit Snapdragon Processor Won’t Be in a Phone You’ll Want

Apple started a wave when it announced its new A7 processor--the brain of all its flagship products—would be 64-bit. Competitors have beenkeen to catch up, and now Qualcomm’s making its move with the new Snapdragon 410, the first 64-bit chip in the line. The catch? It’s for low and midrange phones. You, dear gadget-obsessed Gizmodo…

Five of the Coolest Pieces From the Biggest Week in the US Art World

For those of us stuck in the slushy northern reaches of the country, the first weeks of December are always painful—for the internet (and Instagram, and Twitter) is full of interesting art on view at Design Miami/ and Art Untiled. Here’s some of the best of what we’re missing out on (or, if you hate…

How snowflakes get their shape

As winter settles in, many of us are getting an up-close look at more snowflakes than we might care to. Let’s take a moment to look at just what forces are shaping (literally) our winter weather. Top image: Alexey Kljatov Earlier we took a very, very close look at a series of snowflake close-up shots…

The Most Popular Gear Among Real Life Documentary Filmmakers

If you’re obsessed with gear, nothing can be more fun than hearing what actual professionals use in the field. Well thank goodness for PBS! They went ahead and took a survey of working documentarians—asking them about what cameras, lenses, tripods, and other equipment they use. The results are telling. It’s not exactly clear whom those…

Boozy Gifts to Fancy Up Your Happy Hour

Nothing helps put you in the holiday spirit like…spirits. We all know that person who believes truly, madly, deeply that alcohol makes everything better. (In moderation, of course.) Whether that person’s a liquor lover, a beer snob, or a wine connoisseur, I’ve distilled a fine selection of the choicest gifts, straight from the internet’s top…

Show Old Man Winter Who’s Boss With a Winter Emergency Kit

With the East Coast inundated with rain, sleet, and snow—and the West Coast not faring much better—now would be a good time to make sure your cold weather emergency kit is topped off with fresh supplies. Wait—you don’t have a cold weather go-bag? Here’s what you’ll need to make it through the winter without shivering…

Miami’s starchitect magnet, “Super Zips” for the rich, the real story behind our city-dwelling squirrels, and why Americans are driving less. Plus, a chilling portrait of homelessness in gentrified New York City—all in today’s urban reads. Once an urban punchline, Miami has become a hotbed for luxury, culture and dozens of starchitect-helmed projects dotting the…

Spider-Man’s made his plans for New Year’s Eve, as he’ll be webslinging his way across NYC’s Times Square to participate in the annual ball drop to promote The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Expect an exclusive clip to premiere on Times Square’s many screens, possibly a bit of stunt work, and a shit-ton of bad jokes based…

The Loneliness of the Long-Abandoned Space Observatory

Space observatories are among some of the most magnificent buildings devoted entirely to science — because their windows look out on the universe. And their distinctive shape makes them into poignant ruins. Here are some observatories whose views onto space have been lost to time. Cointe Observatory, Liège, Belgium, designed by Lambert Noppius and built…

Why you’re the best and everyone else sucks

You probably think you’re awesome. You are the most talented, you have the purest of hearts—everyone else sucks compared to you. You’re the betterest, period. Except you’re not. Esther Inglis-Arkell explains why you think this and why it will not change.

Curiosity Discovers a Giant Lake Once Suitable for Life on Mars

The possibility that Mars was once home to all kinds of life is looking better and better with each new Curiosity discovery. According to newly published research, the rover has stumbled across a site in the Gale Crater that scientists believe might have once been a lake full of life. The newly discovered lake site…

Once Upon A Time says, “Fuck it, let’s just reboot everything again”

When this show isn’t needlessly sending its characters on easily accomplished errands every week, then it’s rebooting the whole fucking series. You know what was truly, deeply exciting about this series when it started? Fairy-tale characters dealing with human issues on Earth. What ever happened to that idea? Spoilers ahead… First up apologies on last…

Why are “black diamond” truffles worth $900 per pound?

The black Périgord truffle, revered among foodies for its unique scent, has become so rare that it sells for $900 per pound. But not for long. A team of chemists have begun to reverse engineer the secret of its rare scent, and could one day flood the gourmet market with cheap replacement proteins. Périgord is…

First Concept Art for the Next Alien Game: Is that Ripley’s daughter?

We’ve heard rumors that the game Alien Isolation will feature Ripley’s daughter. Now there’s some artwork, that features a space station, and a girl who looks a lot like a young Sigourney Weaver. What do you think? Could this be the rumored Amanda Ripley? [via OXM]

TSA Seizes Tiny Toy Gun From Stuffed Monkey, Threatens to Call Cops

Thanks to the ever-diligent men and women of the United States Transportation Security Administration, we can all rest a little bit easier tonight. Yesterday at approximately 17:00 hours, a one Mr. Rooster Monkburn was successfully disarmed when a TSA agent confiscated the monkey sock puppet’s two-inch, vaguely gun-shaped piece of plastic—and then threatened to call…