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This Space Surveillance Telescope Tracks Wayward Satellites

As nations around the world launch more and more satellites into geosynchronous orbit above the Earth, the danger of them accidentally colliding and creating a Gravity-esque cascade of destruction increases exponentially. To keep tabs on everything zooming around 22,000 miles above the surface, DARPA’s developed this keen-eyed space surveillance telescope. Literally called the Space Surveillance…

The Fascinating Story of Why U.S. Parks Are Full of Squirrels

In most American cities, it’s hard to walk through a park without spotting a gray squirrel. Those bushy-tailed little buggers are everywhere, chomping on nuts and climbing up trees—but not thanks to nature. No sir. They’re there because we put them there to entertain us—among other things. As a new paper published the Journal of…

How Ice Skating Rinks Are Made

Back in November, I caught Brian from Studio 33 setting up the outdoor ice skating rink in Folsom. His crew was painstakingly inspecting a series of tubes moments before they began filling it up with liquid refrigerant. They are on their knees on the right hand side of this photo. Here comes the red propylene…

New cold-resistant Asian super-roaches invade New York City

Researchers from Rutgers University has just identified a very gross, very tough new species of cockroach never been seen before in the United States. And like many tourists before it, this invasive creature came to this country to see New York City. Meet the Japanese cockroach, or the Periplaneta japonica. Measuring up to an inch-and-a-half…

Is New York about to be invaded by ice-loving cockroaches?

Last year, workers in New York City’s High Line park found some unusual-looking cockroaches they’d never seen before. And now, two biologists have identified the bugs as a species from Japan, pictured here (male on the left, female on the right) which can survive in icy weather that kills typical American roaches. New York may…

Orange is the New Black creator making a Salem Witch Trial series

Jenji Kohan, of Weeds and Orange is the new Black fame, has her next project lined up — and we’re really, really excited about it. The Hollywood Reporter just broke the news that Kohan’s next project is a Salem Witch Trial period piece for HBO. It’s like all our favorite things in one sentence. The…

See How Murdery Your Neighborhood Is With the NYPD’s Interactive Map

The NYPD isn’t known for its, uh, transparency. In fact, it’s mostly known for aggressively withholding information. So this new,interactive crime map released by the NYPD this weekend is a welcome surprise. The map sticks to the major New York State felonies: Murder and Non-Negligent Manslaughter, Rape, Robbery, Felonious Assault, Burglary, Grand Larceny and Grand…

“Rule One: No Complacency”: Inside The Early Years of Pixar

The early Pixar films, like Toy Story, still feel like a miracle. And a new book excerpt shows how much of that early creativity came from a handful of guys, sitting around a pile of toys. They wanted something as different from a Disney animated movie as possible, and they had one rule: “No complacency.”…

Here’s what happened in the Firefly universe after Serenity

Writer Zack Whedon has spilled the beans on where the crew of the Serenity will find themselves when Dark Horse releases the sequel comic, subtitled Leaves in the Wind, this January: the crew is on the run (of course), the Alliance is still in charge, Jayne is missing, and Zoe is pregnant. BABY WASH, PEOPLE.…

A Better Multitool Adds a Napkin Holder, Spritzer, and Flash Drive

Victorinox and Wenger have owned the Swiss army knife industry for decades, but who really needs an orange peeler, corkscrew, or a nail file on their multi-tool? The folks at a Scandinavian company called Clas Ohlson feel the Swiss army knife is due for an upgrade with more useful accessories, so they’ve created the (freakishly…

Twelfth Doctor. No Waiting. Steven Moffatconfirms Peter Capaldi’s first season won’t be split in half — the whole thing will air in one uninterrupted run, starting in August 2014. [Thanks Tony!]

​The 11 Most Sexually Depraved Things the Roman Emperors Ever Did

The emperors of Rome could be wise, just and kind. They could also be vindictive, cruel and insane. And most of all, they could be the worst perverts the world has ever seen — at least according to ancient historians like Suetonius, Pliny, and Cassius Dio. Here are nearly a dozen of the most immoral,…

Give The Gift Of Nifty Skills With These Classes, Kits, And Experiences

For the loved ones in your life who need a bit of a nudge to get out there and try something new, we’ve gathered up a collection of gifts that keep on giving: classes, kits, workshops, and phenomenal experiences that will totally blow their minds. Here’s to stoking the creative flames of old folks who…

The $30 Million Backyard Stadium You’ve Always Wanted Has Arrived

Sure, it’s a nice gesture to make—or even 3D print!—your loved ones a customized gift. But can your own pitiful trifles compare to the $30 million backyard stadiums one architecture firm is offering up? Populous, the Kansas City firm, is known for its work on sports venues ranging from London’s Olympic stadium to Heinz Field.…

A weird short film about the reality behind Space Invaders

What if the 8-bit creatures from Space Invaders actually invaded? That’s what French indie filmmaker Thomas Lesourd has done with “Invaders from Space.” The result is bizarre, and at times downright intense. It’s a strange combination of European art movie and crazy Space Invader action — with some effects that are completely eerie, and others…

This Week’s TV: 14 Finales – But Just One Cliffhanger We Can’t Wait For

A ton of shows are ending their fall season, and hoping to leave you wanting more. But there’s one show, in particular, that has a cliffhanger we can’t wait for. That’s our must-watch show of the week, but there’s tons of other great stuff — check out clips and details for all this week’s new…

Simply Shaking Two Devices To Pair Them Makes NFC Look Old-Fashioned

There’s a flood of new smartwatches and other wearable devices coming just around the corner, and every one of them will require a connection to your smartphone. Wireless NFC technology has already made things a little easier when it comes to pairing, but researchers at Disney want to make things even easier by just having…

There is a class of animals that never grow old

We’re born, we grow, we age, and then we die. Well, maybe not all of us, according to a new study on the animals amongst us who, while they continue to grow older, don’t deteriorate with age. A new study out of Nature takes a comparative look at the life cycles of 46 different species…

11 Sleek Posters Celebrating The Design Genius Of Dieter Rams

Dieter Rams is the undisputed granddaddy of modern industrial design. The German legend’s ten commandments for good design are considered gospel in the field, and his impeccable collections for Braun elevated home appliances to mass-produced art. Systems, at Walter Knoll in London, is a new exhibition paying two-dimensional tribute to the man and his work.…

What does the alleged Terminator movie title mean?

Production Weekly is reporting that the next Terminator movie will be titled Terminator: Genesis. Like the beginning of the John Connor legacy, or the genesis of the Terminators? Either way, we’re excited to see what director Alan Taylor is up to. Image via Worth 1000.