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Seth Rogen’s apocalyptic comedy gets off to a good start: Killing Michael Cera

We’ve been waiting for Seth Rogen and Jay Baruchel’s apocalyptic movie ever since their short Jay and Seth Vs. The Apocalypse was released back in 2010. And now, it’s finally here. Behold the first ever trailer for This Is The End, where all of Rogen and Baruchel’s friends play themselves. https://gizmodo.com/jay-and-seth-vs-the-apocalypse-features-creepiest-cele-5453153 The cast list includes…

Is it really true that homosexuality can be explained by epigenetics?

Early last week we told you about a new paper published in the Quarterly Review of Biology which suggests that homosexuality arises on account of epigenetic processes rather than genetic ones (i.e. non-heritable factors that alter the expression of DNA). Not surprisingly, the web exploded in a firestorm of debate, with opinions and interpretations spanning…

Charting causes of death in America between 1970 and 2006

Some damn fine data visualization (interactive data visualization, at that!) by the folks at the Institue for Health Metrics and evaluation. Here are some snap-judgements: All Causes (males pictured above) A downward trend in the combined causes accounted for. True for males and females alike. Tuberculosis Not much of an issue in the U.S. anymore.…

You Can’t Replicate These Ultra-Rare Blade Runner Storyboards

Even after three decades, Ridley Scott’s dystopian saga remains a hallmark of science-fiction cinema, retaining a fervent and loyal fan base. But even among dedicated memorabilia collectors, Geoff Hutchins’ exhaustive archive of Blade Runner-related items is simply stunning. Over the past ten years, Hutchins’ catalog has grown from a single Big Box VHS tape to…

The Absolute Best Comics and Graphic Novels of 2012

Movie special effects have gotten better and better, but the big screen still can’t deliver the kind of mind-blowing visuals and intricate, stare-for-hours detail that comics bring us. This year’s greatest comics included some fantastic science fiction, some thrilling space opera — and a handful of superhero titles that made us celebrate the age of…

This Giant Terrarium Lamp Is a Beautiful Bedside Prism

The Companion Lamp looks like one of those glass prism planters discovered the chest of cookies from Alice and Wonderland that read “eat me,” chowed down, and grew five times its size. And I love it. The lamp a beautiful piece, made by ABJ Glassworks in Philadelphia. Each one has either silver or copper trim.…

Rebuilding the Web We Lost

We have the obligation to never speak of our concerns without suggesting our solutions. I’ve been truly gratified to watch the response to The Web We Lost over the last few days; It’s become one of the most popular things I’ve ever written and has inspired great responses. But the most important question we can…

This Nazi Christmas party must have been the worst ever

December 1941 was not a good time for Adolf Hitler — and you can see it on his face in these remarkable color photos taken by his official photographer, Hugo Jaeger. The war was supposed to have been over by this point — but the Russian campaign was turning into a fiasco and the Americans…

Did fist fighting change the course of human evolution?

The human hand is a beautiful product of evolution. Each one a finely crafted arrangement of 27 bones, our hands are among the most dexterous in the animal kingdom, and are every bit as capable of threading a needle as they are grasping the oar of a canoe. But newly published findings suggest our palms…

Yep, 3D Printed Records Sound Awful, But They’re Still Pretty Awesome

If you don’t recognize it, that’s Daft Punk’s Around the World playing off a plastic LP created with a high-resolution 3D printer. It sounds awful, even worse than AM radio ever did, but that’s not what’s really important here. The fact that it exists at all is what’s neat, and it’s another example of how…

With $2.7 billion of revenue and a loss of .22 dollars per share, RIM did slightly less bad than expected. Yay, RIM!

New Peel-and-Stick Solar Cells Can Power Anything

You usually see solar cells on houses and buildings; those aren’t the only things they can power, obviously, but they’re too rigid to be adaptable enough to put most other places. Finally, though, Stanford researchers have invented the flexible photovaltaics that peel and stick like decals. Can you say solar-powered business card? These flimsier solar…

A Spotify Channel is now available on Roku 2 and Roku Streaming Stick. It’ll show up soon on Roku HD and Roku LT.

This Snow Globe Timelapse Is Freaking Gorgeous

Early leader for least corny, still cool holiday video: a timelapse shot through snowglobes of cities in Canada and England. OK, sure, the “snowglobes” are just glass gloves, but it’s still impressive, since the photographer says that the video is assembled from nothing but still photographs taken with a macro lens and a homemade tilt-shift…

Do you want to set ice on fire? Let’s do it!

This is very cool. Fire and ice are not just interesting things to pair in the titles of fantasy books. They can actually go together, with ice acting as a fuel source for fire. Want to know what to use to light your Song of Ice and Fire themed party? How about some actual flaming…

Will humans continue to evolve during multigenerational space missions?

Scientific American has posted an interview and podcast with Portland State University anthropologist Cameron Smith about the ways in which humans might evolve during extended missions in space. Given the intense timeframes involved, Smith speculates about the various ways in which Darwinian pressures will continue to shape human evolution. Just because we’re in space, he…

The Lego Back to the Future Set Is Now OFFICIAL!

It’s official, people. We won! The Lego Back to the Future—one of the Holy Grails of Lego—is going to be an official set! The fans have spoken and Lego has approved it. They are going to produce it for everyone to buy it! Yes, i’m so excited. https://gizmodo.com/nerdgasm-the-official-lego-back-to-the-future-set-is-a-5906074 Just like it happened to the Lego…

Heads up: Nintendo’s Tvii for Wii U just went live—right on schedule.

Could this be next year’s most haunting movie?

Check out a brand new trailer for Vanishing Waves, the Lithuanian erotic science fiction romance that’s been sweeping festivals and winning tons of awards. Vanishing Waves hits U.S. theaters in 2013, and we honestly can’t wait. Check out the NSFW redband trailer, which came out last summer, here. Here’s the official synopsis: Have you ever…

Concrete Wine Bunkers Let You Get Drunk Even After the World Ends

We’re just hours from the Apocalypse at this point. It’s way too late to take any preventative action, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be ready for the aftermath. And what are you going to want when you’re battered and bruised, wandering around the torrid wasteland that once was Earth? Alcohol. All of it. https://gizmodo.com/7-ways-the-world-really-could-end-tomorrow-5969688…