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The First Binary Star System With More than One Planet

Last September, NASA’s planet-hunting Kepler mission announced the discovery of Kepler-16b, a “circumbinary” planet which, like Star Wars’ Tatooine, orbits not one, but two stars. https://gizmodo.com/nasa-weve-discovered-the-first-tatooine-like-planet-5840691 Now, almost one year later, NASA has outdone itself: members of the Kepler mission announced today the discovery of Kepler 47, a binary star system, located about 5,000 light…

Archaeological dig at Concentration Camp reveals what the Nazis tried to hide

Archaeology is typically associated with the study of ancient history, but a recent excavation at the infamous Sobibor extermination camp in Poland has demonstrated its incredible potential for uncovering secrets locked within modern ruins. As the Sobibor dig has revealed, there is still lots to learn about the Holocaust — including those things the Nazis…

Where Do You Upload Your Photos on the Internet?

I know. For most people it’s Facebook. Go out, get drunk, snap pics, upload, tag friends, Like. Repeat. Everybody does this. But I don’t want this. Flickr was a solution once upon a time but Flickr is, um, not what it used to be. How about Picasa? Something else? https://gizmodo.com/how-yahoo-killed-flickr-and-lost-the-internet-5910223 The reason I’m avoiding Facebook…

One anthology contains the most amazing visions of future Japan

In his introduction to The Future is Japanese, co-editor Nick Mamatas notes that Japanese Science Fiction is just like “Western Science Fiction, in that it is hard and soft, dark and whimsical, rigorous and fantastical.” And Mamatas’ new book, coedited with Masumi Washington, serves as a fantastic bridge between Western and Japanese SF. The anthology…

Windows 8’s Great Great Grandfather Was a Real Jerq

Why Xerox never chose to capitalize on the groundbreaking GUI developments made at its Palo Alto Research Center may never fully be understood. But other companies certainly saw the value, and in addition to Microsoft and Apple creating their own graphical computer interfaces, Bell Labs created the Blit in 1982 which was originally called the…

Why Giant Birds Would Be Scarier Than Feathered Dinosaurs

Last week on the io9 show, I expressed my strong belief that dinosaurs just don’t look as terrifying or impressive with feathers. And some of you made good points in your replies — but come on. Some of these images of dinosaurs with feathers make the dinos look like giant woodpeckers — which are among…

It May Be Called the ‘Desktop Chair,’ but This iPad Stand Would Look Great in a Kitchen

The “Desktop Chair” is an iPad and MacBook stand designed by Moku Woodware, and looks like something that would fit in perfectly on your kitchen counter while cooking dinner and channeling your inner Emeril Lagasse. The handmade construction makes use of basswood for a study and modern construction, while still playing on traditional Japanese design…

What if Hermione, Katniss, Michonne and Buffy lived together? Presenting BAMF Girls Club

In this spoof of the truly terrible reality TV show Bad Girls’ Club, a group of clever geek comedians ponder what it would be like if these reality TV shows were actually cast with people we wanted to watch fight amongst themselves? So they created the BAMF Girls Club — starring Buffy, Katniss, Hermoine, Lisbeth,…

Grimm goes Coyote Ugly with Jacob from Lost

Grimm takes a break from refusing to explain the Seven Kingdoms of Fairy Tale Royalty to tackle one dangling plot line. Hey we couldn’t leave “Sassy Black Police Partner” alone in the closet with a gun this entire season. Oh pish posh, I know his name is Hank. And that’s a really big step for…

UK Telegraph: Apple Planning a New Version of AirPlay that Doesn’t Need a Separate Wi-Fi Network

There could be some really awesome new products coming our way next month at Apple’s rumored September iPhone event. The Telegraph is reporting that Apple is going to release an update to AirPlay—dubbed “AirPlay Direct”— that would take away the need for a home Wi-Fi network. https://gizmodo.com/report-apple-iphone-and-ipad-mini-announcement-will-be-5930041 All you’d need to stream music would be…

The History of the Photograph in a Facebook Timeline

What does a photograph mean to you today? Maybe an Instagram pic shot with your iPhone. Or a Facebook group photo taken with a point and shoot. Or if you’re fancy, a DSLR-taken, Flickr-uploaded portrait. But what was it before? Kodak? Polaroid? This Facebook Timeline shows you the life of a photograph, from its invention…

Netatmo Urban Weather Station Review: What the Hell Is the Point of This Thing?

A personal weather station that beams environmental data up to the cloud then down to a colorful smartphone app sounds like an awesome uber gadget. Exciting! But in the end the Netatmo Urban Weather Station just left us confused. What Is It? A $180 “weather station” that records seemingly random metrics about indoor and outdoor…

Everything You Need To Enjoy Tennis Greats Smacking Some Balls Around

If you didn’t get enough of the world’s greatest tennis players demolishing their competitors at the Olympics, the U.S. Open is another opportunity to watch these titans of tennis smack around fuzzy green balls. But to fully enjoy the spectacle you have to immerse yourself in all things tennis, so here’s everything you’ll need to…

Is This Our First Look at Accessories for the iPhone 5’s New Dock Connector? (Updated)

Well this could be something. iLounge is reporting that it’s got images of accessories made for the iPhone 5’s new dock connector. And at first glance, they seem to confirm a lot of what we’ve been hearing about it. https://gizmodo.com/whats-really-going-on-with-apples-new-dock-connector-5933315 The images look like they’re from Scosche, a third party accessories maker. They abide by…

One Simple and Incredibly Painful Way to Fix Your Novel Draft

Congratulations! You’ve written a first draft of a science fiction or fantasy novel. You (and your heroes) have vanquished the enemy, and your story has come to a glorious end. And now, the real agony begins. Chances are your first draft is a misshapen wreck, which requires huge surgery. The good news is, there’s one…

Amidst lawsuits from the major labels, Grooveshark’s streaming music app is again available on Google Play. Huh. https://gizmodo.com/grooveshark-will-soon-be-destroyed-5862026

A Red Architect’s Lamp is a Classic Way to Update Your Desk

Our office tends to get really dark. If you sit in a particularly shadowy corner, you need some extra lighting unless you want to squint, which ruins your vision and gives you crow’s feet, your mother told you for the fiftieth time. Crate and Barrel’s red Task Lamp is a classic way to add a…

Underwater Wheelchair Rides Should Be a Real Thing

Would it ever really make sense to build wheelchairs that can cruise around underwater? Maybe not. But when it’s an art project, watching a wheelchair power around in the sea is surreal and oddly mesmerizing. There’s really nothing else to do but sit back and enjoy the visuals for what they are—beautiful. [Freewheeling]

Facebook Camera app update adds notifications and ability to upload to existing albums.

NASA to Announce Mysterious New Black Hole Discoveries Tomorrow!

Supermassive black holes, rare galaxies, oh my! Tomorrow afternoon, NASA will be hosting a teleconference to discuss new discoveries surrounding these and other extreme deep-space objects. According to SPACE.com: The NASA update is set for Wednesday (Aug. 29) at 1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT) and will discuss the latest science findings from NASA’s Wide-field Infrared…