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Why can’t we spell English words phonetically?

English, whatever its merits as a language, is a bitch to spell. There are so many rules, and so many exceptions, and yet in the end you have to learn a lot of words on a case-by-case basis. If future linguists discover our written texts, what on Earth will they think English sounded like? So…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell Aug 22

Ad Hawk: Find Out Which Shadowy Company Is Paying for Those Political Ads

You could drive yourself crazy listening to political ads that sound like they’re trying to help you by playing up the strong points of one candidate and exposing the shady business of another. But most of the time these ads are paid for by some corporation or group with an agenda. The Sunlight Foundation’s new…

Tech News Leslie Horn Aug 22

Science Fiction Sunday School Comics From The 1970s Were Trippy As Balls

In the 1970s, Archie and Marvel Comics artist Al Hartley — who became a born-again Christian the previous decade — began writing and illustrating religious comics. Some of these evangelical funny books starred Jughead discovering Jesus, whereas others were space operas about Space Satan and his tricked-out UFO. Throughout the Seventies, Spire Christian Comics published…

Books & Comics Cyriaque Lamar Aug 22

Olympus’s New 40X Superzoom Camera Will Let You Snap All The Long Distance Myspace Poses You Desire

Maybe you’re trying to creepily snap spy shots of someone across the street. Or maybe you’re unhealthily obsessed with photographing planes in flight. Either way, the measly 3X zoom on your point and shoot might not be enough. Maybe Olympus’ latest superzoom, with 40X optical zoom and 1080p video capabilities, will suit you better. Equipped…

Tech News Adrian Covert Aug 22

This beautiful video about parabolas will 100% blow your mind

I know, I know. You’re probably wondering how exciting parabolas can actually be, right? Well, it turns out that, in the remarkably capable hands of mathematical rambler/artist/stream-of-conscious-doodle-wizard Vi Hart, the answer is: pretty damn interesting. If you’re already familiar with Hart, then she needs no introduction — just sit back and enjoy the ride. If…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez Aug 22

iRobot’s Inflatable Arm Could Be the Future of Grappling

If you remember our Bots of War series from last year, than you are familiar with iRobot’s hardcore military robot fleet. But just because they’re awesome doesn’t mean they’re done evolving. The comping generations may have lightweight, inflatable arms. The prototype arm you see in the video above doesn’t have an inner skeleton to give…

Tech News Brent Rose Aug 22

A Built-In Projector Manages To Make This Crappy Media Player Even Worse

Desperately clinging to a product category that smartphones have all but wiped out, this tiny media player has its sights set on the iPod Shuffle. And it hopes to nip away at its market share with a killer feature—a built-in projector—that only succeeds in making this device even worse. Being able to enjoy videos and…

Gadgets Andrew Liszewski Aug 22

What’s the shortest time it took for you to fall in love with a TV show?

Over in the comments on our post about how to tell from a pilot whether you’re going to like a TV show, Michael_GR has a great question: https://gizmodo.com/how-to-tell-from-a-pilot-if-a-tv-show-is-going-to-be-an-5936264 What’s the shortest time it took for you to like a show? I think it took me all of ten minutes to like Battlestar Galactica. The specific…

Television Charlie Jane Anders Aug 22

Sabu Is Still Working for the FBI

It’s been almost half a year since LulzSec mastermind Hector “Sabu” Monsegur turned on his people in one of the most dramatic turns of hacking history. And in order to get another half away from a judge, he’s still snitching. https://gizmodo.com/lulzsec-leader-betrays-all-of-anonymous-5890825 Wired reports Sabu’s getting “a six-month reprieve from being sentenced on 12 counts of…

Tech News Sam Biddle Aug 22

Heat-Proof Face Paint Withstands Bomb Blast Heat

If you thought your make-up’s UV protection was good, how about face paint that can withstand the intense heat of a bomb blast? US researchers have created a camouflage face paint that may soon be used by soldiers and firemen to shield them from extreme heat. As well as waves of pressure, exploding bombs emit…

Tech News Molly Docherty - New Scientist Aug 22

Read an excerpt from Osiris, a novel about revolution in a post-apocalyptic, floating city

Just out from Nightshade Books is Osiris, the first novel from London author E. J. Swift, and the first in a trilogy called The Osiris Project. We’ve got an excerpt. First, here’s the plot overview of the book: Rising high above the frigid waters, the ocean city of Osiris has been cut off from the…

Books & Comics Annalee Newitz Aug 22

Curiosity makes first tracks on Mars, names its landing site in Ray Bradbury’s honor

The award for best science/science fiction mashup of the week goes to NASA’s newly landed Curiosity Rover, which minutes ago not only wished the late Ray Bradbury, author of Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles a happy birthday, but also announced that its landing sight will henceforth be known officially as “Bradbury Landing”: https://gizmodo.com/r-i-p-ray-bradbury-author-of-fahrenheit-451-and-the-m-5916175 Curiosity…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez Aug 22

This Sure Looks Like Apple’s New iPhone Cable

Another day closer to the iPhone 5 launch, another alleged leak part. This time is the USB cable with the rumored iPhone dock connector. It certainly looks designed by Apple, a bit like a Thunderbolt cable. https://gizmodo.com/is-this-apples-new-iphone-dock-connector-5933710 It’s like, magical! Cablelutionary. [Twitter via Business Insider]

Tech News Jesus Diaz Aug 22

John Dies at the End finally gets a freakin distributor. About time, too.

We’ve been wondering for months when John Dies at the End would finally be coming to a theater near you — and while there’s still no release date, there’s some very welcome movement. The festival smash hit, based on David Wong’s hit novel, finally has a distribution deal through Magnet Releasing, and it’ll be on…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders Aug 22

Shooting Challenge: Summer

It’s hot, sweaty and there’s just a month left. It’s summer, and in 6 months, we’ll all pray for a good sunburn. So for this week’s Shooting Challenge, capture summer to keep us warm all year. The Challenge Capture a photo of summer. (And for our friends across the globe who are experiencing winter, feel…

Tech News Mark Wilson Aug 22

How to Tell from a Pilot if a TV Show is Going to be Any Good

Soon enough, the big television networks will offer up their brand new shows for your approval. You’ll get to see the pilot episodes that producers and execs were sweating over last spring. A great TV pilot can be like a thrilling summer movie, leaving the door open to weeks of adventures afterwards. http://io9.com/5935410/our-giant-guide-to-falls-must+see-science-fiction-and-fantasy-shows?tag=io9fallpreview https://gizmodo.com/tv-pilots-that-are-as-good-as-most-summer-movies-5839375 But…

Television Charlie Jane Anders Aug 22

The Best E-Cigarette

Electronic cigarettes change everything for smokers. One day you’re a societal menace, a pariah forced out onto the street to get your fix—the next you’re dosing yourself with nicotine in the New York Public Library. It’s actually absolutely possible to banish your smoking habit with ecigs—it was possible for me, anyway—but only if you choose…

Tech News Mario Aguilar Aug 22

Ask True Blood‘s Reverend Steve Newlin Anything, Right Now!

True Blood’s scene stealer and recently out-of-the-coffin (and closet) vampire, Reverend Steve Newlin is stopping by io9 now! Join hilarious writer and actor Michael McMillian as he answers all of your burning questions about the good Reverend and his sweet pompadour. Before he was devouring entire fraternity houses with Russell Edgington (the magnificent Denis O’Hare),…

Television Meredith Woerner Aug 22

Facebook Messages Just Got Way Easier to Use

Facebook Messages, which has been the stuck-in-2004 ugly big sister to the already-butt-ugly Facebook Chat, actually looks sort of usable now thanks to a new two-panel design. The design is similar to the one used by other online web clients, like AIM, and Apple’s new default IM layout in Messages. Instead of the old just-the-messages,…

Social Media Kyle Wagner Aug 22

Mars Curiosity Moves For the First Time

The success of the Mars Curiosity rover continues. As this image just released buy NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory shows, Curiosity is now moving without any problem whatsoever. https://gizmodo.com/the-mars-curiosity-rover-has-landed-live-coverage-fr-5932039 You can clearly see the tracks in this part of a new 360-degree panorama. The rover started to move on August 22, according to the mission drivers.…

Tech News Jesus Diaz Aug 22

Why can’t we spell English words phonetically?

Ad Hawk: Find Out Which Shadowy Company Is Paying for Those Political Ads

Science Fiction Sunday School Comics From The 1970s Were Trippy As Balls

Olympus’s New 40X Superzoom Camera Will Let You Snap All The Long Distance Myspace Poses You Desire

This beautiful video about parabolas will 100% blow your mind

iRobot’s Inflatable Arm Could Be the Future of Grappling

A Built-In Projector Manages To Make This Crappy Media Player Even Worse

What’s the shortest time it took for you to fall in love with a TV show?

Sabu Is Still Working for the FBI

Heat-Proof Face Paint Withstands Bomb Blast Heat

Read an excerpt from Osiris, a novel about revolution in a post-apocalyptic, floating city

Curiosity makes first tracks on Mars, names its landing site in Ray Bradbury’s honor

This Sure Looks Like Apple’s New iPhone Cable

John Dies at the End finally gets a freakin distributor. About time, too.

Shooting Challenge: Summer

How to Tell from a Pilot if a TV Show is Going to be Any Good

The Best E-Cigarette

Ask True Blood‘s Reverend Steve Newlin Anything, Right Now!

Facebook Messages Just Got Way Easier to Use

Mars Curiosity Moves For the First Time

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