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Why Are Scientists Firing Rockets Against Auroras?

NASA scientists are now firing 46-foot-tall two-stage rockets against auroras because they hate them and they smell bad. Or maybe because they want to test how extreme space weather can affect digital communications between ground bases and spacecraft or satellites. https://gizmodo.com/a-raging-solar-storm-is-hitting-the-earth-right-now-5878656 Especially now that we are getting close to a new high in solar activity.…

Tech News Jesus Diaz Feb 21 '12

How much would it cost to build the Death Star?

You already know how much energy the Death Star would require to destroy Earth. You’ve seen the blueprints. But how much would it cost to build the Death Star, in real life? https://gizmodo.com/how-much-energy-would-the-death-star-require-to-destroy-5876473 https://gizmodo.com/get-the-plans-for-the-death-star-at-last-5814896 The economics geeks over at Centives did some calculations, and based on just the cost of the steel required to build…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders Feb 21 '12

Astronomers discover a brand-new class of exoplanet — the boiling Waterworld

NASA’s Kepler mission has been spoiling us with planetary discoveries left and right as of late. Now, researchers using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope have discovered an entirely new class of planet — they call it a “waterworld,” and it might be covered in broiling-hot ice. https://gizmodo.com/meet-the-galaxys-26-newest-planets-5879976 Illustration via ESA – AOES Medialab In our own…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez Feb 21 '12

Building a Giant Lego Millennium Falcon in Less Than 12 Parsecs*

It apparently took Francisco Prieto three years to complete this animation of a monster Lego Millennium Falcon build. Which sounds about right, given how my much time my 10 year old self spent on the most pathetic of improvised Lego vehicles. * Yes okay I know a parsec is a unit of distance not of…

Tech News Michael Hession Feb 21 '12

Streampix: Comcast’s Answer to Its Netflix Problem?

Comcast is about to launch Xfinity Streampix, a new video-on-demand service for Comcast subscribers. Will this really keep people from quitting cable to sign up for Netflix? Oh great, yet another video streaming service. Streampix will allow Comcast customers to access what appears to be a huge pool of content on their TVs, tablets, and…

Tech News Mario Aguilar Feb 21 '12

64 Pieces of Proof That the World Is Ending: It’s Raining Fire

What happens when you spin steel wool in the air? You can accidentally start a forest fire. Oh, and the photos turn out amazingly! https://gizmodo.com/shooting-challenge-steel-wool-5885452 Winner – Waiting Out the Storm I’ve been wanting to take a photo like this with raining sparks for awhile now. Originally I had planned on using some 4th of…

Tech News Mark Wilson Feb 21 '12

Shooting Challenge Steel Wool 2

With my girlfriends help spinning the wool and me across the small frozen pond out back we were able to capture this shot containing the wool trick and the glow of the city lights behind her and the trees. Took a few tries but we had a lot of fun with this technique. – John…

Tech News Kyle Wagner Feb 21 '12

Shooting Challenge Steel Wool 3

Here our goal was to rip apart the fabric of space time using steel wool as our catalyst. Unfortunately, all we were able to do was unleash a flamboyant, German erotic dancer from the year 6969. Sorry, but the only thing we gained out of this photo shoot was the knowledge that the future is…

Tech News Kyle Wagner Feb 21 '12

Shooting Challenge Steel Wool

I broke the bottom off the wine bottle and stuck a piece of metal duct in to give it a longer “combustion chamber”, and that whole mess was held up by a bike stand. I would trigger the shutter, light the steel wool in the duct and then use a blow dryer to blow some…

Tech News Kyle Wagner Feb 21 '12

Which is the deadlier kung fu style: the land canoe or human go-kart?

In this unheralded scene from director Chao Chung-Hsing 1985 flick Drunken Dragon, the villainous Master of Doom (and one of his candle-headed henchmen) attempt to steal a precious sword. The artifact is guarded by a virtuous monk who battles in what can only be described as a “land canoe.” Unfortunately for our hero, the villains…

Movies Cyriaque Lamar Feb 21 '12

Team USA’s Lightest Basketball Jerseys Ever Are Made From Recycled Plastic Bottles

Made from 96% recycled polyester, Nike says the jerseys that Team USA will wear for the 2012 Olympics in London are the lightest jerseys it has ever made. On top of that, the shorts the basketball team will be wearing are actually made from 100% recycled polyester and weigh only 5 ounces. All that technofancy…

Tech News Casey Chan Feb 21 '12

The Scale of the Universe 2 Will Blow Your Mind Once Again

Like the Godfather, the second part of the interactive Scale of the Universe by Cary Huang is even better than the first one. Prettier, with more information, and smoother. You can click here to enjoy being reminded of your mortality and insignificance. I have this weird mix of wonderment and depression right now. You broke…

Tech News Jesus Diaz Feb 21 '12

Here Is the “Dildonic” Device Women Seeking An Abortion in Virginia Will Have to Endure (NSFW)

Virginia is poised to change its law to require that women who seek an abortion have to have an ultrasound. Sound harmless? Well, it’s a transvaginal ultrasound. Which means penetration. Here’s how it works. (WARNING: Extremely NSFW image to follow.) https://jezebel.com/law-forcing-abortion-seekers-to-have-vaginal-probe-tota-5886102 Virginia is poised to change its laws to require any woman who seeks an…

Tech News Mat Honan Feb 21 '12

10 Science Fiction and Fantasy Endings We’d Like to See More Often

All too often, endings are synonymous with “letdown.” We all love to complain about how our favorite science fiction TV series or movies ended. And we’re kind of sick of twist endings and “WTF Mindfrak” endings. But on the other hand, there are some endings that we just don’t see enough of. It’s just not…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders Feb 21 '12

Orphaned Photos Find Owners in Tsunami-Ravaged Town

Last year’s earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan left countless individuals separated from their possessions, including family photos. The Japanese town of Ofunato has set up a hub where people can come to search through piles of salvaged pictures with the hope of finding their own. Satako Kinno is a paper conservationist leading the effort.…

Tech News Michael Hession Feb 21 '12

And now, 15 minutes of Worf’s ideas getting shot down by everyone on The Next Generation

This is easily the most depressing supercut I’ve seen in a while. Why the hell did the Enterprise crew keep the son of Mogh around if they were just going to crap all over his suggestions time and time again? That killjoy Riker, preventing our disenfranchised Klingon buddy from rending esophagi and whatnot. Related: Worf’s…

Television Cyriaque Lamar Feb 21 '12

Google Sued Over Safari Privacy Debacle

Last week, it came out that Google has been bypassing privacy settings in Safari, and installing cookies to track the browsing habits of millions of users who didn’t know about the tracking. Now Google is being sued and could be on the hook for millions. https://gizmodo.com/wsj-google-planted-cookies-on-iphones-without-anyones-5885929 Businessweek reports that a class-action complaint has been filed…

Tech News Mario Aguilar Feb 21 '12

Cuttlefish have a visual superpower – they see the world in polarized light

Cuttlefish are among the most remarkable of cephalopods, but nobody expected the creatures to have this particular trick up their sleeve. Cuttlefish can actually see information in the angle of intense polarized light that we can barely comprehend. We’re generally most familiar with this particular concept from polarized sunglasses. The idea is that light that…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins Feb 21 '12

Microsoft Smacks Down Google Apps in Attack Video

Microsoft is continuing its video campaign specifically targeting Google. This time, the target is Google’s continued attempts to move in on Microsoft’s productivity software. Microsoft is eager to point out Google’s set of consumer-level and constantly changing features, lack of flexibility, and privacy issues. They even made a jingle! https://gizmodo.com/microsoft-thinks-gmail-sure-is-hilarious-5825755 These grievances are further articulated…

Tech News Michael Hession Feb 21 '12

Sydney Opera House Is Our New Favorite Lego Architecture Set

The Sydney Opera House is one of the three Lego Architecture models coming out this year, along with London’s Big Ben and South Korea’s Namdaemun Gate. It’s a neat small construction. The $40 set—model 21012—includes 270 pieces.

Tech News Jesus Diaz Feb 21 '12

Why Are Scientists Firing Rockets Against Auroras?

How much would it cost to build the Death Star?

Astronomers discover a brand-new class of exoplanet — the boiling Waterworld

Building a Giant Lego Millennium Falcon in Less Than 12 Parsecs*

Streampix: Comcast’s Answer to Its Netflix Problem?

64 Pieces of Proof That the World Is Ending: It’s Raining Fire

Shooting Challenge Steel Wool 2

Shooting Challenge Steel Wool 3

Shooting Challenge Steel Wool

Which is the deadlier kung fu style: the land canoe or human go-kart?

Team USA’s Lightest Basketball Jerseys Ever Are Made From Recycled Plastic Bottles

The Scale of the Universe 2 Will Blow Your Mind Once Again

Here Is the “Dildonic” Device Women Seeking An Abortion in Virginia Will Have to Endure (NSFW)

10 Science Fiction and Fantasy Endings We’d Like to See More Often

Orphaned Photos Find Owners in Tsunami-Ravaged Town

And now, 15 minutes of Worf’s ideas getting shot down by everyone on The Next Generation

Google Sued Over Safari Privacy Debacle

Cuttlefish have a visual superpower – they see the world in polarized light

Microsoft Smacks Down Google Apps in Attack Video

Sydney Opera House Is Our New Favorite Lego Architecture Set

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