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Watch an octopus instantly make quicksand and then completely disappear in it

If you need more proof that the octopus is absolutely the super villain of the sea, check out this gnarly superpower that allows the southern sand octopus to create an automatic secret hideout: it shoots jets of water at the sand to make quicksand which it burrows itself in and effectively disappears. New Scientist explains:…

What Modern Achievement Would Most Impress a Time Traveler From the Roman Empire?

Strap the Roman visitor into the passenger seat of something like this. Start the engine. Explain to him that there’s a box full of a special sort of oil that’s burning in constant tiny explosions, making that thing in front that’s like three sword blades fastened together spin around 2700 times per minute. If he’s…

Dying to catch a glimpse of the new X-Files relaunch? A special two-part “trailer” will air Monday night during Gotham and Minority Report on Fox. Contact the author at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @Charliejane

Bandai’s Captain Phasma Figure Is Totally Badass

Okay, so we’ve not seen much of The Force Awakens’ Captain Phasma in action so far. But we know that a), she has amazing shiny armor, b) she’s played by Game of Thrones’ Gwendoline Christie, and c) she’s got a cool cape. In Star Wars, that’s more than enough badassery to earn you an action…

This Tiny “Nano-Wrench” Can Twist Molecules Into Custom Shapes

If engineers ever hope to build structures at the nanoscale, they’re going to need very, very tiny fingers. Or at least very tiny tools. By building a wrench that’s just 1.7 nanometers across, researchers from the University of Vermont have taken a critical step in that direction. This technique leverages an attribute of molecules known…

In The New Lego Video Game, Doctor Who‘s Weeping Angels Are Scarier Than Ever 

They are fast, faster than you could believe. Don’t turn your back. Don’t look away. And don’t. Even. Brick. Err, blink. Definitely don’t blink. Bricking is optional. Warning: There’s minor spoilers for part of the Doctor Who section of Lego Dimensions below. If you plan on picking up the game and don’t want any surprises…

A Not-So-Fantastical Plan To Save California From Drought With Cacti

Imagine the Central Valley of California not as a patchwork of drought-vulnerable crops but as a network of farms that use almost no water. Not only that, these farms can also filter existing water while providing acres of food for Californians. Imagine that thirsty alfalfa no longer reigns: Cactus is king. This is one potential…

Which Trend Was the Worst Thing to Happen to Genre Movies?

It’s time to get up on your soapboxes, film fans. Which trend past or present is the absolute worst thing ever to happen to genre movies? Is it Hollywood’s obsession with superhero origin stories? Its decision to make every new action movie three hours long and in 3D? Its unstoppable fondness for remaking (or “rebooting”)…

A Beginner’s Guide to American Single Malt Whiskey

A couple years ago, American single malt whiskey had its Bottle Shock moment. Just like the California wines that beat the French in a blind taste test back in 1976, an American single malt trounced the Scotch in the prestigious Best in Glass competition. And if you’re not already a fan of the burgeoning genre,…

Here’s Why It’s So Hard to Have Amazing Action Sequences in Movies

While there’s a ton of explosive action in movies out there today, it’s rare to find genuinely good action in our big-ticket films. Why? Is it because action scenes suck? Not really. As this video from Niko Pueringer and Sam Gorski of Corridor Digital shows, it’s mainly because it’s really hard to get right. Fantastic,…

Facebook Attempts to Make Notes Less Bleak

Facebook Notes are bleak. The blogging alternative that Mark Zuckerberg always insisted was not for blogging is a great way to read long blog-like posts from people that you used to know. And now, thanks to a facelift, Notes look less like status updates and more like, well, blog posts. The social network is now…

Hackers Found a Sly Way to Look at Photos on a Locked iPhone

Apple doesn’t have a perfect track record when it comes to giving hackers access to locked iPhones. It actually seems like every version of Apple’s mobile operating system ends up exposing a bug that grants anyone access. And iOS 9 is the latest. Some security researchers found a way to slide past the iPhone lock…

That New, Official Harry Potter Play Will Come In Two Parts

Were you planning a trip to London to see that new Harry Potter play? Well, things just changed a bit. Author J.K Rowling just announced on Twitter that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will be released in two parts. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has a story by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and…

Batman Day Has Gotten Too Commercial

As we all know, this Saturday is Batman Day, the 24 hours we as a people set aside to honor the Caped Crusader and celebrate his lengthy career fighting crime. Since its creation in the distant days of 2014, I too have happily partaken in Batman Day festivities, but now I must speak up—because I…

The Dopest Pope Francis Memes On The Internet

Have you heard that the Pope is dope? Kim Kardashian set off a kerfluffle in Argentina after tweeting that very sentiment. Argentine media interpreted her tweet as “the Pope is drugs” and took offense, some even branding Kardashian his “enemy.” While I’m certain the Kardashians are signs of an approaching apocalypse, Kim likely picked up…

Why I’ll Probably Ditch My Carrier For Google’s Project Fi

One month ago, we tried Google’s experimental cell phone service. It was a disaster. But I guess the second time’s a charm. After spending two weeks with Project Fi in the San Francisco Bay Area, I’m just about ready to ditch my old carrier. What’s Project Fi? To recap, Project Fi is a new way…

Living With Data: “This Shirt Was Designed Just for You!”

Ever wonder why ads for a particular pair of socks keep following you around the web? Or why that one person you hardly know keeps showing up in your news feed when your old friends rarely seem to appear? All these questions come back to data, and the algorithms that process it. This is the…

Almost half of all U.S. seafood is plucked from the seas and deposited directly into the trashcan, according to a new study on global seafood consumption. The majority of the waste, say researchers, is taking place in our kitchens.

Video explainer: How did language begin?

There are many theories on how human language began. Some think it may have started from imitating sounds that already exist in real life. Others think it could have started with our sounds that come from natural reactions (pain, etc.). Or it could have been grunts and noises made when needed to work together. Or…

Clever Ebola Chip Will Help Doctors Detect Infected People Without Absurd Lab Equipment

In the highly unfortunate case you’re infected with Ebola, you really need to catch it ASAP so that you can quarantine yourself and get treated. That’s why scientists are now developing a portable ‘Ebola chip’ that optically analyzes fluid samples and sniffs out nasty virus particles within minutes. Ebola detection relies on a method called…