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Check Out the First Footage of the Probably Non-Vampiric Vampire Squirrel

Rheithrosciurus macrotis has multiple names. One name is the tufted ground squirrel and the other is the “vampire squirrel.” You can’t really blame people for liking the second name better. Take a look at the first video ever to capture the squirrel in the wild. This cute little guy roams the forests of Indonesia. Its…

Our Favorite Android, iOS, and Windows Phone Apps of the Week

Welcome to another installment of sweet new apps. In this week’s batch we’ve got an app that takes the concept of live video streaming to the next level, a social app that lets you spout off your opinion as much as you’d like, and more. Without further ado, let’s dig in. Android Mirrativ If Twitch…

Help! My Partner Is Addicted to Collecting Toys and It’s Freaking Me Out

Hey, folks! Sorry to dispense with my normal nonsense, but I got a really important letter that I‘m very excited to share. I don’t get a ton of letters dealing with real issues, but I’m always happy to try to help. If you only read this for silliness, don’t worry—there’s still an insane Mad Max…

A Secret Blaster on Hasbro’s Battle Action Millennium Falcon Fires Nerf Darts

A Star Wars film without the Millennium Falcon just isn’t a Star Wars film. That’s why those prequels felt so weird, and why The Force Awakens made sure to include that bucket of space bolts. The same applies to Star Wars toy lines, so here’s Hasbro’s latest take on Solo’s ship. Designed for kids aged…

Onkyo’s New Wireless Earbuds Look Hilariously Huge

Onkyo is best known for its strong tradition of audiophile-grade home theater gear. But the legendary Japanese hi-fi company is branching out, andjust unveiled a massive-looking set of completely wireless earbuds at IFA in Berlin. They probably sound great, but like home theater components, you probably couldn’t go jogging with them. Don’t get me wrong,…

This old man’s memories are so vivid they feel completely real

Sometimes all it takes is a smell or an image or a flavor to bring back memories so realistic that you almost feel like you’ve traveled back in time. It’s the easiest way to revisit your past without having to worry about unraveling the fabric of the space-time continuum. However, some memories can be a…

BB-8 and Puppies is the Cutest Thing You’ll See This Week

Images, videos, and reviews of the Sphero BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens hit the Internet today, and they’ve got fans in a frenzy. Some are even salivating over this high-end $150 toy. Some … like this adorable group of puppies. Yes, there’s a video of BB-8 playing with puppies and it’s precious. Vanity…

Poopfiction Is a Site That Picks the Perfect Story For Your Bathroom Break

We all check (and double-check) our social media while ‘killing time’ in the bathroom, but what happens when you run out of new posts? A new site called Poopfiction is here to help, serving up short stories depending on how much time you think you’ll be in the loo. All of the stories come courtesy…

This Is Why Cursive Is Dying Out 

Why does this keep happening? This little drawing is by artist Jim Benton. You can find more of his work on GoComics and in his book. Contact the author at [email protected].

Julia Turner pens a deliciously quotable ode to geology as part of Slate’s Classes You Should Take series. From the “dense poetry” of the technical vocabulary to how unravelling what shapes our planet can “feel like X-ray vision or a sixth sense,” you’ll finish convinced that geology is more than rocks for jocks. Tip via…

This Is Just Too Much: Lightning Illuminates the ISS With the Milky Way As a Backdrop

What could be more majestic than seeing a flash of lightning on Earth reflecting on the solar panels of the International Space Station, soaring at 17,150 miles per hour 250 miles above us? How about all of that, with the expanse of the Milky Way twinkling in the background. I can’t imagine a view better…

Subpoenaed Clinton Staffer Will Plead the Fifth Over Email Scandal Questions

The FBI is investigatingwhether Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email compromised national security. And now the staffer who set it up is planning to stay silentduring questioning to avoid incriminating himself. Bryan Pagliano, the Clinton IT staffer who set up the private email server for Clinton in her Chappaqua home, first attempted to fend…

What Happened When I Set Out To Celebrate Science Fiction From Around the World

It’s hard to put my finger on the exact moment the idea for the Apex Book of World SF series first crystallised, but the seeds for it were sown long before. I grew up on a kibbutz in Israel, and even as a child I was drawn to fantastical works, many translated from Europe: not…

These cards look like they’re floating on their own and destroying gravity

Zach Mueller has mastered the art of cardistry and in doing so, probably destroyed the laws of gravity. The Fontaine cards he’s using seem to have a mind of their own with special rules that don’t apply to other objects on this planet. It’s not so much that his hands are controlling the card but…

Mr. Robot Season Finale: This Is TV’s First Great Cyberpunk Show

In a previous Mr. Robot recap, I predicted Elliot Alderson will join Don Draper and Walter White as one of the iconic male antiheroes of 21st century TV. After last night’s season one finale, I think Elliot is also on track to becoming the definitive hacker in pop culture history. SPOILERS AHEAD. Why make such…

Wacom’s New Digitizing Notebook Could Bring Me Back to Pen and Paper

I love writing stuff down. Well, I love the idea of writing stuff down. Often I abandon the actual task because keeping track and archiving written notes is a huge pain in the ass. Wacom has a new toy called Bamboo Spark that digitizes your handwritten notes without you having to think about it…much. The…

This Professor Can Teach Anyone Calculus Using These Simple, Beautiful Animations

Calculus: A word that triggers involuntary fear spasms in the best of us. But the days of slogging through tedious textbook derivatives are over, if you want them to be. For the past few years, people across the world have studied calculus for free online, by exploring a set of gorgeous, dynamic animations. “My goal…

Ricoh’s Theta S 360-Degree Camera Gets an Image Quality Upgrade

A few years ago, Ricoh launched its odd little 360 camera, the Theta. Since then we’ve seen countless others. But how many of them allow you to dump your images and footage on Google Maps? The new Rioch Theta S looks basically the same as the last model but it’s got some improved specs. The…

The 10 Most Unfilmable Books (That Absolutely Must Be Made Into Films)

One of the best parts of science fiction and fantasy books is that they let our minds go to places where reality can’t follow. Recently creators havetaken an interestin visually showing us these impossible places, and we love it. Here are 10 books that we think can’t be put on film, but we’re hoping that…

Use Dropbox to Keep a Shared List of Links or Bookmarks

Dropbox is one of those services that’s always getting a minor upgrade or two in the background without anyone really noticing. One of the newest features added to the web interface is the ability to drag-and-drop links into a Dropbox folder for safe keeping—the feature’s rather rudimentary right now, but it’s a useful way of…