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Tape Decks Hacked So You Can Scratch Cassettes Like They’re Records

In the video above, audio nerd Jeremy Bell demonstrates his invention, the ScrubBoard, which allows him to scratch tapes with his hands as if they are records. To make the ScrubBoard, Bell removed the tape head from a regular record player and reattached it using longer cables. Then he scratches the signal over some audio…

Apple and Reddit Shut Down the iWorm Botnet

Last week, a Russian security firm discovered that over 17,000 Mac computers had been infected with a malicious software called iWorm that connected infected devices to a botnet by using Reddit to unearth links to command servers. This weekend, both Apple and Reddit took measures that rendered the software ineffective. Apple updated its Xprotect software…

Did JJ Abrams Have This Star Wars Poster Hung On Set As A Cute Threat?

We keep hearing all sorts of rumors and supposed leaks from the set of Star Wars: Episode VII. Now this anti-spoiler propaganda poster has appeared the film’s set as a jocular warning: spoil this movie and we’ll sic Vader on you. Frank Marshall, filmmaker and husband of Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, snapped this photo at…

How Hard Can a Robot Hit You Before It Becomes Illegal?

This is a question that is already becoming relevant as robots enter the workforce in larger numbers. And the answers proposed by standards bodies are about as strange as it gets. Over at Technology Review, Tom Simonite reports on a discussion at last week’s Robot Industry Association conference about new rules for robot safety proposed…

Oculus Rift Took Me Inside Interstellar and I Wanted to Stay There

Holy shit, we’re all fired up for Christopher Nolan’s save the world space epic, Interstellar. It doesn’t hit theaters until November 7, but in the meantime I got to experience a little bit of it with the help of an Oculus Rift. All we know about Interstellar is what we’ve seen in a couple of…

A Grappling Hook Coat Hanger for Ninjas, Mountaineers, and Cat Burglars

Even if you’ve never scaled a mountain, snuck into a castle, or attempted to rob an art gallery, you might still have use for a grappling hook—particularly if you struggle to keep coats and other laundry off your floor. In a pinch this $77 coat hanger could be used for covert infiltrations, but its creators…

Funko continues to monopolise your wallet with Sesame Street toys

Coming soon to a Toy announcement near you: Funko announces that it has the rights to everything ever made in Human History, and is making cute 3 3/4″ Vinyl toys out of all of it. But for now, Sesame Street! Yes, hot of the heels of announcing acquisitions of the likes of Firefly, Big Hero…

A Viscous Arm of Plasma Punches Its Way Out of the Sun

Last week, a solar flare flashed on the surface of the sun, just as our star erupted with a massive amount of burning ejecta. The twin explosions, captured by a NASA satellite called the Solar Dynamics Observatory, make for a gorgeous and violent portrait of our sun. NASA explains: NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this…

What the hell is a Hypercar?

The Second Annual Jalopnik Film Festival is happening in New York City on November 5th and 6th and it will feature a bunch of new films, including the world premiere of APEX: The Story Of The Hypercar. But what the hell is a Hypercar? The trailer has the answer. Get tickets to the festival here.…

One Surprising Reason Computer Screens Aren’t Green-On-Black Anymore

In the early days of personal computing—think UNIX early—text was often white or green on a black screen. That didn’t last long, of course, but there’s a little-known reason that those shadowy screens weren’t ideal for users. And it has to do with your poor eyesight. First of all, for those of us who weren’t…

Daniel Radcliffe Gets Naked In A Dirty, Sexy New Clip From Horns

We know that some of Daniel Radcliffe’s demonic powers in the upcoming film Horns will end in violence, but the latest clip from the film is all about the sexy times, with Radcliffe’s character Ig recalling happier times with his girlfriend. The clip is NSFW for sexual nudity: You can also check out more images…

Unbelievable view of the International Space Station

You are looking at the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer onboard the ISS. The news is that, “after accumulating years of data, […] there are significantly more positrons than expected at the highest energies detected.” Scientists believe their origin may be the destruction of dark matter, which is amazing. After accumulating years of data, it has now…

A Theory About How Marvel’s Next Chapter Of Avengers Will Unfold

Today, we got some interesting news about just how the upcoming Avengers movies might make it to our screen. But does that detail reveal even more than intended about just how the plot will play out? (Caution: Spoilers ahead.) After learning that the next Avengers movie could potentially be spun out into two separate movies,…

Bose QC25 Review: Amazing Noise-Cancelling Headphones All Over Again

Take a look around any airport lounge in the world and you’ll immediately see a set of Bose noise-canceling headphones. They’re iconic, and it’s because they’re good. With the new QuietComfort 25, the first refresh in five years, everything gets just a little bit better. Bose has made steady but significant improvements since the year…

The Kinect Sensor Can Track Your Hands in Real-Time With Crazy Precision

It may have started out as a way to let players physically interact with their games, but the Xbox 360’s Kinect sensor has since developed a life of its own. Its clever combination of cameras and sensors have been embraced by hackers and researchers who’ve used it in countless project, including Microsoft’s own research division…

Could Fox Be Working On A Live-Action X-Men TV Show?

Please grab the biggest possible grain of salt available — perhaps you could steal a salt lick from a deer or something — but rumor says Fox is “in deep development” on a live-action X-Men TV series. There are no details, but there are many expectations we can manage with a bit of common sense.…

7 Experimental Interfaces That Show the Future of UI Design

Trade shows might be sexier, but there’s no beating academic conferences for weird new tech. Today, at the 27th Software and Technology Symposium in Honolulu, dozens of researchers presented a glimpse into the future of UI design—here are six of the most interesting. Meanwhile, you can find me at “Beach Activities.” Light Ring LightRing by…

Introducing the world’s first solar battery. The device — which is part solar cell, part battery — recharges itself using air and light. Nano-scale holes allow air to enter the battery (inset), while rods of titanium dioxide gather light (larger image). The researchers from Ohio State say it’ll help tame the costs of renewable energy.

The Purge 3 Is Happening Because We’re All Bad People

The success of The Purge movies has only reinforced the message of The Purge: that we are all terrible people who enjoy watching terrible things happen to other humans. Congratulations! Deadline is reporting that director James DeMonaco will return helm the third Purge installment. DeMonaco has already directed The Purge and the sequel, The Purge:…

A Farewell to Epcot’s Norway Ride: How Fake Experiences Shaped My Life

I’ve never been to Norway. I guess it’s supposed to be like Minnesota, but with more fjords and trolls or something. But you know where I have been? Epcot. Which is kind of the same thing. Right? Yesterday, the Epcot attraction officially known as Maelstrom (more commonly just called “the Norway ride”) carried its last…