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How they made the most famous exploding head in internet’s history

If you have been on the internet for at least a few months, you probably came across a version of the animated GIF above. You may be wondering a) where the hell does this exploding head come from or b) how the hell did they do it. The answer to a) is David Cronenberg’s Scanners—and…

Sploid Jesus Diaz Jul 11 '14

Only the Owls Know the Answer to Your Riddle

I have heard it said by wise people that birds are the only creatures who can truly answer a difficult riddle. Perhaps it is because they are used to seeing everything from above — and, when they land, from below. That double perspective is the key to their peculiar understanding. This is a detail from…

io9 Annalee Newitz Jul 11 '14

Tiny Explores One Man’s Quest to Live In a Shoebox

Most of us are forced to live small: In small apartments in small buildings with small windows and small closets and cat piss-scented roommates on meth. Others willingly choose to live out their days in homes no larger than a parking space, and now you can watch a movie about their electively cramped style. The…

Tech News Alissa Walker Jul 11 '14

Politician Explains Why Sodomy Is Causing AIDS Due to “Sperm Enzyme”

Bob Frey is a Republican running for the Minnesota House of Representatives, and he’s worried about the economic cost of sodomy. He’s not against gay people, mind you — the problem, he explained yesterday, has to do with the way sperm burns our anal cavities. Here’s his theory. It turns out that Frey has a…

io9 Annalee Newitz Jul 11 '14

What Created This Beautiful “Sky Jellyfish” in the Upper Atmosphere?

You know it can’t be a UFO because this picture is actually in focus and doesn’t look like it was taken from the back of a moving truck. Lauren Hitchings at New Scientist has the answer: According to Jonathan McDowell at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this is just one of many…

io9 Annalee Newitz Jul 11 '14

Murders, Tsunamis, Bus Singing: What’s Ruining Our Cities This Week

Why were so many people shot in Chicago last weekend? Does today’s earthquake in Japan mean another Fukushima meltdown? And why does Winnipeg want to fine people $100 for singing in public? These are the questions we address in this week’s edition of What’s Ruining Our Cities. Murders are ruining Chicago Chicago’s murder rate has…

Tech News Alissa Walker Jul 11 '14

Sorry UberFacts, Chicago hasn’t officially been “deemed a war zone”

UberFacts is full of lies. Every time we’ve fact-checked their tweets we’ve found them to be embarrassingly unreliable. But with 7 million followers and counting, they continue to spread all kinds of misinformation with impunity — like the lie that Chicago has “officially been deemed a war zone.” https://gizmodo.com/uberfacts-is-full-of-lies-1541956164 https://gizmodo.com/uberfacts-is-still-uberwrong-1586707710 Chicago has seen more than…

Tech News Matt Novak Jul 11 '14

Massive school of anchovies looks like a hungry giant alien oil blob

This big black blob that recently appeared off the San Diego coast looks like the fallout from an oil spill, or an undersea plague coming to haunt humans and probably steal their souls. In reality, it’s a massive school of anchovies—harmless enough that people are actually snorkeling through the dark mass of fishies. Apparently the…

Sploid Jordan Kushins Jul 11 '14

Reframe Roundup: This Week’s Best Photography Posts

Did you guys know there is a Gizmodo subdomain where you can go for all things photographic? Yep! It’s called Reframe, and it’s where you’ll find additional coverage of gear, techniques, news, and all kinds of great stuff related to the crafts of photography and videography. After Ansel Adams, Photographers Breathe New Life Into an…

Tech News Michael Hession Jul 11 '14

When a Book Is Set in Your Home City, Does That Enhance the Story?

Authors sometimes set their stories in fictionalized versions of real cities. But how does a book’s setting being close to home change how you read the book? In response to this post on science fiction and fantasy version of real life cities, commenters began discussing some fictional cities — from Ursula K Le Guin’s take…

io9 Ria Misra Jul 11 '14

Thomas Jane Will Play The Hardboiled Space Detective In Syfy’s Expanse

We’re excited for Syfy’s “Game of Thrones in space” series The Expanse, based James S. A. Corey’s series of books (which begin with Leviathan Wakes). And now the show has cast one of its leading men, Hung, The Mist, and The Punisher actor Thomas Jane. THR reports that Jane will be playing Joe Miller, a…

io9 Lauren Davis Jul 11 '14

These Rarely Seen Maps Turn Earth Into A Land From A Fantasy Novel

While each of these maps is incredibly striking, it isn’t always easy to recognize the places within them as spots on our Earth. Some of them look straight out a J.R.R. Tolkien novel, while others are more fanciful takes on familiar countries. https://gizmodo.com/a-collection-of-very-strange-maps-479288345 The World Map from the Saint-Sever Beatus, an apocalypse manuscript from the…

io9 Vincze Miklós Jul 11 '14

Who Recorded the Best Ever Cover of “Summertime”?

We’ve recently seen some serious contenders emerge for title of official jam of this, the sweatiest season of the year. Grimes, Dodger Stadium, and, uh, Usher with his boys Lil Jon and Luda have all wooed Giz staff with their vocal talents. Well, forget about those fools. Today is the time to make your case…

Tech News Jordan Kushins Jul 11 '14

Adventure Tested: DPx Gear HEST/F Pocket Knife

Designed by legendary adventurer and war correspondent Robert Young Pelton, the DPx Gear HEST/F is a hard use folding knife designed to accompany you through challenging conditions. Can it? https://gizmodo.com/robert-young-pelton-on-surviving-south-sudan-1575895489 What’s It Supposed To Do? Folding knives are inherently weaker than fixed-blades — they have moving parts and, well, fold. But, they’re way, way easier…

Reviews Wes Siler Jul 11 '14

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

Well hey there, weekend. You sure are lookin’ good. I brought you a gift. I brought you the best apps of the week. I hope you like them. Multi-Platform Updates Tunnel X Want to really make sure your private text messages stay private? Tunnel X links its users in a direct, 100-percent private, encrypted conversation.…

Tech News Bob Sorokanich Jul 11 '14

Does Anyone Really Understand The Angel War In Dominion?

No. The answer is no. Also YIIIIIKES, that last scene. There are two subjects I want to talk about from last night’s Dominion. First, there’s the fact that the angel war has all these stupid arbitrary rules for certain angels and not others and it just makes no sense at all. Second is the killing…

io9 Meredith Woerner Jul 11 '14

Snowpiercer Is Out On Demand Today, Just Weeks After Hitting Theaters

Snowpiercer looks like a badass movie. Like if Blade Runner had sex with Speed. The sci-fi film has great reviews, an intriguing plot about hardscrabble future people engaging in class warfare on a really fast cold-weather train, and Tilda Swinton. But with a limited theatrical release, it hasn’t been very easy to see. That’s about…

Movies Kate Knibbs Jul 11 '14

Smoke From Canada’s Copious Wildfires As Seen From Space

Canada is currently experiencing one of its worst wildfire seasons ever. The active fires blazing in British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and Alberta are spewing tremendous amounts of smoke into the atmosphere, affecting weather patterns in both Canada and the United States. This gorgeous shot was taken by the NOAA’s GOES-west satellite on July 9,…

io9 George Dvorsky Jul 11 '14

This Ad for a Homeless Shelter Turns Into a Mini Homeless Shelter

A curious ad campaign recently popped up in Vancouver. The backs of park benches have become billboards for Raincity Housing, a nonprofit that helps the homeless. But they’re not just advertisements for a homeless shelter. Some of the ads actually transform into little shelters. “Find Shelter Here” reads the convertible billboard. When you flip it…

Tech News Adam Clark Estes Jul 11 '14

“This Story Throws You In The Deep End — And That’s A Very Good Thing”

Not every story needs to start out with an ordinary, relatable person discovering a strange world. Sometimes, it’s great to follow a character who’s already steeped in the weirdness, and get caught up in the action right away. What’s your favorite story that shoves you straight into its weird world, with no hand-holding? This is…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders Jul 11 '14

How they made the most famous exploding head in internet’s history

Only the Owls Know the Answer to Your Riddle

Tiny Explores One Man’s Quest to Live In a Shoebox

Politician Explains Why Sodomy Is Causing AIDS Due to “Sperm Enzyme”

What Created This Beautiful “Sky Jellyfish” in the Upper Atmosphere?

Murders, Tsunamis, Bus Singing: What’s Ruining Our Cities This Week

Sorry UberFacts, Chicago hasn’t officially been “deemed a war zone”

Massive school of anchovies looks like a hungry giant alien oil blob

Reframe Roundup: This Week’s Best Photography Posts

When a Book Is Set in Your Home City, Does That Enhance the Story?

Thomas Jane Will Play The Hardboiled Space Detective In Syfy’s Expanse

These Rarely Seen Maps Turn Earth Into A Land From A Fantasy Novel

Who Recorded the Best Ever Cover of “Summertime”?

Adventure Tested: DPx Gear HEST/F Pocket Knife

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

Does Anyone Really Understand The Angel War In Dominion?

Snowpiercer Is Out On Demand Today, Just Weeks After Hitting Theaters

Smoke From Canada’s Copious Wildfires As Seen From Space

This Ad for a Homeless Shelter Turns Into a Mini Homeless Shelter

“This Story Throws You In The Deep End — And That’s A Very Good Thing”

Latest news

M4 iPad Air Sees First Price Drop to Record Low, No Need to Pay Full Price at the Apple Store Thanks to Amazon’s Mother’s Day Deal

Curry Barker’s ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ May Be a Family Affair

Amazon Echo Dot Max Hits the Spot as it’s Never Been Priced Lower Than Now Even Without Prime Day

LEGO Meets Star Wars Day, Both Millennium Falcon and Dark Falcon Starship Hit Record Lows for May the 4th Exclusive

McAfee Cuts the Price on Its All-in-One Security Plan

Poll Finds 62% of Americans Don’t Trust Trump on Crypto

Hyundai Reportedly Demanding ‘Tens of Thousands’ of Boston Dynamics Robots ASAP

Lego’s New ‘Mandalorian & Grogu’ Set Confirms a Very Silly Name Change

Latest Reviews

Logitech G G512 X Review: The Tasting Menu of a Pro Gaming Keyboard

Ecovacs Deebot X12 OmniCyclone Review: AI Can’t Save This Robot Vacuum

The Best Tech Gifts for Mother’s Day 2026

Asus’ Dual-Display Gaming Laptop Will Ruin Your Single-Screen Lifestyle

Steam Controller Review: Trackpads Change Everything for PC Gaming

Soundcore Space 2 Review: A Shockingly Stellar Value for Budget ANC Wireless Headphones

Anker’s UV Printer Can Handle Almost Anything… If You Know What You’re Doing

HP’s EliteBoard Keyboard-Computer Proves We Can Stick a PC in Anything

Let us help you find what you’re looking for...

Latest

How they made the most famous exploding head in internet’s history

Only the Owls Know the Answer to Your Riddle

Tiny Explores One Man’s Quest to Live In a Shoebox

Politician Explains Why Sodomy Is Causing AIDS Due to “Sperm Enzyme”

What Created This Beautiful “Sky Jellyfish” in the Upper Atmosphere?

Murders, Tsunamis, Bus Singing: What’s Ruining Our Cities This Week

Sorry UberFacts, Chicago hasn’t officially been “deemed a war zone”

Massive school of anchovies looks like a hungry giant alien oil blob

Reframe Roundup: This Week’s Best Photography Posts

When a Book Is Set in Your Home City, Does That Enhance the Story?

Thomas Jane Will Play The Hardboiled Space Detective In Syfy’s Expanse

These Rarely Seen Maps Turn Earth Into A Land From A Fantasy Novel

Who Recorded the Best Ever Cover of “Summertime”?

​Adventure Tested: DPx Gear HEST/F Pocket Knife

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

Does Anyone Really Understand The Angel War In Dominion?

Snowpiercer Is Out On Demand Today, Just Weeks After Hitting Theaters

Smoke From Canada’s Copious Wildfires As Seen From Space

This Ad for a Homeless Shelter Turns Into a Mini Homeless Shelter

“This Story Throws You In The Deep End — And That’s A Very Good Thing”

M4 iPad Air Sees First Price Drop to Record Low, No Need to Pay Full Price at the Apple Store Thanks to Amazon’s Mother’s Day Deal

Curry Barker’s ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ May Be a Family Affair

Amazon Echo Dot Max Hits the Spot as it’s Never Been Priced Lower Than Now Even Without Prime Day

LEGO Meets Star Wars Day, Both Millennium Falcon and Dark Falcon Starship Hit Record Lows for May the 4th Exclusive

McAfee Cuts the Price on Its All-in-One Security Plan

Poll Finds 62% of Americans Don’t Trust Trump on Crypto

Hyundai Reportedly Demanding ‘Tens of Thousands’ of Boston Dynamics Robots ASAP

Lego’s New ‘Mandalorian & Grogu’ Set Confirms a Very Silly Name Change

Logitech G G512 X Review: The Tasting Menu of a Pro Gaming Keyboard

Ecovacs Deebot X12 OmniCyclone Review: AI Can’t Save This Robot Vacuum

The Best Tech Gifts for Mother’s Day 2026

Asus’ Dual-Display Gaming Laptop Will Ruin Your Single-Screen Lifestyle

Steam Controller Review: Trackpads Change Everything for PC Gaming

Soundcore Space 2 Review: A Shockingly Stellar Value for Budget ANC Wireless Headphones

Anker’s UV Printer Can Handle Almost Anything… If You Know What You’re Doing

HP’s EliteBoard Keyboard-Computer Proves We Can Stick a PC in Anything

Let us help you find what you’re looking for...

Adventure Tested: DPx Gear HEST/F Pocket Knife