The New DMCA Rules Don't Go Far Enough
Decrypting copyrighted materials is, according to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, an illegal act. Yesterday, the…
Congress Is Trying to Ban Car Hacking In Every Possible Form
Today, the House Energy and Commerce Committee began safety hearings with a proposed bill to reform the National…
Why the CIA Invented Cough Syrup
Much of the cough syrup on the shelves today owes a little something to the US Navy and the CIA. One of its main…
What Words Does Your State Need Help Spelling?
Sometimes, you’re typing when you get to a word that you cannot, for the life of you, spell. That’s when you turn to…
Yes, Oxytocin Makes You More Trusting and Generous. So Does Booze.
“The Moral Molecule.” “The Cuddle Hormone.” If you’ve been paying attention the past few years, you’ve heard about many…
Author Ian Tregillis On Why Fictional Worlds Need Fictional Technologies
The fictional worlds we love wouldn’t be the places they are without the fictional technologies that populate them.…
The Complex Penile Chemistry Behind Erectile Dysfunction Pills
Viagra. Levitra. Cialis. Stendra. For millions of men with erectile dysfunction, these drugs are the action heroes of…
This Is An Agricultural Tool
You already know that vibrators are great for erotic release. It turns out they can do something similar for plants. In…
100 Years Ago, This Man Was The Original Patent Troll
The term “patent troll” wasn’t coined until the late 20th century, used to describe someone who filed a patent in order…
Actually, Most Women Don’t Need an Annual Pap Smear
Cervical cancer can be deadly and is treatable if caught early — which makes regular screenings really important. But…
One Certain Kitchen Item Can Defeat The World's Strongest Acid
Fluoroantimonic acid is the strongest acid in the world; it can rip through most materials easily. But a chemical that…
9 Types Of Bacteria You Didn't Know You're Sharing Your House With
We all know that the homes we believe belong to us are actually varied landscapes in which billions of creatures live,…
How To Identify The Long-Lost Corpse Of A Famous Historical Figure
The remains of Richard III were recently reinterred after the Plantagenet king was discovered beneath a car park. And…
What Was Your First Smartphone?
Smartphones were once a boutique item, but now they're essential. Still, we all remember a time before smartphones — at…
Why Doesn't English Have A Gender-Neutral Pronoun?
Referring to a single person who may be of any gender in English can be tricky. It can be awkward to use words like…
What Would Really Happen If You Put A Human In A Microwave?
The Skin Effect isn't what it sounds like, but it can help us understand what happens to a human being when they're…
What's Your Pop Culture Resolution For 2015?
Every time New Year's Day rolls around, people fall all over each other to make resolutions about losing weight,…
Hey, Remember When People Used To Eat Arsenic As A Health Supplement?
Probably not, unless you're well over 100 years old. In the 1800s, arsenic began being marketed as a health supplement,…
How to Fly During the Holidays Without Losing Your Mind
Starting today, Americans will engage in the county's annual combat ritual: Holiday Travel Season—a brutal tradition…
A Legal Challenge To The Ebola Quarantine Would Probably Fail
On Monday, the state of Maine reached a settlement with a nurse who's been fighting the quarantine restrictions being…