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Lollipops, popcorn, hell, even lip balm—there is very little that isn’t made better with a shake of Sriracha. In this video, though, the American Chemical Society explains the science behind why the sauce is just so damn good. https://gizmodo.com/sriracha-lollipops-are-a-wonderful-invention-5904741 From the capsaicinoids that provides its fiery kick to the compounds that maintain its vibrant red…
Ever since Microsoft bought Nokia, there’s been speculation about what role Stephen Elop would assume in Seattle. And now we know: he’ll replace Julie Larson-Green as Head of Devices & Studio. Gadgets and games, then.
No propaganda can hide the stark contrast between South Korea and North Korea as seen from orbit. A buzzing megalopolis and a bright constellation of cities versus a sea of nothingness and a capital that looks miserable despite the fact that it houses 3.26 million people. According to NASA, “the light emission from Pyongyang is…
Different cultures, different food. Different folks, different strokes. Different armies, same soul evaporating packaged foods for army rations. Okay, that’s not exactly fair. Some countries obviously have it better than others (I’m looking at you France) but at the end of the day, most armies around the world are eating out of pouches and cans…
As a truly monumental storm rumbles across the alien plateaus, one resident must take drastic measures to save himself, quite literally, from the oncoming destruction. Malcolm Sutherland directed and animated this action-packed, introspective animation.
At the professional level, the ultra-powerful DSLR is still mighty important, and with that in mind, Nikon is upgrading its beastly D4, with the D4s, a faster flagship shooter that’s better than low-light than its older namesake. There’s a lot to love about this camera. Here are the highlights. https://gizmodo.com/the-inside-story-of-how-olympic-photographers-capture-s-1521746623 Like its predecessor the Nikon…
It’s not fair. Time lapses and fancy cameras get these fantastic images of star trails that paint a starry night onto the sky and yet when we look up, we see nothing. Even when the stars are glistening, we don’t get to see the mesmerizing hook of its trail spinning around us. Wouldn’t it be…
Wow. This incredible video of aerial combat in World War II has it all. And all of it is terrifying. From dog fights and kamikaze attacks to flak fire and carpet bombing to explosions and aerial combat, it captures the frantic frenzy of aerial warfare during WWII. It’s better than any movie because it actually…
Diagnosing cancer and heart disease generally requires extensively trained personnel and expensive instruments. But one MIT research group that wants to solve that problem has designed a single injection and paper-based detection system they’re hoping to ship them everywhere a letter can travel. Sangee Bhatia’s team developed a molecular detection system that brings a bunch…
Online retailer Zappos is known for its zany, zealous corporate culture. But one stunt seems to bridge the gap from “culture” to “cult”: For CEO Tony Hsieh’s 40th birthday party, his inner circle of friends—apparently calling themselves “Zapponians”—all got the same tattoo. The story of the tattoo party opens a long feature in the Las…
Well that was unexpected. Meet Mel. She’s an intimidating punk rocker who has a hot pink mohawk, more piercings than she can count and has never found a studded leather jacket she’s never worn before. And then meet Mel again after her made for TV makeover. Who is the better Mel? The makeover was done…
It’s hard to tell whether Erik Åberg is a magician or a designer—maybe it’s a little bit of both. Åberg is the creator of Ghostcubes, a cardboard system of folding boxes that, in his hands, demonstrate perfect, calculated precision. We don’t know terribly much about Åberg: This is his first and only video on YouTube,…
Here’s a tiny kitten so happy to eat that he wiggles his ears out of pure enjoyment—or something—like Gizmo the mogwai. Apparently, animals moving their ears when they feel pleasure is a thing. SPLOID is a new blog about awesome stuff. Join us on Facebook
Sexual proclivities are like snowflakes—bizarre, kinky snowflakes. Many are similar but no two are alike, as evidenced by PornMD’s (HIGHLY NSFW) live-scroll of global internet porn habits. Even the most staunchly non-vanilla folks could probably find something here to clutch their pearls about, but for the most part it’s just a fascinating glimpse into the…
The sad news that actor, screenwriter, and director Harold Ramis passed away earlier today has unsurprisingly resulted in a wave of cinematic nostalgia, with #ghostbusters trending globally on Twitter and seemingly everyone, at least in this office, talking about films such as Groundhog Day, Caddyshack, and National Lampoon’s Vacation. http://gawker.com/remembering-harold-ramis-best-moments-1529786146 This newly intensified attention to…
It’s easy to laugh at futurist predictions. But when they’re proven accurate, it’s hard not to be impressed. Especially when it comes to technology that we now use every day. Pausing and rewinding live TV? Dialing up virtually any movie you like without leaving home? Watching films on the go? For the most part, these…
On the left, Abraham Lincoln in 1858 during his campaign for the Senate of Illinois, just three years before becoming President of the United States. On the right, President Lincoln in 1865, just before his assassination. It’s only seven years, but it looks like two decades. SPLOID is a new blog about awesome stuff. Join…
Changes in Red Hook, violence in Kiev, and new ideas for Paris from mayoral candidates. Plus Bogotá bans cars for a week, California might divide into six states, and the surprising history of Hollywood. These are all the Urban Reads you need. “The trolleys were a reminder of a different era in Red Hook, a…
Believe it or not, making ice is more complicated than just making water really cold. One thing that helps is bacteria. Yes, bacteria! In this captivatingly magic video, it takes just a second for Pseudomonas syringae to turn a whole jar of water into ice. How does it work? It’s the same principle behind how…
There’s a greater chance of an alien spacecraft landing on earth in the next five minutes than there is of a badminton net surviving more than one summer afternoon. They’re not exactly designed to be long-lasting, or easy to setup, which is why this all-in-one badminton court kit could be a great investment as the…
