Over the past five years at io9, we’ve explored a lot of strange frontiers, and asked a lot of ridiculous questions. Some of our strangest discoveries have been the ones that hung around, as if we adopted a baby alien and it grew up eating out of our hands.
Here are 117 stories from our first five years that still help to define what io9 is all about.
Top image: Cover Detail, Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold
2008
Science Proves That Drinking Makes You Horny
One Pill Makes You Autistic — And One Pill Changes You Back
Scariest Special Effect Ever Created (NSFW)
Welcome to the Culture, the Galactic Civilization That Iain M. Banks Built
How Many of Your Internal Organs Can You Live Without?
The Twenty Science Fiction Novels that Will Change Your Life
8 Unstoppable Rules For Writing Killer Short Stories
Bad Movie Physics: A Report Card
How to Create Artificial Intelligence in Your Spare Time
Underground Fires that Burn For Decades
20 Science Books Every Science Fiction Fan (and Writer) Should Read
What If Every Single Joel Silver Movie Took Place In The Same Universe?
Superheroes Who Can’t Have Sex
Great Opening Sentences From Science Fiction
How Does Your Hero Measure Up On Our Wish-Fulfillment Checklist?
Texas House Sucked Into Wormhole
The 20 Best Worst Science Fiction Movies Of All Time
Magnetic Anomaly Map of the World
War and Social Upheaval Cause Spikes in Zombie Movie Production
The Most Demented Novel Of All Time
Does the Full Moon Really Make People Crazy?
https://gizmodo.com/science-proves-that-drinking-makes-you-horny-339908
https://gizmodo.com/one-pill-makes-you-autistic-and-one-pill-changes-you-349956
https://gizmodo.com/the-scariest-special-effect-ever-created-nsfw-5957010
https://gizmodo.com/welcome-to-the-culture-the-galactic-civilization-that-354739
http://io9.com/356738
https://gizmodo.com/the-twenty-science-fiction-novels-that-will-change-your-361597
https://gizmodo.com/8-unstoppable-rules-for-writing-killer-short-stories-366707
http://io9.com/367792
http://io9.com/369300
https://gizmodo.com/underground-fires-that-burn-for-decades-375485
https://gizmodo.com/20-science-books-every-scifi-fan-and-writer-should-re-384242
https://gizmodo.com/what-if-every-single-joel-silver-movie-took-place-in-th-382809
https://gizmodo.com/10-superheroes-who-can-never-have-sex-5015295
https://gizmodo.com/10-batman-books-you-must-read-5022294
https://gizmodo.com/great-opening-sentences-from-science-fiction-5027128
https://gizmodo.com/how-does-your-hero-measure-up-on-our-wish-fulfillment-c-5028956
https://gizmodo.com/texas-house-sucked-into-wormhole-5039811
https://gizmodo.com/the-20-best-worst-science-fiction-movies-of-all-time-5052003
https://gizmodo.com/magnetic-anomaly-map-of-the-world-5060911
https://gizmodo.com/war-and-social-upheaval-cause-spikes-in-zombie-movie-pr-5070243
https://gizmodo.com/the-most-demented-novel-of-all-time-5082454
https://gizmodo.com/does-the-full-moon-really-make-people-crazy-5086250
2009
The Greatest Inventions Nikola Tesla Never Created
At Last, Science Has Invented an Artificially Intelligent Robot Vagina
The Mysterious Cones of the Egyptian Desert
10 Tips for Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse
10 Alan Moore Comics You Must Read! (Besides Watchmen)
What is Dragon Ball Z/Dragon Ball GT/Dragon Ball Kai/etc.?
Seven (Mostly) Scientific Devices for Measuring Sexual Arousal
Most Embarrassing Alien Mating Scenes Of All Time [NSFW]
13 Alien Languages You Can Actually Read
Physicists Prove That Vampires Could Not Exist
A Harvard Psychiatrist Explains Zombie Neurobiology
7 Virtual Reality Technologies That Actually Work
Michael Bay Finally Made An Art Movie
A Drug That Could Give You Perfect Visual Memory
The 20th Century The Way It Should Have Happened
The Top 100 Science Fiction/Fantasy Shows Of All Time
A Tragic Video History Of Male Nudity In Science Fiction [NSFW]
The 15 Dumbest Superhero Retcons Of All Time
The Clearest View Yet Of A 1,000 Year Old Explosion
It’s Official: Twilight’s Bella & Edward Are In An Abusive Relationship
When Will White People Stop Making Movies Like “Avatar”?
20 Best Science Fiction Books Of The Past Decade
The Larger-Than-Life Sex Lives Of Giant Women [NSFW]
https://gizmodo.com/the-greatest-inventions-nikola-tesla-never-created-5127125
https://gizmodo.com/at-last-science-has-invented-an-artificially-intellige-5129674
https://gizmodo.com/the-mysterious-cones-of-the-egyptian-desert-5147720
https://gizmodo.com/10-practical-tips-for-surviving-the-zombie-apocalypse-5148637
https://gizmodo.com/10-alan-moore-comics-you-must-read-besides-watchmen-5159888
https://gizmodo.com/what-is-dragon-ball-z-dragon-ball-gt-dragon-ball-kai-et-5201659
https://gizmodo.com/seven-mostly-scientific-devices-for-measuring-sexual-5214130
https://gizmodo.com/most-embarrassing-alien-mating-scenes-of-all-time-nsfw-5216894
https://gizmodo.com/13-alien-languages-you-can-actually-read-5218119
https://gizmodo.com/physicists-prove-that-vampires-could-not-exist-5241252
https://gizmodo.com/a-harvard-psychiatrist-explains-zombie-neurobiology-5286145
https://gizmodo.com/7-virtual-reality-technologies-that-actually-work-5288859
https://gizmodo.com/michael-bay-finally-made-an-art-movie-5301898
http://io9.com/5306489
https://gizmodo.com/the-20th-century-the-way-it-should-have-happened-5331614
https://gizmodo.com/the-top-100-science-fiction-fantasy-shows-of-all-time-5347048
https://gizmodo.com/a-tragic-video-history-of-male-nudity-in-science-fictio-5368280
https://gizmodo.com/the-15-dumbest-superhero-retcons-of-all-time-5405696
https://gizmodo.com/the-clearest-view-yet-of-a-1-000-year-old-explosion-5412496
https://gizmodo.com/official-twilights-bella-edward-are-in-an-abusive-re-5413428
https://gizmodo.com/when-will-white-people-stop-making-movies-like-avatar-5422666
https://gizmodo.com/20-best-science-fiction-books-of-the-decade-5423847
https://gizmodo.com/the-larger-than-life-sex-lives-of-giant-women-nsfw-5429939
2010
Advanced Imaging Reveals a Computer 1,500 Years Ahead of Its Time
The 10 Worst Scifi Snubs In Oscar History
The Year The Army Stopped Niagara Falls
How To Convert A Tanker Truck Into A Post-Apocalyptic Home
Women And Monsters: The Weird Universe Of Kaiju Porn [NSFW]
Scientists Disrupt Moral Reasoning With Magnets To The Skull
10 Weirdest Urban Ecosystems On Earth
How to get into 20 classic science fiction shows: The ultimate guide
Five ancient technologies that were ahead of their times
100+ amazing pieces of Star Wars concept art
M. Night Shyamalan Finally Made A Comedy
Ask a Physicist: How long does it take for you to fall into a black hole?
The last thing Spider-Man should be is another white guy
Myths about the “love hormone” oxytocin that could ruin your love life
25 classic science fiction movies that everybody must watch
The smell of freshly-cut grass is actually a plant distress call
The web’s best optical illusion videos…and how they trick your brain
Spacetime invisibility cloaks can hide entire events inside temporal voids
The fastest way to send humans to Mars is to not worry about bringing them back
2000 Vs. 2010: How the world has changed
https://gizmodo.com/advanced-imaging-reveals-a-computer-1-500-years-ahead-o-5441889
https://gizmodo.com/the-10-worst-scifi-snubs-in-oscar-history-5463873
https://gizmodo.com/the-year-the-army-stopped-niagara-falls-5485161
https://gizmodo.com/how-to-convert-a-tanker-truck-into-a-post-apocalyptic-h-5498725
https://gizmodo.com/women-and-monsters-the-weird-universe-of-kaiju-porn-n-5503924
https://gizmodo.com/scientists-disrupt-moral-reasoning-with-magnets-to-the-5505122
https://gizmodo.com/10-weirdest-urban-ecosystems-on-earth-5514775
https://gizmodo.com/how-to-get-into-20-classic-science-fiction-shows-the-u-5629229
https://gizmodo.com/five-ancient-technologies-that-were-ahead-of-their-time-5554053
https://gizmodo.com/100-amazing-pieces-of-star-wars-concept-art-5568214
https://gizmodo.com/m-night-shyamalan-finally-made-a-comedy-5576076
http://io9.com/5596491
http://io9.com/5606765
https://gizmodo.com/50-brilliant-science-fiction-movies-that-everyone-shoul-5619137
https://gizmodo.com/the-smell-of-freshly-cut-grass-is-actually-a-plant-dist-5623112
https://gizmodo.com/the-webs-best-optical-illusion-videos-and-how-they-tr-5689789
https://gizmodo.com/spacetime-invisibility-cloaks-can-hide-entire-events-in-5691060
https://gizmodo.com/the-fastest-way-to-send-humans-to-mars-is-to-not-worry-5690489
https://gizmodo.com/2000-vs-2010-how-the-world-has-changed-5720871
2011
A drug that can make your old memories like new
10 Most Awesome Ultimate Weapons
How to Create a Scientifically Plausible Alien Life Form
Little girl joins the Dark Side, is promptly kicked out of the Jedi Academy
What cannabis actually does to your brain
You’re living in a computer simulation, and math proves it
Astounding Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles art brings the cartoon heroes to grim reality
The story behind the world’s oldest museum, built by a Babylonian princess 2,500 years ago
Proof of the existence of God set down on paper
These are the biggest numbers in the universe
10 Psychological States You’ve Never Heard Of — And When You Experienced Them
The bizarre musical instruments behind classic science fiction movie sounds
10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Star Wars
Who invented the world’s very first car?
10 Vestigial Traits You Didn’t Know You Had
The million dollar space pen hoax
The 10 Types of Writers’ Block (and How to Overcome Them)
Your brain won’t allow you to believe the apocalypse could actually happen
High speed video reveals the bizarre physics of an ordinary water droplet
10 Awesome Online Classes You Can Take For Free
Handy map of the United States showing the scariest thing in every single state
Krokodil: Russia’s Designer Drug That Will Eat Your Flesh
10 Bodily Functions That Continue After Death
Disney Princesses reimagined as Punk Rock Heroines
https://gizmodo.com/a-drug-that-can-make-your-old-memories-like-new-5776087
https://gizmodo.com/10-most-awesome-ultimate-weapons-5778109
https://gizmodo.com/how-to-create-a-scientifically-plausible-alien-life-for-5784971
https://gizmodo.com/little-girl-joins-the-dark-side-is-promptly-kicked-out-5791115
https://gizmodo.com/what-cannabis-actually-does-to-your-brain-5794209
https://gizmodo.com/youre-living-in-a-computer-simulation-and-math-proves-5799396
https://gizmodo.com/astounding-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-art-brings-the-5804848
https://gizmodo.com/the-story-behind-the-worlds-oldest-museum-built-by-a-b-5805358
https://gizmodo.com/proof-of-the-existence-of-god-set-down-on-paper-5805775
http://io9.com/5807256
https://gizmodo.com/10-psychological-states-youve-never-heard-of-and-when-5813475
https://gizmodo.com/the-bizarre-musical-instruments-behind-classic-scifi-mo-5815346
https://gizmodo.com/10-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-star-wars-5813935
https://jalopnik.com/who-invented-the-worlds-very-first-car-5816040
https://gizmodo.com/10-vestigial-traits-you-didnt-know-you-had-5829687
https://gizmodo.com/the-truth-behind-the-million-dollar-space-pen-hoax-5838635
https://gizmodo.com/the-10-types-of-writers-block-and-how-to-overcome-them-5844988
https://gizmodo.com/your-brain-wont-allow-you-to-believe-the-apocalypse-cou-5848857
https://gizmodo.com/high-speed-video-reveals-the-bizarre-physics-of-an-ordi-5849356
https://gizmodo.com/10-awesome-online-classes-you-can-take-for-free-5848291
https://gizmodo.com/handy-map-of-the-united-states-showing-the-scariest-thi-5851994
https://gizmodo.com/krokodil-russias-designer-drug-that-will-eat-your-fles-5859291
https://gizmodo.com/10-bodily-functions-that-continue-after-death-5862418
https://gizmodo.com/weve-seen-the-dark-knight-rises-prologue-and-yes-bane-5868664
2012
If Famous Writers Had Written Twilight
The greatest mystery of the Inca Empire was its strange economy
An Optimistic History of the Next 40 Years
Until 2009, the human clitoris was an absolute mystery
This no-budget science fiction short looks better than most movies
This is what your brain on drugs really looks like
The Scariest Ghost Movies Of All Time
In 1995, New Mexico voted on a bill requiring psychologists to dress as wizards
Why Mass Effect is the Most Important Science Fiction Universe of Our Generation
Eight sexy webcomics to read with the door locked
Japanese fart scrolls prove that human art peaked centuries ago
Did The Hunger Games really rip off Battle Royale?
Japanese sex museums are where your sanity goes to die (NSFW)
10 Things You’ll See in Almost Every Tim Burton Movie
The Bizarre History of Superhero Porn [NSFW]
10 Science Fiction Novels You Pretend to Have Read (And Why You Should Actually Read Them)
10 Civilizations That Disappeared Under Mysterious Circumstances
10 Myths About Space Travel That Make Science Fiction Better
Weird Secrets of The Avengers That You’d Never Have Guessed
8 Great Philosophical Questions That We’ll Never Solve
Meet the hexaflexagon. It’s about to blow your mind.
What do fruits and vegetables look like inside an MRI? Short answer: “Whoa.”
What happens to women denied abortions? This is the first scientific study to find out.
How NASA might build its very first warp drive
This condom delivers an anti-HIV drug, prevents pregnancy, then disappears
Six Good Habits I Learned from Being Bullied as a Geeky Kid
Why you should probably stop eating wheat
https://gizmodo.com/if-famous-writers-had-written-twilight-5872490
https://gizmodo.com/the-greatest-mystery-of-the-inca-empire-was-its-strange-5872764
https://gizmodo.com/an-optimistic-history-of-the-next-40-years-5873485
https://gizmodo.com/until-2009-the-human-clitoris-was-an-absolute-mystery-5876335
https://gizmodo.com/this-no-budget-science-fiction-short-looks-better-than-5878139
https://gizmodo.com/this-is-what-your-brain-on-drugs-really-looks-like-5878523
https://gizmodo.com/the-scariest-ghost-movies-of-all-time-5881641
https://gizmodo.com/in-1995-new-mexico-voted-on-a-bill-requiring-psycholog-5882671
https://gizmodo.com/why-mass-effect-is-the-most-important-science-fiction-u-5886178
https://gizmodo.com/eight-sexy-webcomics-to-read-with-the-door-locked-5886302
https://gizmodo.com/japanese-fart-scrolls-prove-that-human-art-peaked-centu-5886529
https://gizmodo.com/did-the-hunger-games-really-rip-off-battle-royale-5888124
https://gizmodo.com/japanese-sex-museums-are-where-your-sanity-goes-to-die-5899555
https://gizmodo.com/10-things-youll-see-in-almost-every-tim-burton-movie-5909293
https://gizmodo.com/the-bizarre-history-of-superhero-porn-nsfw-5914178
https://gizmodo.com/10-books-you-pretend-to-have-read-and-why-you-should-r-5924625
https://gizmodo.com/10-civilizations-that-disappeared-under-mysterious-circ-5928085
https://gizmodo.com/10-myths-about-space-travel-that-make-science-fiction-b-5936924
https://gizmodo.com/weird-secrets-of-the-avengers-that-youd-never-have-gues-5940888
https://gizmodo.com/8-great-philosophical-questions-that-well-never-solve-5945801
https://gizmodo.com/meet-the-hexaflexagon-its-about-to-blow-your-mind-5947852
https://gizmodo.com/what-do-fruits-and-vegetables-look-like-inside-an-mri-5949058
https://gizmodo.com/what-happens-to-women-denied-abortions-this-is-the-fir-5958187
https://gizmodo.com/how-nasa-might-build-its-very-first-warp-drive-5963263
https://gizmodo.com/this-condom-delivers-an-anti-hiv-drug-prevents-pregnan-5965728
https://gizmodo.com/six-good-habits-i-learned-from-being-bullied-as-a-geeky-5966749
https://gizmodo.com/why-you-should-probably-stop-eating-wheat-5968164
