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Tech NewsThe Business of Predicting the End of the World
Most of us only think about natural disasters when we absolutely have to (or when it’s, uh, for fun). But for scientists and analysts who work for global insurance companies, predicting the next big catastrophe is a business—and an increasingly lucrative one, at that. https://gizmodo.com/elaborate-dioramas-model-the-apocalypse-in-miniature-1458430063 Swiss Re, the second largest insurance company in the world, … Continued
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io9
An optical illusion is making dentists drill holes that are too big
There’s an optical illusion where a small, enclosed area appears larger when surrounded by a larger area. This visual anomaly, called the Delboef illusion, is making the holes that dentists cut in preparation for fillings appear smaller than they really are. This illusion was first documented by Franz Joseph Delboeuf, a Belgian philosopher and expert … Continued
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Tech NewsSploid
Scientists discover flies can think ergo they’re assholes on purpose
You thought they were stupid, but it turns out that flies take decision on their own terms. They have free will, io9’s Esther Inglis-Arkell reports: they “seemed to be making spontaneous motions which indicated that somewhere, inside their little fly brains, they were deciding how to move based on their own free will.” https://gizmodo.com/the-crazy-device-that-shows-fruit-flies-have-free-will-1459261376
By Jesus Diaz -
Tech News
The Glamour of Futurism: An Interview with Author Virginia Postrel
Futurism and glamour are inextricably linked in American history. The sleek techno-utopian futures of yesteryear—the ones filled with flying cars, jetpacks, and automatic highways—couldn’t exist without the support of this concept that’s equal parts intrigue and attraction. Virginia Postrel’s new book, The Power of Glamour: Longing and the Art of Visual Persuasion, looks at glamour … Continued
By Matt Novak -
io9Movies
Tom Hiddleston takes us inside the complicated mind of Loki
Not only is actor Tom Hiddleston a charming impressionist, Comic-Con god, and Joss Whedon’s secret soft-spot, but he’s also an incredibly thoughtful person to chat deeply with about the inner workings of the God of Mischief, Loki, and his new mindset in Thor: the Dark World, premiering this Friday. Which we did. Swoon! https://gizmodo.com/tom-hiddleston-does-samuel-l-jackson-as-motherf-cking-1448579198 https://gizmodo.com/watch-comic-cons-marvel-cinematic-universe-panel-in-al-858257830 … Continued
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io9
The crazy device that shows fruit flies have free will
Do we have free will? If we don’t, we’re one step down the metaphysical ladder from fruit flies. Yes, people have determined that fruit flies have free will. And yes, the experimental fly chamber they created to find this out is really freaking weird. How would you devise a “free will” chamber? If you were … Continued
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Tech NewsGadgets
It Turns Out Backup Batteries Don’t Have To Be an Eyesore
If there’s even the slightest risk you won’t have access to an outlet or a powered USB port for 24 hours, you’d better hope you’ve got a backup battery in tow to keep your phone alive. And while function usually trumps form when it comes to external power sources, Incase has decided to overthrow the … Continued
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Tech NewsInside the Bone Room: Where Dinosaurs Live at AMNH
The most interesting room in the American Museum of Natural History is one you’ll never see. Its inhabitants are millions of years old, its proprietors among the brightest in their field. This is the big bone room, home to what is arguably the largest and most important collection of mammal bones in the world. And … Continued
By Leslie Horn -
Tech NewsSploid
Stunning night images of a nuclear ice breaker in the middle of nowhere
Sergey Dolya took some incredible photos in an expedition to the North Pole on board a Russian Arktika-class nuclear ice breaker. In the words of Buzz Aldrin, “Beautiful, beautiful. Magnificent desolation.” By the way, did you know that you can get a cabin on board these and other industrial ships? There are some travel agencies … Continued
By Jesus Diaz -
io9Television
Half of last night’s Agents of SHIELD was its best episode yet
If you turned off Agents of SHIELD halfway through “F.Z.Z.T.”, I don’t blame you. The first half was spent watching this supposedly super-important team investigate the deaths of three volunteer firefighters (a good thing to do, but not exactly the highest stakes). But if you did turn it off, you missed the good part of … Continued
By Rob Bricken -
Tech NewsThe LAPD’s Remote-Control BATCAT Forklift Is 39,000 Pounds of Kickass
What do you get when you outfit a Caterpillar forklift with a gigantic telescopic arm, remote controls, and the ability to bully both vehicles and houses smaller than itself? The LAPD’s ultimate bomb disposal tool: BATCAT. The BATCAT, or Bomb Assessment Tactical Counter Assault Tool, looks like something out of WayneTech Labs and by all … Continued
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Tech News
Watch the Spectacular Fiery Death of the Albert Einstein Spacecraft
This amazing reentry fireworks was observed from the International Space Station on 2 November at 12:04 GMT. We can see European Space Agency’s fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle, Albert Einstein, disintegrating and burning up in the atmosphere over an uninhabited area of the Pacific Ocean, in the most spectacular way, after it left the International Space … Continued
By Attila Nagy -
io9MoviesFirst Catching Fire clip gives us hope for a better Gale in the movies
Check out the very first clip from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, showcasing the fiery love between Gale and Katniss. Suck it, Peeta. Hey, maybe this movie won’t totally throw the character of Gale Hawthorne under the bus. If you’ve read the books (spoiler alert) then you know the author makes it damn near impossible … Continued
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Tech News
Australian Authorities Seize Katy Perry’s New Album, Deemed Biohazard
Katy Perry’s new album Prism is very bad. We’re not just talking about the music, though. (“Roar” is rather catchy!) It’s bad for the environment. At least, that’s what officials say in Australia where the record’s been deemed a “biosecurity concern.” Well, to be more specific, the album artwork is made of seedpaper, and comes … Continued
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Tech NewsSploid
The Evil Galactic Empire invades Kinkade’s famous cheesy paintings
Self-described “alien artisan” Roland Deschane recently brought the world a brilliant juxtaposition: the cozy cabins of Thomas Kinkade and the raw brutality of the imperial forces. We’re talking Stormtroopers, Star Destroyers and AT-AT Walkers. We’re talking Dark Side. The idea alone deserves a slow clap, but the execution is almost flawless. You can almost hear … Continued
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io9
How Will The Walking Dead Finally End?
Greetings, folks! It’s your friendly neighborhood post-apocalyptic fake mailman here, and I have to tell you, my mailbag is full to bursting! It’s really heavy! It may actually get me killed, because I move really slowly while carrying it! But my imminent, easily avoidable death is worth it, as long as I get to keep … Continued
By Rob Bricken -
Tech News
The Colossal Railway That’s Quietly Taking Shape 160 Feet Below NYC
Maybe we can’t build the world’s deepest undersea tunnel in seven years like some cities, but New York still has some serious mega-construction chops. Behold: The latest photos from 120 to 160 feet below Grand Central Station, where workers are building the largest public transportation project in the US. https://gizmodo.com/worlds-deepest-undersea-tunnel-weaves-together-two-con-1454513090 The East Side Access Project—which … Continued
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Tech News
Mexican Coke Is Ditching Cane Sugar For High-Fructose Corn Syrup (Update: In Mexico)
Well, this is some real bullshit. Mexican Coke is ditching its key ingredient, cane sugar, for high-fructose corn syrup. This is objectively awful. Mexican Coke—which is also widely available in the United States—has cane sugar to thank for its distinctive taste. By switching to high fructose corn syrup, it will be indistinguishable from boring old … Continued
By Leslie Horn -
Tech NewsGadgets
This Sleek Monolithic Microwave Keeps Buttons To a Minimum
Microwaves are rarely seen as the focal point of your kitchen, but maybe they should be? German appliance maker Caso sure thinks so. The company’s new HCMG25 microwave features a giant black mirror glass front panel with a cleverly integrated red LED display that pushes all the buttons to the side to help preserve its … Continued
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Tech NewsNASA’s Rock Climbing Robot Could Tackle Everest With Ease
Last year NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory revealed a Spiderman-inspired grippy claw that would let spacecraft easily grab onto passing asteroids and comets. Since then the technology has been further refined and now integrated into a rock-climbing robot called the LEMUR IIB that could put Sir Edmund Hillary to shame. https://gizmodo.com/nasa-wants-to-snatch-asteroids-with-a-spiderman-inspire-5911092 Each of the robot’s four … Continued