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io9In The Tropic of Serpents, a Naturalist Studies Dragons and Politics
One of the many pleasures of reading a Marie Brennan novel is that a swashbuckling quest to find dragon eggs in the tropics is never just that. It is also a complicated political story of colonial incursion and ecosystems in peril. Welcome back to the world of Lady Trent, a naturalist with a dragon obsession. … Continued
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Tech News
These Pixelated Pics of NYC Were Taken On A Game Boy
Ah, to see the world through greyscale-colored lenses. Photographer David Friedman took these charming pixelated pics of New York way back in the year 2000… ON A GAME BOY. They’re not only a technological time capsule, but an urban one. The Game Boy Camera was a short-lived accessory for the Game Boy—it was released in … Continued
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Tech News
DreamWorksTV Is A Perfect Example Of Not Using YouTube Properly
You might not have noticed, but DreamWorks recently launched their own YouTube channel in an effort to make some extra revenue. The company has taken losses on many of their most recent movies, and some extra advertising money could certainly help them. Unfortunately, their YouTube channel is unlikely to make much money since its videos … Continued
By Jason Krell -
Tech NewsLet Sixpoint’s Mad Scientists Show You How to Invent a Brand New Beer
Gizmodo has teamed up with Brooklyn’s Sixpoint Brewery to create a limited-edition IPA called Hop Tech 431, brewed especially for the Home of the Future. Last week, we looked at the story behind HBC 431, the mysterious and experimental hop we’ve chosen to brew with. Today, we’re exploring exactly what goes into designing the recipe … Continued
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Reviews
Part Machete And Part Big Knife, Is This The Ultimate Survival Blade?
At 16.5 inches, the ESEE Junglas is as long as a machete, but thick and sturdy like a knife. It’ll also allow you to win any Crocodile Dundee “That’s not a knife,” contests. What’s It Supposed To Do? Like we explained last week in What Big Survival Knifes Are For And How To Use One, … Continued
By Wes Siler -
io9Watch Japanese Children Design New Life Forms
We’ve come a long way from Tamagotchi. A company called teamLab has launched a play center called the “Sketch Aquarium,” where kids can design a fish and then interact with it in a virtual tank. It’s adorable — and very mad sciencey. This new self-dubbed “future park” offers children an alternative to the Japanese education … Continued
By Mark Strauss -
Tech News
Ikea Is Turning Its Very First Store Into a Museum
In addition to the obvious—meatballs, for most of us—there are many joys inherent in an afternoon pilgrimage to an Ikea showroom, not least of which is sitting on, reclining over, picking up, and/or putting down every damn thing you wander past in the cheery furniture labyrinth. Now the Swedish superstore wants to open a museum—does … Continued
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Tech News
Anime Voice Actor And Drama Teacher Marries 16 Year Old Student
Well this is kind of a bizarre story. Illich Guardiola, a 41 year-old voice actor (who has voiced numerous characters for English translations of popular anime) and drama teacher at the Houston Family Arts Center, is now married to his 16 year-old student after police caught wind of their illegal relationship. Everything started coming to … Continued
By Jason Krell -
Tech News
Report: AT&T In Talks To Buy DirecTV for $50 Billion
Bloomberg is reporting that AT&T is gearing up to buy DirecTV for $50 billion. Per Bloomberg: Under the plan being discussed, DirecTV management will continue to run the company as a unit of AT&T and DirecTV Chief Executive Officer Mike White plans to retire after 2015, said the people, asking not to be named because … Continued
By Leslie Horn -
Tech NewsVolcano as Garbage Disposal
Trash is annoying. It builds up mountainous landfills, fills the ocean with junk, litters space, and pollutes the atmosphere. So, why not just chuck it into a volcano? An expedition tried that in Erta Ale Volcano, tossing 30 kilograms of organic waste into the lava lake. …which then erupted. Whoops. Erta Ale Volcano in the … Continued
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Tech News
This Lettuce Umbrella Should Count As a Serving of Veggies
If the thought of putting anything green in your mouth leaves you gagging, this adorable and remarkably life-like lettuce umbrella might help slowly acclimate you to accepting vegetables into your life. And it probably goes without saying that it will keep you dry as well. Available for just under $50 from a Japanese website called … Continued
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Tech NewsSploid
This is the new helicopter of the President of the United States
This is the new Marine One, its first official images. After much speculation, Sikorsky got the contract to build the helicopter that the Marines will use to carry the President of the United States, a variation of their S-92 helicopter. Sikorsky is getting $1.24 billion to produce six VH-92—as it will be denominated—for development and … Continued
By Jesus Diaz -
io9
On Salem, The Victims Of Witchcraft Are Clearly Asking For It
How do you get to be the top witch in Salem? It’s not by being an especially skilled magic user. It’s by manipulating people into doing what you want them to do, and last night’s episode all about Mary turning people into her semi-willing pawns—or blaming them for attracting her ire. It’s clear why Mary … Continued
By Lauren Davis -
Tech NewsYour Old Phone Could Help Eavesdrop on Illegal Rainforest Loggers
How do you catch a logger in the dense, remote rainforest? For a long time, the answer has been satellites, which may sound high-tech, but actually means you’re looking at photos of deforested land days after the loggers have made their getaway. A nonprofit called Rainforest Connectionwants to turn old smartphones into solar-powered bugs that … Continued
By Sarah Zhang -
io9
What If Tyrion Had Chosen Love Over His Family On Game Of Thrones?
Tyrion’s attempts at courtly intrigue may have failed, but what if he had chosen to pursue romance instead of playing the Game of Thrones alongside the other Lannisters? Spoilers ahead. While discussing last night’s episode ofGame of Thrones and Tyrion’s disastrous trial, commenter Lynx asked whether Shae really misrepresented her relationship with Tyrion: “She comes … Continued
By Lauren Davis -
Tech News
The 1940s Plan to Replace Jockeys with Robots
This year’s Kentucky Derby was certainly exciting for its mint-julep-soaked spectators. But our future-minded ancestors might have considered it a bit old fashioned. Why? None of the jockeys were robots. The March 1945 issue of Radio-Craft magazine imagined a future where human jockeys would all be replaced by radio-operated robots. The jockey-bots would be outfitted … Continued
By Matt Novak -
io9
A Key Reason Why U.S. Politicians Don’t Understand Science
In 1995, Congressional Republicans shut down the Office of Technology Assessment. For 23 years, this agency had published reports that provided legislators with nonpartisan analyses of science and technology issues. Last week, Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) tried to reopen the agency with minimal funding. He failed. The legislation—a proposed amendment to the Legislative Branch Appropriations … Continued
By Mark Strauss -
io9Shyamalan Reinvents The Prisoner And Hieroglyph Sexes Up Ancient Egypt
Surprise! M. Night Shyamalan’s creepy new show Wayward Pines actually looks downright watchable in this first three-minute promo. Mostly because of the incredible cast. And below, watch the first short promo for Hieroglyph, Fox’s Egyptian mythology show. We’ve been comparing Wayward Pines to Twin Peaks, because of the obvious similarities — but the above promo … Continued
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Tech News
Examining rap lyrics to measure quality of life in Compton. An ambitious housing plan from New York Mayor Bill de Blasio. How Boston is changing thanks to one architecture firm. Why Atlanta is putting all its money on the BeltLine. Plus, Bike Month! All in this week’s Urban Reads! Why does all the rap and … Continued