- io9
Why Is This Mysterious Black Ring Hovering in the Sky Over England?
Last week, a teenager in England filmed this crazy black ring floating above Leamington Spa. Apparently the ring disappeared after three minutes, leaving everyone baffled. Is this a new subgenre of UFO? Nope. As Sharon Hill helpfully explains over at Doubtful News, it was likely a vortex ring, essentially a very thick, dark smoke ring … Continued
- io9
Hidden in This Beautiful Jewelry is a Secret Drug-Science Reference
Much as we love the present trend of sticking drug-molecules on everything from coffee mugs to t-shirts, we crave something new. Fortunately, science-themed artist Delftia has a novel take on subtle drug jewelry: pendants that replicate spider webs spun under the influence of psychoactive drugs. Image Credit: After Peters et al. and Witt, 1956 via … Continued
- Tech NewsPrivacy and Security
Everything We Know About the Army’s Uncanny Chatbots
Sgt. Star is the U.S. Army’s dedicated marketing and recruitment chatbot, and he isn’t going to turn whistleblower any time soon. There’s no use threatening him for answers either—he’s programmed to report that kind of hostility to the Army Criminal Investigation Division. Last year, EFF began to look at how the government deploys chatbots to … Continued
David Maass - EFF - io9
Here Is The Male Version Of Power Girl’s Boob Window (NSFW)
Power Girl’s costume is infamous for showing off her particular endowments, but what would be the equivalent for a similarly outfitted Power Lad? NSFW image below. Artist Cory Walker came up with this male-bodied take on Power Girl, moving her boob window down to the groin. Now showing off the groin isn’t exactly equivalent to … Continued
By Lauren Davis - io9
The Zeppelin Train, The Aerotrain And Other Classic Streamlined Trains
Long before there were bullet trains and high-speed light rail systems, people experimented with creating super-streamlined trains that could whisk people across the country in Googie splendor. In some alternate universe, these streamlined trains of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s are still in service. We already showed you some strange railway systems and monorail systems … Continued
- Tech NewsGoogle
Google Sent Out Broken Glass to Try on “For Look Purposes Only”
Is the only thing holding you back from entering the world of Glass the fact that you can’t decide which color best brings out your eyes? Worry no more. Google’s fixed the problem by sending potential Explorers all four colors of Glass’ Titanium Collection. And because this is just about about how great(?) you’ll look … Continued
- Tech News
A Subway Map of Every Highway and Interstate in the U.S.
We all wish the United States had better trains. (If you don’t, you should.) That’s why this subway-style map of every U.S. Highway and Interstate in the country is so much fun. You can almost imagine heading down to your local stop for a quick jaunt up the East Coast. If only… The impossibly detailed … Continued
- Tech NewsDesign
How a Simple Design Error Could Have Toppled a NYC Skyscraper
When it was built in 1977, Citicorp Center (later renamed Citigroup Center, now called 601 Lexington) was, at 59 stories, the seventh-tallest building in the world. You can pick it out of the New York City skyline by its 45-degree angled top. (Credit: Wally Gobitz) But it’s the base of the building that really makes … Continued
Roman Mars - 99% Invisible - io9
The U.S. Army Is Using a Chatbot to Recruit New Soldiers
He hasn’t served in any military campaigns. He’s never won a medal. Heck, he’s not even alive. But to millions of people, Sgt. Star, the Army’s recruitment chatbot, is one of the most recognizable soldiers in America. And he’s gathering a lot of personal data. But, what does he do with all the information that … Continued
By Mark Strauss - Tech News
Raise Your Glass for the Dragon Slayer
Around the world, but especially in America, the feast of St. Patrick—the patron saint of Ireland—on March 17 is celebrated with a pint (or several) of Guinness. Meanwhile, St. George’s Day on April 23, when we could be raising a glass to the dragon-slaying patron saint of England, tends to pass by without a mention, … Continued
- ScienceSpace
The SpaceX Launch Is Sending Dinosaur Microbes to the Space Station
The SpaceX Dragon capsule that just left Earth for the International Space Station is carrying many an important item: a new laser communication system, coffee (which they just ran out of!), a planter for fresh produce, and billions and billions of microbes swabbed from dinosaur bones, sneakers, and spacecraft clean rooms. Over the next few … Continued
By Sarah Zhang - Tech NewsDesign
Rebranding Weed So It’s Not Just For Potheads Anymore
With marijuana legal in two states and approved for medicinal use in about 20 more, this year’s 4/20 is gonna be epic, bro! But even as marijuana is being embraced by the mainstream, its image has been left behind in the 1960s. It’s time to rebrand weed. Our evolving relationship with pot might be progressive, … Continued
- Tech NewsSploid
Neat cover of Happy made using Vine and multiple iPhones
This guy discovered that one measure of Happy is six seconds, exactly like a Vine clip. He then used Vine to record himself and his friends playing different instruments and singing, creating this perfect symphony using multiple iPhones. I’m getting near my point of saturation with Pharrell William’s Happy, but I still have a few … Continued
By Jesus Diaz - Tech News
2,500 Flaming Gas Burners Make This One Awesome Audio Visualizer
Remember Winamp’s wonderful audio visualizers? They let you see your music through trippy ever-evolving patterns, but they couldn’t hold a flame to this Pyro Board, which trades animations for a glowing grid of flames produced by 2,500 gas burners. Awesome first, safety second. We’ve seen similar devices before, but this new video gives us a … Continued
- Tech News
The High-Tech Sensors That Keep Track of L.A.’s Weather
When Dallas Raines or the Times’ weather page reports that it was 92 degrees in Los Angeles yesterday, their data likely come from one source: the National Weather Service’s downtown Los Angeles station on the University of Southern California (USC) campus. Wedged between Vermont Avenue and USC’s tennis courts on land leased from the university, … Continued
- io9Movies
What Movie Is Only Good With The Sound Off And Loud Music Blasting?
We’re living in a new golden age for movies that look pretty as fuck. A ton of big Hollywood releases feature insane imagery, but the story isn’t really worth paying attention to. Which movie is absolutely the best to watch with the sound off and your favorite music blasting at top volume? Please include a … Continued
- Tech News
Italy Wants to Turn Its Old Bridges into Inverted Skyscrapers
Southern Italy is dotted with hulking aqueducts that went out of service years ago. In an attempt to find a new use for the structures in lieu of tearing it down, the government held a competition. One of the winning designs will blow your mind. This proposal to repurpose an abandoned concrete viaduct in Calabria … Continued
- io9
The Weird U.S. Government Projects That Have Been Named BATMAN
Government researchers must have a Batman fetish. Perhaps that explains why so many have named their projects after him—it’s federally-funded cosplay. The question is why this odd bunch of projects bear the Dark Knight’s name. There’s no denying that, among superheroes, the Dark Knight ranks especially high on the “coolness” factor. After all, he’s rich, … Continued
By Mark Strauss - Tech NewsDesign
Driving the Past, For the Future of Car Design
This week the Ford Mustang, perhaps America’s most culturally influential car, turned 50. Ford Motor Company celebrated the anniversary with commemorative models and publicity stunts, but the company’s top two designers had the most fitting tribute: A Michigan-to-NYC road trip in two classic Mustangs. I rode along and, while the vehicles were vintage, the conversation … Continued
- Tech NewsSploid
The fastest way to take off your t-shirt
This guy claims this is the fastest way to take off your t-shirt. It looks pretty damn fast to me, although guys with tight t-shirts will not be able to use this trick. SPLOID is a new blog about awesome stuff. Join us on Facebook
By Jesus Diaz