OVER THE RAINBOW | Sunset Cloud Village, one of the most picturesque places in China, photographed by Peng Jiang. Just one of the winners of National Geographic's photo contest.
This condom delivers an anti-HIV drug, prevents pregnancy, then disappears
Sex often fuels the adoption of cutting-edge technology, even in the burgeoning field of nano-fabrication. Researchers at the University of Washington have just published a paper in PLoS One describing how they'll use "electrospinning" to create next-generation female condoms made from specially customized nano-fibers. More »
All the Clues and Easter Eggs from the Star Trek Into Darkness Teaser Trailer
Just how dark does Star Trek Into Darkness get? And who is the dashing bastard unleashing total destruction on the Federation, and Kirk in particular? More »
After extensive mathematical modeling, scientist declares "Earth is F**ked"
Brad Werner has a simple question: Is the Earth fucked? He also has a remarkably complicated methodology yielding a very simple answer: yes, unless people start a serious global rebellion. More »
16 Famous Science Fiction Quotes that Make Excellent Pick-Up Lines
Dating is hard. And instigating first-contact with a fellow humanoid can be the hardest part. Luckily, we geeks have our own special language, made up of quotes and in-jokes. More »
And here's the worst Star Wars fan in the entire world
I don't watch Extreme Home Makeover, because I cry really, really easily and I never have enough tissues to handle the end when a family in need gets a house they deserve. More »
A Book That Will Make You Question Everything You Know About Dinosaurs
How did dinosaurs look? The only way any of us know is from looking at images created by paleoartists, people who specialize in imagining extinct creatures by studying their skeletons. More »
Never-seen Dark Knight concept art reveals the terrifying origins of the Joker's Clown Gang
Concept art from The Dark Knight reveals a whole creepy clown army, at The Joker's disposal. Concept Artist Rob Bliss, who whipped up an entire horde of Joker lackeys, has recently released his art from Chris Nolan's beloved Batman movie. More »
This periodic table shows each element's relative abundance on Earth
The classic periodic table of elements is useful for understanding the relationships between the elements, but it doesn't tell us much about the chemical makeup of Earth. More »
8 ways X-Men movie continuity is irretrievably f—ked
With the news that Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen are in talks to reprise their roles as Professor X and Magneto, respectively, in the upcoming X-Men: First Class sequel Days of Future Past, Fox made a statement: That the X-Men movies are one continuity. They also made another statement: We are morons. More »
When pregnancy is caused by more than one father
There are myths about women giving birth to children from two different fathers. A look at genetics today, though, shows that those myths might have originated in truth. More »
The Hawkeye Initiative redraws absurd superheroine poses with Hawkeye
We've seen a lot of clever responses to the spine-twisting, butt-baring poses so many female comic book characters are subjected to, but the Hawkeye Initiative is particularly fun. More »
Einstein may have discovered dark energy without even realizing it
An historian of science from New York University has re-interpreted a correspondence between Albert Einstein and Erwin Schrodinger in which the two scientists argued about the nature of the cosmological constant - a kluge that Einstein embedded in his general theory of relativity to explain why the Universe was neither expanding or contracting (what scientists thought at the time). More »
The Top 10 Claims Made by Creationists to Counter Scientific Theories
One of the most challenging tasks for the modern day creationist to is reconcile the belief in a 6,000 year old Earth with the ever-growing mountain of scientific evidence pointing to a vastly different conclusion - namely a universe that's 13.5 billion years old and an Earth that formed 4.5 billion years ago. So, given these astoundingly dramatic discrepancies, biblical literalists and 'young Earth creationists' have had no choice but to get pretty darned imaginative when brushing science aside. More »
Postal Apocalypse: How to Get Drunk After the World Ends, and more
A lone rider appears off in the distance. The sun is setting, and his horse is tired. As he approaches, it's clear he's carrying a large leather bag, and that he's wearing the tattered uniform of a U.S. mail carrier. More »
How many times do I have to tell you the Maya didn't give a shit about your dumb apocalypse?
There are two things I am pissed about. One, the new age dumbasses who think that the ancient Maya predicted the end of the world on Dec. 21, 2012. And two, the people who revel in debunking these predictions based on the logic that all doomsday prophesies are unscientific. More »
