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io9No, science has not discovered a new body part
“Surgeons discover new ligament in human knee,” reads one headline. “The Anterolateral ligament, scientists discover a new body part in the KNEE,” reads another. The internet’s been awash with headlines like these the last few days. They’re all crap. The “previously unknown” ligament in question was discovered in 1879. According to the new paper describing … Continued
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io9Television
The Lance family’s most awkward moments on Arrow
This episode is entitled “The League of Assassins,” and not surprisingly, it features frequent ninja attacks. The Lance family is so awkward that every time the ninjas attack, it’s a relief. If last year was all about the Queens on Arrow, this year is all about the Lances. And they seem to be the world’s … Continued
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io9TelevisionHow soon could we see Amazing Spider-Man cross over with Marvel films?
James Gunn explains exactly how Thanos is involved in the plot of Guardians of the Galaxy, Melissa McBride comments on Carol’s future on The Walking Dead, and John Noble says he’s playing Ichabod’s father-figure on Sleepy Hollow. And find out how Black Canary’s secret identity changes everything. Spoilers now! Guardians of the Galaxy James Gunn … Continued
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io9TelevisionPerson of Interest delivers a caper, with a side of serious OMG
Last night’s Person of Interest was mostly a pretty old-school caper story, with a number of the week who pulls pretty much every kind of con except a retcon. But then we had some major reveals, too, and a pretty scary encounter with The Future. So I’m beginning to think that somebody writing for Person … Continued
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io9Trailers
First trailer for Winter’s Tale sprinkles magic on NYC
Based on the wonderful 1983 novel by Mark Helprin, Winter’s Tale is set in an alternative timeline starting at the turn of the 20th century in New York City. But this Gotham has magic, gangs, and a gorgeous white flying horse straddled by Colin Farrell. This long awaited movie is FINALLY releasing some footage, and … Continued
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io9
The best way to stop a hive mind from killing you
The great ships were hive minds, concatenations of thousands of smaller ships that swarmed together so closely you couldn’t tell where one ended and another began. They were supposed to be unstoppable, but they had one vulnerability: internal dissent. If you could talk a few ships into separating from the whole, you had a chance. … Continued
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io9TelevisionThe Bizarre Game of Thrones Tribute From Last Night’s Supernatural
The opening shot of last night’s Supernatural episode was the funniest part, as we discovered that a taxidermist has created a whole Game of Thrones tribute, out of woodland creatures. This was the second time in a row the show has made a Thrones joke — insecure much? As for the rest of the episode… … Continued
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io9
Illustrations of Petra Pan, the Genderswapped Girl Who Wouldn’t Grow Up
Artist Marion, also known as Galaxyspeaking, does a puckish genderflip of Peter Pan, reimagining the Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up as a girl named Petra, who traipses through Neverland with her crew of Lost Girls and her male fairy companion, Tinkerbell. Galaxyspeaking explains that she is currently working on a comic with her genderswapped Peter … Continued
By Lauren Davis -
io9
How I Turned My Problem Pet into a ‘Cadaver Dog’
Author Cat Warren trained her dog to sniff out human remains as a “cadaver dog.” In this exclusive excerpt from her book What The Dog Knows: The Science and Wonder of Working Dogs, she explains how this experience taught her about the longstanding connection between dogs and death. Top image: Son of Groucho Excerpted from … Continued
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io9
Comment of the Day: Lonely Superman Edition
Today, we spun some possible endings for The Walking Dead, composed an epitaph for the humble video store, and learned once and for all why Superman is the loneliest fellow in Metropolis. In response to this post naming and shaming the worst friends in fiction, commenter Angrier Geek gave us a peek into a very … Continued
By Ria Misra -
io9
Denny’s new Hobbit 2-themed menu is sure to desolate your stomach
Obesity rates among the denizens of Middle-Earth are on the rise. Hobbits, dwarves, orcs and even men are getting fatter, because instead of a sensible diet based on fruits, vegetables and Lembas bread, they’re eating at Denny’s, thanks to their new The Hobbit: The Desolation of Your Arteries Smaug-themed menu. You may remember last year’s … Continued
By Rob Bricken -
io9This is what 1.6-tons of space station garbage looks like on re-entry
Four days ago, the Albert Einstein ATV re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere and was destroyed as planned. The ESA managed to snap this spectacular pic as the carrier — filled with human waste, dirty clothes, and other detritus — went aflame over the Pacific Ocean. The mission ended on October 28 after the successful transfer of … Continued
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io9TelevisionTurns out The Originals is about America’s original sin: slavery
The Originals is a weird show. The four characters who came over from The Vampire Diaries to form the bedrock of the show’s cast were among the least sympathetic on the parent show, and all the new characters seemed either forgettable or sort of horrible. But slowly but surely, The Originals is finding a story … Continued
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io9
These Abandoned Toy Factories and Shops Will Haunt Your Nightmares
Once these stores and factories sold the stuff of children’s dreams, but now that they lie abandoned—filled with decaying displays and disembodied doll heads—they are more likely to inspire nightmares. Top image: Doll factory – The last production, via Bousure. Kanga Wooden Toy Factory, O’Connor, Perth, Australia (via Nate Robert) The Toastmaster factory in Algonquin, … Continued
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io9Ian McKellen showed off his cheeky Gandalf underpants on stage
What does Sir Ian McKellen wear beneath his wizard’s robes—or his gold shorts? During a performance this week, he revealed his tighty-Gandalf-the-whities. McKellen bared his Gandalf underwear—featuring the words “You Shall Not Pass”—during a performance at Only Make Believe’s 14th Annual Gala, “Make Believe On Broadway.” He decided to enact a quick costume change onstage, … Continued
By Lauren Davis -
io9Movies
Blockbuster In Memoriam: What’s your favorite video store memory?
The movie rental giant is dead. Blockbuster is closing its 300 remaining US stores and shuttering its DVD mail business. Thus ends the era of publicly flaunting your movie musings under the nose of some 16-year-old store clerk. So let’s raise a glass, and toast goodbye to Blockbuster—and the smaller video stores it killed years … Continued
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io9
This experiment changed our understanding of parasite resistance
It’s common scientific wisdom that parasite resistance comes from repeated exposure to a parasite. But a new study has turned this idea on its head. Guppies who were removed from rivers swarming with parasites actually evolved an improved parasite tolerance in just a few generations. Here’s how it happened. https://gizmodo.com/why-the-cuckoo-finch-is-called-a-brood-parasite-1374279193 https://gizmodo.com/12-real-parasites-that-control-the-lives-of-their-hosts-461313366 In 2008, the National … Continued
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io9
Did life on Earth emerge from clay?
There’s a longstanding theory that life first emerged in pools of water. But if scientists from Cornell are correct, it may have first taken root inside of clay. Clay doesn’t seem like a likely place for the genesis of life. Deposits of the stuff are primarily composed of infertile phyllosilicate minerals and water. But as … Continued
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io9Watch this man fly around Mt. Fuji in a homemade jetpack
Looking to reclaim a little sense of wonder? Check out this breathtaking new footage of Swiss pilot Yves “Jetman” Rossy zooming around Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji with an eight-foot-wide, rocket-powered, carbon-fiber wing of his own invention strapped to his back. “It’s really impressive,” said Rossy of Japan’s highest mountain, though, let’s face it, he really … Continued
