John Gordon Ross

Anyone who works as a freelancer these days has to be at least a bit familiar with techie things. But it isn’t just that. When I was a kid and those vaguely SF puppet shows were on the television and all the other kids wanted to be Greg Gogetem or Steve Savetheuniverse, I wanted to be the guy in a white coat and glasses called Doc or Brains. Here are some technology-related feeds I find useful and/or entertaining.

Mashable » Guy with busted washing machine uses it to make a 'Devil Went Down to Georgia' cover

Thursday 9 February 23:48:18 UTC 2017

One man's broken appliance is another man's broken appliance that he uses to make covers of songs for YouTube. Aaron McAvoy has made the most of his busted washing machine, using its loud metered rumbling to aid in covers like this one of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia." McAvoy's also teamed up with a spin cycle to record covers … [Link]

Mashable » This gadget is perfect for those who struggle to keep plants alive

Thursday 9 February 23:45:04 UTC 2017

Botanium is an automated planter that pumps and reuses water so the owner has minimal maintenance. Read more…More about Technology, Tech, Kickstarter, Farming, and Nature [Link]

Mashable » Obama's official White House photographer is Insta-trolling Trump

Thursday 9 February 23:39:43 UTC 2017

Pete Souza is posting some pretty coincidentally timed photos to his insta account…or should we say not-so coincidental.  Read more…More about Real Time Video, Real Time, Shade, Shades, and Photographer [Link]

Slashdot » RSA: Ban On Booth Babes Has Been No Big Deal

Thursday 9 February 23:20:00 UTC 2017

netbuzz quotes a report from Network World: In March 2015, RSA Conference organizers made news by contractually insisting that vendors pitch their security wares without the help of "booth babes," a first such ban for the technology industry. Next week's event will be third under the new rules. With the use of "booth babes" long a source of contention — … [Link]

Mashable » Astronaut captures clearest footage yet of rare type of lightning

Thursday 9 February 23:18:34 UTC 2017

Generally speaking, storms seen from space are pretty breathtaking.  Lightning flashes, huge thunderheads and the swirling clouds of hurricanes all take on a unique look when seen from the International Space Station orbiting 250 miles above Earth's surface. SEE ALSO: The first photos from a revolutionary new weather satellite are gorgeous The Space Station is also an amazing place to check … [Link]

Mashable » Google brings virtual reality directly to your web browser

Thursday 9 February 23:15:10 UTC 2017

Escaping into virtual reality is now as easy as typing a URL into your browser. Google announced that VR experiences will be more widely available on Chrome in a blog post on Thursday. With the new update, the company said it's now "as easy to step inside Air Force One as it is to access your favorite webpage." The update integrates … [Link]

Mashable » 'Overwatch' players create terrifying custom game inspired by 'Predator'

Thursday 9 February 22:46:42 UTC 2017

The Overwatch public test region on PC is currently filled with players trying out different custom games, and some of them are really inventive. One creative player messed around with some of the game settings to create a pretty scary custom game mode called "Predator," in which three players playing as underpowered Soldier: 76s have to go up against a … [Link]

Slashdot » Arby's Probes Possible Data Breach Affecting 355,000 Credit Cards

Thursday 9 February 22:40:00 UTC 2017

Brian Krebs is reporting that Arby's "recently remediated a breach involving malicious software installed on payment card systems at hundreds of its restaurant locations nationwide." The breach is said to only affect some corporate stores and not franchised restaurant locations. While there is no exact number of those affected, it's possible that more than 355,000 credit and debit cards issued … [Link]

Mashable » Meet the architect behind China's smog-sucking 'vertical forests'

Thursday 9 February 22:33:07 UTC 2017

Italian architect Stefano Boeri has a plan to steer the world away from glistening glass skyscrapers: Cover them with trees. Boeri's Vertical Forests reimagine buildings as enormous air purifiers for smoggy cities. The trees, plants and shrubs also offer shade on sunny days and act as cozy blankets during winter, allowing tenants to reduce their electricity use. Also, they're really pretty. … [Link]

Mashable » These scientists are proving Einstein wrong

Thursday 9 February 22:25:54 UTC 2017

Albert Einstein’s theories have been influencing physics for over 100 years.  Until recently we haven’t had the technology to test these theories. But now, a team of scientists at MIT’s LIGO labs are doing just that. Looking for more VR content? Take a journey through space and time in the latest episode of Within's 'The Possible.' You can watch now on … [Link]

Mashable » How Tim Ferriss, Pat Flynn, and Mimi Ikonn hack their lives in 5 minutes a day

Thursday 9 February 22:15:43 UTC 2017

Life hacks are everywhere. From the obvious — getting a good’s night sleep to become a “morning” person — to the exotic — placing your phone in a glass cup to maximize its alarm — each comes with the same promise: Life doesn’t have to be so hard.   But is it possible to hack your life in just five minutes … [Link]

Mashable » 'Supernatural' star Ruth Connell previews Dean's memory loss and Rowena's brush with heroism

Thursday 9 February 22:06:09 UTC 2017

Supernatural may have to change its motto from "never trust a witch" to "sometimes trust a witch."  For two seasons now, Crowley's (Mark Sheppard) mother Rowena (Ruth Connell) has lied, cheated and manipulated her way into getting whatever she wants from the Winchesters, no matter how many bodies she’s left in her wake. But somewhere along the way, against all odds … [Link]

Slashdot » Watchdog Group Wants Uber's Self-Driving Trucks Off the Road

Thursday 9 February 22:00:00 UTC 2017

New submitter Kemtores quotes a report from USA Today: A few months ago, the ride-hailing giant announced that it would begin testing self-driving Volvo SUVs in this hilly city, but a day later that process was halted after the DMV said Uber had not applied for the proper permits. Uber moved its fleet to Arizona. Uber cars laden with sensors … [Link]

Mashable » Chelsea Handler trolls Trump with a Nordstrom bag outside the White House

Thursday 9 February 21:54:33 UTC 2017

Chelsea Handler just gave a shout-out to Donald Trump with the most perfectly crafted Instagram post. Set right outside the gates of the White House, the photo's caption said it all. SEE ALSO: Celebrity conspiracy theory: Marisa Tomei wasn't supposed to win an Oscar "A Jew and a Gay went to pick a Muslim up from the airport, headed straight to … [Link]

Mashable » Say goodbye to shaky videos with this handy smartphone stabilizer

Thursday 9 February 21:40:16 UTC 2017

The 'Steadicam Volt' will smooth out all your shaky videos and help you capture professional quality footage. Shoot from all the crazy angles just like a pro. Read more…More about Shake Free, Shaky Video, Real Time Video, Steadycam, and Steadycam Volt [Link]

Mashable » Taco Bell's Naked Chicken Chalupa isn't intense enough, so we improved it

Thursday 9 February 21:36:34 UTC 2017

When it comes to greasy, messy, comfort food, Taco Bell is a champion.  For years, Cheesy Gordita Cruches, Doritos Locos Tacos and Crunch Wrap Supremes have filled a tiny corner of our stomachs that only grease and absurd culinary collaborations could fill.  The Naked Chicken Chalupa should be the continuation of that legacy. But – hot take – it isn't all … [Link]

Slashdot » Microsoft Teases Windows 10's Upcoming 'Project Neon' Design Language

Thursday 9 February 21:20:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Windows Central: Microsoft just gave developers a sneak peek at Project Neon, Microsoft's upcoming design language for Windows 10 that aims to add fluidity, animation and blur to apps and the operating system. We exclusively revealed that this was in the works in late 2016, and today Microsoft has given us a first … [Link]

Popular Science » A hi-fidelity LED speaker with a subwoofer for 70 percent off? Yeah, I'd buy it

Thursday 9 February 21:20:00 UTC 2017

Gadgets Good speakers—with lights!—for $30. Good speakers—with lights!—for $30. Read on. [Link]

Mashable » George and Amal Clooney are expecting twins so that's something nice

Thursday 9 February 21:16:15 UTC 2017

George and Amal Clooney are reportedly expecting twins and we are now expecting all of our favorite celebrities to provide a distraction from our misery in the form of two children they can dress up as the bunny ears emoji.  Julie Chen confirmed the happy news on The Talk, adding that the little Clooneys will arrive in June. Multiple sources also … [Link]

Mashable » Government ethics website crashes after 'extraordinary' number of requests from public

Thursday 9 February 21:07:46 UTC 2017

In a series of tweets posted Thursday afternoon, the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) said that its website, email and phone systems have crashed due to "an extraordinary volume of contacts from citizens about recent events." SEE ALSO: Melania Trump sues 'Daily Mail' for ruining her, um, chance to make millions While none of the tweets specifically named President Trump … [Link]

Mashable » New children's book tells the story of iconic artist and activist Keith Haring

Thursday 9 February 21:07:09 UTC 2017

Famed artist Keith Haring was once just a boy who kept drawing. Now, 27 years after his death, Haring's work and passion will inspire kids today — all through a new children's book encouraging them to use art to change the world. SEE ALSO: 7 inspiring children's books to motivate your young activist Keith Haring: The Boy Who Just Kept Drawing … [Link]

Mashable » Wind power is now the top clean energy source in the U.S.

Thursday 9 February 21:06:39 UTC 2017

Wind power now claims the top spot on America's clean energy ladder. Turbines have overtaken hydropower dams as the largest single source of U.S. renewable electric capacity for the first time, new data shows. At the end of 2016, the U.S. wind sector had nearly 82,200 megawatts in installed capacity, the American Wind Energy Associated (AWEA) announced on Thursday. SEE ALSO: … [Link]

Mashable » Miranda Kerr to Facebook: 'How do they sleep at night?'

Thursday 9 February 21:05:19 UTC 2017

Miranda Kerr is a daily user of Instagram with 10.6 million followers. Photos and videos of her modeling often receive a million likes and hundreds of thousands of comments. But she is apparently disgusted by the company and the people who work there.  “I cannot STAND Facebook,” Kerr said in conversation with Richard Godwin of The Times of London in an … [Link]

Mashable » Badass ballerina Misty Copeland rebuts Under Armour CEO's praise of Trump

Thursday 9 February 21:05:12 UTC 2017

After Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank called President Donald Trump a "real asset to the country" on Tuesday, backlash from consumers online was as swift as it was fierce.  Then Steph Curry, Under Armour's most high-profile athlete endorser, joined the conversation by saying Wednesday that he agrees with Plank's assessment — "if you remove the et." Curry also said he wouldn't … [Link]

Mashable » Two 'L'-shaped observatories with lasers: How to find ripples in space and time

Thursday 9 February 20:49:20 UTC 2017

Two large, "L"-shaped instruments separated by 1,865 miles are eavesdropping on the most extreme events in the universe.  The two Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) sites, located in Louisiana and Washington, have been tasked with picking up the faint signs sent out into the universe by black holes colliding in deep space.  These collisions are so extreme that they literally warp … [Link]

Slashdot » Maybe It's Time For Jack Dorsey To Pick a Company

Thursday 9 February 20:44:00 UTC 2017

To Jack Dorsey, running two high-profile companies — Twitter and Square — at the same time doesn't seem like a problem. In an earlier interview with The New York Times, he said, "I can split my time and be present at both companies every single day." But despite how confidently Dorsey seems about his leadership roles at both the companies, … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Microsoft Continues to Democratize AI through the Power of APIs

Thursday 9 February 20:27:04 UTC 2017

Microsoft Cognitive Services, a collection of 25 artificial intelligence (AI) APIs, continue to democratize the utilization of AI for use and consumption by third party apps. Machine learning, AI platforms take massive amounts of expertise and computer power to operate and such requirements have traditionally inhibited access to such technology by your average developer. [Link]

Mashable » John F. Kennedy could give off serious serial-killer vibes in Season 2 of 'The Crown'

Thursday 9 February 20:17:19 UTC 2017

Michael C. Hall is getting a royal makeover, by way of Camelot. The Dexter actor has been cast as President John F. Kennedy for Season 2 of Netflix's award-winning series The Crown. He joins the list of nearly a dozen actors who have played JFK in movies and TV, including Martin Sheen, Patrick Dempsey, Bruce Greenwood, Greg Kinnear, James Marsden and … [Link]

Mashable » No, Mark Zuckerberg isn't about to be overthrown by shareholders

Thursday 9 February 20:15:43 UTC 2017

Nope. Not even close. Not gonna happen. Dream on. Mark Zuckerberg is under no threat from Facebook shareholders. But you might have been under some impression if you'd seen headlines in the last few days hinting at such a thing. "Mark Zuckerberg is under attack from Facebook shareholders who want him to step down as chairman of the board of directors … [Link]

Mashable » Someone stole $100,000 worth of blueberries and we need answers

Thursday 9 February 20:13:07 UTC 2017

Hey, whoever stole a sh*t ton of blueberries from a truck in Canada… not cool, man.  The Hamilton Police Service is currently investigating a burglary in which $100,000 worth of blueberries (and some other fruits) were stolen out of a commercial refrigeration truck in Hamilton, Ontario, on Feb. 5 and driven to Toronto.  SEE ALSO: People can't believe a supermarket is … [Link]

Mashable » 'Pot Sasquatch' is real and it's here to get stoned and interrupt the local news

Thursday 9 February 20:11:20 UTC 2017

While you may have heard of Sasquatch, the large and hairy humanoid creature that walks on its hind legs, a new breed of Bigfoot has been discovered in Western Massachusetts: Pot Sasquatch.  A person dressed as a ginormous nugget of weed had a great time trolling WWLP meteorologist Jennifer Pagliei during her coverage of the winter storm which plowed through the … [Link]

Mashable » 'Stranger Things'-themed Valentine's Day gives love the scary edge it deserves

Thursday 9 February 20:08:24 UTC 2017

It’s hard to find reasons to like Valentine's Day. It's terrible if you are single, and it's expensive if you are not. Unquestionably, it has become over-commercialized and a source of unneeded stress. SEE ALSO: Infuriating Valentine's card is the sweet, sweet revenge singletons need If you feel like you are drowning in a pink sea of teddy bears and chocolate … [Link]

Mashable » All three new iPhones will have wireless charging, report claims

Thursday 9 February 20:05:22 UTC 2017

First, Apple came for our headphones. Now the tech giant may be cutting yet another cord from our lives. KGI Securities, a reliable source for iPhone leaks in the past, reported Thursday that three new iPhones rumored for this fall will feature wireless charging. SEE ALSO: There will be three new iPhones in 2017, report claims Apple is said to be … [Link]

Slashdot » 86 Percent of New Power in Europe From Renewable Sources in 2016

Thursday 9 February 20:00:00 UTC 2017

Renewable energy sources made up nearly nine-tenths of new power added to Europe's electricity grids last year, in a sign of the continent's rapid shift away from fossil fuels. From a report on The Guardian: But industry leaders said they were worried about the lack of political support beyond 2020, when binding EU renewable energy targets end. Of the 24.5GW … [Link]

Mashable » This app helps you make mom friends even when you're trapped under a baby

Thursday 9 February 19:57:18 UTC 2017

One of the hardest parts of motherhood, aside from the sleep deprivation and wild emotions, is the stinging, sudden realization that few friends get what you're going through. SEE ALSO: Woman summarizes motherhood in 34 seconds by locking herself in a pantry That loneliness inspires plenty of women to join mom's groups, postnatal yoga, music classes —basically any social activity that … [Link]

Mashable » Twitter's in a tailspin. Will it take flight, or embrace the fail whale of fate?

Thursday 9 February 19:35:23 UTC 2017

Twitter is losing.  They're losing executives, money, advertisers, investor confidence, and respect from developers and creators. But someone still believes its best days ahead.  "The whole world is watching Twitter. While we may not be currently meeting everyone’s growth expectations, there is one thing that continues to grow and outpace our peers: Twitter’s influence and impact," CEO Jack Dorsey said Thursday … [Link]

New Scientist – News » AI learns to solve quantum state of many particles at once

Thursday 9 February 19:30:00 UTC 2017

The same kind of artificial intelligence that beat a top human player at Go could help grapple with the astonishing complexity of large quantum systems [Link]

New Scientist – News » Magnetic meteorites narrow down solar system’s birthdate

Thursday 9 February 19:30:00 UTC 2017

Magnetic fields in 4-billion-year-old rocks suggest the dust and gas cloud that spawned the solar system had gone by 3.8 million years after the sun formed [Link]

Slashdot » Jeff Bezos Talks About Music Streaming, and His Political Ambitions

Thursday 9 February 19:21:00 UTC 2017

In a wide-ranging interview with Billboard, Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon, Blue Origin, and owner of The Washington Post, talked about music streaming business. He also talked about whether he desires to become the president of the United States. Excerpts from the interview: On music streaming business, being one of the late ones to join the party:Well, here's … [Link]

Popular Science » Here's what NASA's Europa lander could look like

Thursday 9 February 19:17:36 UTC 2017

Space It's designed to search for life on Jupiter's icy moon NASA just dropped a 264-page report outlining the goals of the Europa mission and which instruments they might send. [Link]

Mashable » Introducing the latest 'Street Fight V' combatant: Kolin

Thursday 9 February 19:15:33 UTC 2017

The latest martial artist to challenge the warriors of Street Fighter V is Kolin (pronounced like "Colleen"), a Russian master of Systema. You may remember her as an assistant to Gill, leader of the Illuminati, in Street Fighter III. She makes her debut as an actual warrior in the series latest game, combining her Systema mastery with ice powers given … [Link]

Mashable » Pro 'League of Legends' teams in shambles after 16 Oceanic players banned

Thursday 9 February 19:09:38 UTC 2017

Things are not looking good for the League of Legends Oceanic Challenger Series (OCS) after Riot Games banned 16 pro players from seven different teams for various Terms of Use infractions. The bans range from two weeks to spanning the entire 2017 season. Three players were banned from competing in the 2017 OCS season (which started last week) for boosting, which … [Link]

Mashable » 'For Honor' beta is free all weekend and it's totally worth checking out

Thursday 9 February 18:46:09 UTC 2017

For Honor isn't like other games. You don't have to take my word for it. Ubisoft is hosting an open beta for the game on all platforms — PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One — from Feb. 9-12. It's not the full game, but it's enough to illustrate the kind of experience to expect from this Feb. 14 release. SEE ALSO: … [Link]

Mashable » Watch this 81-year-old retired educator rap for LGBTQ rights at his city council meeting

Thursday 9 February 18:44:34 UTC 2017

Rap has always been a powerful catalyst for social change — even when the person rapping is an 81-year-old retired educator from the middle of Michigan named "Mr. T." Don Tassie is a former superintendent in Jackson, Michigan, schools and a leader of the "Be more kind movement." Recently, Tassie decided to come out in support of an anti-discrimination ordinance his … [Link]

New Scientist – News » How a raised hand from a pedestrian could stop driverless cars

Thursday 9 February 18:42:00 UTC 2017

An LED display for the windscreens of driverless cars could tap into sensors to show pedestrians whether the car is aware of their presence and make it stop [Link]

Slashdot » Cortana Now Reminds You To Do the Things You Promised in Emails

Thursday 9 February 18:40:00 UTC 2017

From a report: Microsoft is adding a new feature to Cortana today that will remind you to keep your promises. Suggested reminders lets Cortana remind you when you've promised to do something in an email. Microsoft is using machine learning to highlight phrases in emails where you might promise your boss something, or make a commitment to a friend or … [Link]

Mashable » If this alarm clock can't get you out of bed in the morning, nothing will

Thursday 9 February 18:33:41 UTC 2017

The Ruggie helps chronic oversleepers get out of bed in the morning by forcing users to stand to shut off the alarm. Read more…More about Mashable Video, Tech, Real Time Video, Invention, and Indiegogo [Link]

Mashable » Blizzard has millions asking: What the hell is thundersnow?

Thursday 9 February 18:31:19 UTC 2017

For fans of snowstorms, thundersnow is the holy grail of winter weather phenomena. And Thursday's blizzard that struck areas from Philadelphia to southern Maine has featured this relatively rare phenomena in unusual abundance.  Numerous lightning strikes were detected in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and in other states as intense snow bands with characteristics of thunderstorms — think of them as … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Great lettuce crisis is a taste of climate crop chaos to come

Thursday 9 February 18:20:00 UTC 2017

The UK's lettuce shortage is a stark warning of how even the world's wealthy will find their food supply disrupted by climate change, warns Olive Heffernan [Link]

Mashable » There's a new Hyperloop company, and its leader is a familiar face

Thursday 9 February 18:18:55 UTC 2017

You can't keep a good Hyperloop visionary down.  Just a few months after settling a particularity acrimonious lawsuit with the company he co-founded, Hyperloop One, Brogan BamBrogan launched on Thursday a brand-new Hyperloop company, Arrivo. SEE ALSO: 5 tough questions for Hyperloop One Companies like Arrivo (which means "Arrival" in Italian) keep cropping up because no one actually owns the Hyperloop … [Link]

Mashable » Verizon will now come to your house to fix your cracked phone screen, you irresponsible slob

Thursday 9 February 18:11:07 UTC 2017

Good news, Verizon customers, and irresponsible phone owners everywhere. If you finally feel the need to repair your pathetic, cracked phone screen (after being turned down by yet another date because of it), you won't even have to leave your house—if you live in the right area, that is. As part of its Total Mobile Protection device insurance plan, Verizon is … [Link]

Mashable » Falcon tries to catch a flying dinner in mesmerizing video

Thursday 9 February 18:06:24 UTC 2017

Nature has a way of always dazzling us. Be it a fox's failed attempt to capture some prey in the snow or an iguana-snake chase that ranks up there with the Fast and Furious franchise, the world around us can be breathtaking.  SEE ALSO: 9 times 'Planet Earth II' took 2016 by storm Such is the case in the above … [Link]

Mashable » Normal suburban house becomes stage for intense moose battle

Thursday 9 February 18:04:53 UTC 2017

You may think of moose as cute animals, especially with such a silly name as 'moose.' But moose are actually very dangerous animals when provoked. They are powerful, strong and they have a tendency to engage each other in epic brawls. Most of the time they fight over territory or females. However, they are also known to become ornery when … [Link]

Mashable » God help us all, Martha Stewart's truck is stuck in the snow

Thursday 9 February 18:03:13 UTC 2017

Grab a shovel and your winter trekking gear, we're organizing a posse to save Martha Stewart. We aren't sure where she is, but Stewart tweeted a picture of herself stuck in the snow in a plow truck. So grab your stuff. Pack light, we leave in five. SEE ALSO: East Coast blizzard got you down? Cute animals in the snow are … [Link]

Slashdot » Overeager Investors Seeking Snap Buy Snap Interactive Instead

Thursday 9 February 18:00:00 UTC 2017

Stephen Shankland, writing for CNET: Investors eager to cash in on the initial public offering of Snap, makers of the popular Snapchat app, have instead been buying shares of Snap Interactive, maker of the Paltalk video chat app and FirstMet dating app. Snap Interactive stock, traded over the counter and not on major exchanges like Nasdaq, has slid below $6 … [Link]

Mashable » Always cold? Here's how to make it replace your personality

Thursday 9 February 17:49:41 UTC 2017

When it's freezing outside and your toes are steadily going numb, it can be hard to concentrate on anything but how cold you are. So don't! Instead, make being cold the only thing that identifies you by eradicating all the other facets of your personality. It will make expressing yourself much easier — which is good, because you have to save … [Link]

Popular Science » The rusty patched bumblebee is probably doomed

Thursday 9 February 17:46:25 UTC 2017

Environment Trump administration freezes endangered species act protections In an executive order, President Trump has frozen protections for the first bumblebee ever listed as an endangered species. [Link]

Popular Science » No one knows the best way to stop a drone

Thursday 9 February 17:40:32 UTC 2017

Military Is there a way to knock drones out of the sky that’s just as cheap as the drone itself? There are many proposed ways to stop a drone and none of them are great. Read on. [Link]

Mashable » Obama's official White House photographer is Insta-trolling Trump

Thursday 9 February 17:37:16 UTC 2017

The former chief photographer for Barack Obama in the White House is throwing some serious shade at President Trump on Instagram, according to many of his followers.  As many eagle-eyed people noticed and mentioned in the comments, photographer Pete Souza, who has 824,000 followers on his account, might have set up one of the biggest TTs (#ThrowbackThrusday) in the history of … [Link]

Mashable » Sapio, the dating app that wants to help smart people hook up

Thursday 9 February 17:32:28 UTC 2017

Think you're smarter than your average bear? A new dating app wants to help you find fellow intellectuals to love. Sapio bills itself as a go-to community for people who are drawn to other smart people. Among other things, the free app allows users to define their orientation as sapiosexual, which is someone who finds intelligence attractive. Though it sounds a … [Link]

Mashable » Critics heap praise upon 'Fifty Shades Darker' – just kidding, it's terrible

Thursday 9 February 17:28:05 UTC 2017

This Valentine's Day, save yourself from Fifty Shades Darker.  The sequel to 2015's erotic thriller, also based on the novel by E.L. James, hits theaters this weekend, has a whopping 12% on Rotten Tomatoes currently and has met the media's lukewarm expectations. What are critics saying? See for yourself below. SEE ALSO: Ellen DeGeneres and Jamie Dornan turn up the … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Robotic bee could help pollinate crops as real bees decline

Thursday 9 February 17:27:38 UTC 2017

With bee populations tumbling, an autonomous drone just 4 centimetres wide could help pollinate crops by flying from flower to flower [Link]

Mashable » Artist curates intimate photos of nightstands to empower people with chronic illnesses

Thursday 9 February 17:25:04 UTC 2017

One artist is asking a simple, compelling question to those living with chronic illnesses: What does your nightstand say about you? Through the online photo series The Nightstand Collective, Washington-based artist, writer and producer Emma Jones uncovers what it's like to live with a chronic illness by curating anonymously submitted photos of nightstands.  SEE ALSO: Subscription box was designed for those … [Link]

Mashable » Lovers in Canada get to give fried chicken for Valentine's Day

Thursday 9 February 17:22:44 UTC 2017

Flowers are traditional for Valentine's Day and chocolate is decadent.  But there's nothing that says love, indulgence and even obsession quite like fried chicken.  KFC Canada certainly agrees, which is why it's holding a Chicken Grams contest, where 10 lucky winners will send a heart shaped bucket of the Colonel's finest to his/her loved one.  SEE ALSO: Everyone got all hyped … [Link]

Slashdot » Human Resources Startup Zenefits Is Laying Off Almost Half Its Employees

Thursday 9 February 17:20:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a report: Zenefits will lay off 45% of its employees in an effort to slash costs, according to an internal memo this morning that was obtained by BuzzFeed News, a stark acknowledgment by the embattled human resources startup that its onetime expectations for growth were vastly inflated. Roughly 430 workers will be cut, including 250 in … [Link]

Mashable » Someone invented an iPhone case that doubles as a phone charger

Thursday 9 February 17:17:17 UTC 2017

Finally, someone was smart enough to design an iPhone case with a built-in charger. It's called the 'EZ Charge Case' and it's perfect for all you social butterflies out thereThe cord plugs into both a USB and a traditional outlet.  Read more…More about Ez Charge Case, Charger, Chargers, Real Time Video, and Iphone [Link]

Mashable » This wearable airbag could save your life

Thursday 9 February 17:11:53 UTC 2017

We tested out this wearable airbag to see what 50 liters of air in 30 milliseconds feels like. Created by 'In&Motion,' this vest is designed to protect a motorcyclist in a fall.  Read more…More about Mashable Video, Standalone Featured, Real Time Video, Real Time, and Smart Moto [Link]

Mashable » Verizon has lost its one big advantage in the wireless wars

Thursday 9 February 17:08:56 UTC 2017

The days of Verizon as the unequivocal top mobile network are over.  The wireless carrier once known its superior wireless network can't really claim that advantage anymore. According to the 2017 State of Mobile Networks report from OpenSignal, which tracks the speed and availability of the United States' mobile carriers, T-Mobile is now just as good as Verizon.  "In no report … [Link]

Mashable » Face it, Super Liking on Tinder is for losers

Thursday 9 February 17:07:15 UTC 2017

Swiping right on Tinder might be the fastest way to get yourself a date in this day and age. But if you dare to swipe up for a Super Like, you could be fast-tracking yourself to eternal singledom. You can "Super Like" people you are ~SUPER~ into to encourage them to swipe right on you. While the idea sounds flattering in … [Link]

Mashable » Watch black holes collide

Thursday 9 February 17:05:48 UTC 2017

Watch Black Holes Collide Take a VR journey through space and time in the latest episode of The Possible Watch now on the Within app The Possible, a Within Original Series, a double-feature with GE's Unimpossible Missions, in partnership with Mashable Watch Black Holes Collide Take a VR journey through space and time in the latest episode of The Possible … [Link]

Mashable » Lin-Manuel Miranda invites the internet to have a Photoshop battle with his dog

Thursday 9 February 17:05:03 UTC 2017

Lin-Manuel Miranda really loves his fans—so much so that he will lug his dog into work with him just so his Twitter followers can have a bit of fun on a Thursday morning. Miranda shared four images of his pup Tobi in front of a green screen and let folks have a go of transporting the furry Miranda into whatever scenes … [Link]

Popular Science » Climate change and overfishing set a deadly trap for young penguins

Thursday 9 February 17:00:00 UTC 2017

Environment Human influence on their habitats sends penguins mixed signals Ecological traps happen when environmental signals suggesting a great place to eat, drink, or have babies, actually point to places that are the opposite. [Link]

Popular Science » This long-forgotten gel could help robots pollinate all our crops

Thursday 9 February 17:00:00 UTC 2017

Animals Taking some of the burden off the bees In 2007, chemist Eijiro Miyako created a thick, viscous sticky gel that could conduct electricity. He hoped that it could be used in batteries or actuators, but the gel… [Link]

Mashable » East Coast blizzard got you down? Cute animals in the snow are here to help.

Thursday 9 February 16:57:32 UTC 2017

If you didn't know, much of the northeast is currently getting pummeled by snow. For commuters, homeowners and anyone who works outside, snowstorms are basically the worst. There's nothing good about them. Nothing. Oh, except for one thing: Pictures and videos of animals in the snow. SEE ALSO: Snow won't stop the animals in Oregon Zoo from having fun Here are … [Link]

Mashable » NBA becomes first sports league to create a gaming league

Thursday 9 February 16:50:13 UTC 2017

The NBA is creating a brand new esports league called NBA 2K eLeague in partnership with Take-Two, the developers of the NBA 2K video games. The professional, competitive gaming league will debut in 2018 and marks the first time a traditional sports league will operate an esports league. The NBA & Take-Two are announcing a partnership forming the #NBA2KeLeague – the … [Link]

Slashdot » Tor's Ooniprobe, Now Available On Android and iOS, Helps People Track Internet Censorship

Thursday 9 February 16:40:00 UTC 2017

In 2012, researchers at Tor announced Ooniprobe, an open-source tool to collect data about local meddling with the computer's network connections, and also whether the government was censoring something. The team has now released a new app, available for Android and iOS, which makes it easier than ever to tell what your government is up to on the web. From … [Link]

Mashable » MashReads Podcast: John Darnielle tells us not to trust 'Universal Harvester.' That's the point.

Thursday 9 February 16:33:57 UTC 2017

About midway through his new book Universal Harvester, John Darnielle, lead singer of indie band The Mountain Goats and author of the critically acclaimed novel Wolf In White Van, drops a little nugget of wisdom: "Everybody leaves a little something behind." This may seem simple and mundane, but it is this core truth that animates Darnielle's haunting and unforgettable new novel. … [Link]

Mashable » 'Stranger Things' reveals Season 2 plot details, where the characters are now

Thursday 9 February 16:32:44 UTC 2017

What happens when your show is too popular? That's a perfect question for the team behind Netflix's Stranger Things. In this week's Entertainment Weekly cover story, executive producer Shawn Levy says Season 2 focuses on “quieting the cultural noise that surrounds our show.”  Levy and the show's creators teased Season 2 for EW — and yes, Barb is still dead. … [Link]

Mashable » Little girl's bizarre bucket list can help everyone live their best life

Thursday 9 February 16:32:43 UTC 2017

As 10-year-old Jesse knows, no day is complete without sitting in a completely empty room for at least one hour. And her truly wonderful bucket list is inspiring thousands — over 10,000, as a matter of fact — after her brother Josh spotted it on the counter at their house, then tweeted it out on Sunday. SEE ALSO: Experience true wedded … [Link]

Mashable » Lin-Manuel Miranda blows our minds with this human Venn diagram

Thursday 9 February 16:29:43 UTC 2017

What happens when Lin-Manuel Miranda, Marc Anthony and "Weird Al" Yankovic walk into a room? Minds explode, that's what.  The three were photographed together and on Wednesday, Miranda blessed Twitter timelines with the picture paired with perfect realization: the three make up a human Venn diagram.  SEE ALSO: Lin-Manuel Miranda teases brief 'Hamilton' return Look, a human Venn diagram pic.twitter.com/2RxqONfPqw — … [Link]

Popular Science » Scientists just found signs of a stolen Dead Sea Scroll

Thursday 9 February 16:29:00 UTC 2017

Science A cave looks like it once held more scrolls, but they're long gone "Dead Sea Scrolls" have been found in 11 caves. Now scientists think they've found a 12th—but the scroll itself was stolen decades ago. [Link]

Mashable » 'Stranger Things' is clearly the inspiration for this horror game

Thursday 9 February 16:27:35 UTC 2017

I like how this trailer for Stories Untold, a four-part horror game anthology releasing on Feb. 27, doesn't even try to hide its nod to Stranger Things. The music, the retro technology, the red lettered logo — if you've seen the Netflix series, there's no escaping the similarity. Cool! The anthology appears to be an extension of The House Abandon. … [Link]

Mashable » Bryan Cranston almost smacked Tony Parker's butt to get $100 from M. Night Shyamalan

Thursday 9 February 16:25:48 UTC 2017

Betting on sports is a fun way to make a game a little more interesting. Except…people usually just bet on the outcome of the game.  Bryan Cranston, whom we all loved to hate as Breaking Bad's Walter White, was sitting court side at last night's matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers and came very close to smacking Tony … [Link]

Mashable » Future iPhones and iPads could have stretchy screens

Thursday 9 February 16:20:01 UTC 2017

What will iPhones five or 10 years from now look like? While the iPhone is inching closer toward becoming just a single pane of glass, the future could look very different. A patent filed last year and made public this week, unearthed by AppleInsider, suggests Apple is potentially interested in making electronic devices with flexible displays that could stretch. SEE ALSO: … [Link]

Mashable » Ferocious blizzard smacks New York, but it'll be over sooner than you think

Thursday 9 February 16:12:42 UTC 2017

New Yorkers woke up to near-blizzard conditions as wind-driven snow reduced visibility, made streets nearly impassible and morning commutes a challenge at best.  By the evening commute, however, it's likely that the storm will be winding down, if not completely over, from the city to points west and north of town. Even in the Boston area, where the storm is starting … [Link]

Mashable » Jimmy Kimmel takes a hard stance on the $100,000 Harambe Cheeto

Thursday 9 February 16:07:30 UTC 2017

It's important to take a stand on issues you care about. And Jimmy Kimmel thinks the person who paid $100,000 for a Cheeto shaped like Harambe made a mistake.  So he filmed a clip in which he "visits" the man who purchased that Cheeto — and punches him in the face. Not to spoil the ending, but he also eats … [Link]

Mashable » In weird ad, Kellyanne Conway tells people to buy Ivanka's line of clothes

Thursday 9 February 16:06:55 UTC 2017

A day after President Donald Trump pulled some shady business shenanigans regarding his daughter's fashion brand, White House spokeswoman Kellyanne Conway threw her support behind Ivanka Trump.  SEE ALSO: Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus ditch Ivanka Trump lines During an interview with Fox & Friends on Thursday morning, Conway hawked Ivanka's line multiple times. The bizarre plug happened during a discussion that revolved … [Link]

Mashable » Barack Obama goes hard in the paint in 'NBA 2K17'

Thursday 9 February 16:02:10 UTC 2017

After working for eight years straight in the highest office of the United States government, you'd think former president Barack Obama would want to put his feet up for a little bit — maybe even go on a vacation — not play professional basketball. YouTuber NykeFaller showed the world exactly what it would be like if Obama hung up his … [Link]

Slashdot » NSA Contractor Indicted Over Mammoth Theft of Classified Data

Thursday 9 February 16:00:00 UTC 2017

Dustin Volz, reporting for Reuters: A former National Security Agency contractor was indicted on Wednesday by a federal grand jury on charges he willfully retained national defense information, in what U.S. officials have said may have been the largest heist of classified government information in history. The indictment alleges that Harold Thomas Martin, 52, spent up to 20 years stealing … [Link]

Mashable » Justin Bieber returns to Instagram and blesses us with 'SOO MUCH CONTENT'

Thursday 9 February 15:52:17 UTC 2017

Justin Bieber has fully embraced Satan. Not long after after declaring "Instagram is for the devil," Biebs sold his soul to promote his T-Mobile Super Bowl ad by reactivating his Instagram account after several cold, cold months.  Last evening, he sealed the deal with a rapid fire series of shirtless selfies, poses modeling his constantly expanding collection of glasses and snaps … [Link]

New Scientist – News » NASA wants to put a lander on Europa’s surface to look for life

Thursday 9 February 15:52:00 UTC 2017

If it goes ahead, the proposed lander mission would be NASA’s first search for life on the surface of another planet since the Mars Viking missions in the late seventies [Link]

Mashable » The six terrible ways your life will change when Net Neutrality dies

Thursday 9 February 15:48:45 UTC 2017

We’ve been debating Net Neutrality for more than 20 years. In that time, the internet's gone through substantial changes, and maybe those old concerns about an open and equal Internet might no longer be a concern? Not even close. If anything, the concerns of 1996 are of greater importance and urgency today, as media-conglomerates like Comcast and Verizon take control of … [Link]

Mashable » Elizabeth Warren explained why #ShePersisted on 'The Daily Show'

Thursday 9 February 15:47:31 UTC 2017

“She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted." – Mitch McConnell's thankful contribution to the feminist movement. On Wednesday night's The Daily Show, host Trevor Noah had Sen. Elizabeth Warren on to talk about her formal silencing on the Senate floor while reading a letter from Coretta Scott King regarding Sen. Jeff Sessions. SEE ALSO: Elizabeth Warren takes … [Link]

Mashable » Scottish comedian pens hilarious yet brutal piece about Trump

Thursday 9 February 15:46:52 UTC 2017

Frankie Boyle has penned an opinion piece on Donald Trump and it's both hilarious and snarky as hell. The Scottish comedian is notorious for his obnoxious, controversial brand of humor and this article for The Guardian is no exception. SEE ALSO: Melissa McCarthy makes a better Sean Spicer than Sean Spicer on 'SNL' I wrote a column for the Guardian https://t.co/tHjKpIhThX … [Link]

Mashable » Samsung offers free 256GB microSD card with Galaxy S7

Thursday 9 February 15:44:03 UTC 2017

If you're looking for a new phone to keep all your gigabytes of pictures, videos and music on demand at all times, Samsung has a new deal that will set your heart aflutter just in time for Valentine's Day.  Samsung is offering any buyer of a new Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge a free 256GB EVO+ microSD cards, giving storage-hungry smartphone … [Link]

Mashable » Hilarious woman corrects reporter who got her age wrong on live TV

Thursday 9 February 15:32:51 UTC 2017

Details are important, so rounding off to a higher number isn't always the best idea for reporters, especially when it comes to someone's age. Kellie Brown for WDSU in New Orleans was interviewing local woman Constance Landry after multiple tornados ripped through the area earlier this week. At the top of the interview, Brown rounds off Landry's age, saying, "She's … [Link]

Mashable » Namibia has joined Europe in mocking Trump and it's glorious

Thursday 9 February 15:28:57 UTC 2017

Various countries in Europe have done itAustralia has done itMorocco has done it.  Now Namibia is among the countries that are introducing themselves to President Donald Trump in a very peculiar way. SEE ALSO: Europe is trolling the hell out of Trump one hilarious video at a time This time though, Namibia is claiming from Trump the first, not the … [Link]

Mashable » A bunch of people bought shares in a company that they thought was Snapchat

Thursday 9 February 15:27:12 UTC 2017

Oh, Snap (Interactive). In what is almost surely a case of mistaken identity, investors sent shares in a little known startup called SNAP Interactive Inc., ticker STVI, surging 164 percent in the four days since Snap Inc. filed for a $3 billion initial public offering. The $69 million SNAP Interactive makes mobile dating apps, while the IPO aspirant is the parent … [Link]

Mashable » Stephen Colbert takes on Trump's desire to profit off the presidency

Thursday 9 February 15:21:52 UTC 2017

"You can't use the power of the office of the president to protect a family business," said Stephen Colbert on Wednesday night's Late Show.  He was speaking in reference to President Donald Trump's Wednesday morning tweet that claimed Nordstrom has treated his daughter Ivanka "unfairly" for its decision to remove her clothing line from its stores.  "That would be like … [Link]

Slashdot » Apple CEO Tim Cook Tackles Truth in the Digital Age

Thursday 9 February 15:20:00 UTC 2017

Apple CEO Tim Cook visited the University of Glasgow yesterday to be awarded an honorary doctorate. During the Q&A session, one audience member asked Cook to tell what the future looks like. Following is Cook's response: "The world is going through an enormous change. We used to watch three or four people tell us the news, and generally speaking most … [Link]

Mashable » Someone made a delightful song out of pleasant Facebook comments

Thursday 9 February 15:18:11 UTC 2017

In today's times, it's hard to find an internet comment exchange that doesn't immediately resort to politics, negativity or just downright nastiness.  Pleasant comments are extremely rare, but Youtube user Hot Dad (!!) has found a needle in the haystack. Since we need to believe that people on the internet aren't all bad, he created this song entirely out of … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Endangered snow leopards dine on livestock like goats and horses

Thursday 9 February 15:11:00 UTC 2017

In the Himalayas, goats and horses are especially prominent on the diet of endangered snow leopards, and male leopards tend to attack livestock more [Link]

Mashable » People are terrible at remembering where they read news online

Thursday 9 February 15:00:00 UTC 2017

People are reading news online, but they don't always remember where the news came from — unless it was on Facebook.  Digital news readers between 18 and 29 years old remembered what news organization the stories they read came from 47 percent of the time. Thirty- to 49-year-olds remembered where their news came from more often — 57 percent of the … [Link]

Popular Science »  NASA bets the farm on the long-term viability of space agriculture

Thursday 9 February 14:49:53 UTC 2017

Space A new plant habitat is on its way to the space station This food problem has been on NASA’s mind since its earliest missions. But more recently, astronauts have been trying to grow their own in orbit. [Link]

Popular Science »  NASA bets the farm on the long-term viability of space agriculture

Thursday 9 February 14:49:53 UTC 2017

Space A new plant habitat is on its way to the space station This food problem has been on NASA’s mind since its earliest missions. But more recently, astronauts have been trying to grow their own in orbit. [Link]

Mashable » These artists are painting with ink made from air pollution.

Thursday 9 February 14:42:52 UTC 2017

‘Air-Ink’ is made using carbon pigments found in air pollutants. The carbon is extracted directly out of exhaust pipes, separated from carcinogens and heavy metals, and processed into ink and paint. The company behind the technology, Graviky Labs, says it was inspired to use art and creativity to make a statement about our carbon footprint. Read more…More about Graviky Labs, Real … [Link]

Slashdot » This Blog Is Republishing All the Animal Welfare Records the USDA Deleted

Thursday 9 February 14:40:00 UTC 2017

Last year, thousands of animal welfare records were removed from the web by the Department of Agriculture. Now, a government transparency blog is on a mission to recover and republish as many of these records as possible. From a report on Motherboard: "Whenever there are documents that were online, but got pulled offline, they're automatically important," said Russ Kick, who … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Science stood apart from politics for a long time, not any more

Thursday 9 February 14:25:00 UTC 2017

A march for science to protest at Donald Trump's presidency has sparked debate about researchers getting too political. Why the fuss, wonders Michael Brooks [Link]

Mashable » Well, looks like Karlie Kloss thinks 'Waterfalls' is a Destiny's Child song

Thursday 9 February 14:10:55 UTC 2017

Like most of us, Karlie Kloss loves Beyoncé, which means she also loves Destiny's Child. But in all the Fruitopia-fueled haze of the '90s, she failed to recognize one thing about the iconic girl group: they are not responsible for the TLC song "Waterfalls." Kloss accidentally revealed her misconception in a Q&A for U.K. magazine Love. After asserting that she'd been … [Link]

Mashable » Docs remove live cockroach from woman's skull after she complained about 'crawling sensation'

Thursday 9 February 14:07:23 UTC 2017

In one of the most bizarre surgeries ever, doctors in India removed a live cockroach from a woman's nasal cavity reaching the brain.  42-year-old Selvi had complained of an "crawling sensation" for several hours, before being operated upon, The New Indian Express reported.  SEE ALSO: Young snake catcher dies while attempting to kiss a cobra "It was a full grown cockroach… … [Link]

Slashdot » Developer Explains Why All Windows Drivers Are Dated June 21, 2006

Thursday 9 February 14:00:00 UTC 2017

For years, people have wondered why all Windows drivers are dated June 21, 2006. Long time developer at Microsoft, Raymond Chen explains (much of the entire post in summary): When the system looks for a driver to use for a particular piece of hardware, it ranks them according to various criteria. If a driver provides a perfect match to the … [Link]

Popular Science » These dance moves are scientifically proven to be sexy

Thursday 9 February 14:00:00 UTC 2017

Science It's all in the hip, thigh, and arm movements Science has determined the most attractive female dance moves, and I'm sorry to say that the lawnmower, the sprinkler, and "noodle arms" did not make the list. [Link]

Mashable » How we tell stories in virtual reality keeps evolving

Thursday 9 February 14:00:00 UTC 2017

How do you tell a story in virtual reality? Experts in the field weigh in on how VR is redefining the rules around narrative structure, character development and storytelling on the whole. Watch black holes collide in VR Introducing The Possible, a new virtual reality series that explores groundbreaking technology.  Click here to watch on the Within app. Jimmy Kimmel takes … [Link]

Mashable » Need to fix your laptop or buy Coachella tickets? Float wants to offer you some tiny loans

Thursday 9 February 13:50:03 UTC 2017

If you asked a bank for a loan to buy Coachella tickets, they'd probably laugh and maybe take away your credit card.  But Float, a credit app, is launching a new service just for needs like that.  "We want to get you to your next paycheck," said CEO Max Klein.  The iOS app lets users apply for personalized lines of credit … [Link]

Mashable » Facebook now has a built-in weather app

Thursday 9 February 13:49:36 UTC 2017

Want to know if it'll rain tomorrow? You no longer have to leave Facebook to find out.  Facebook started offering weather "greetings" to some users in April last year, but now it's rolling out a fully fledged weather app on both desktop and mobile.  SEE ALSO: Facebook's Safety Check now lets you offer help during a crisis The app is still … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Synchronised swimming seems to make dolphins more optimistic

Thursday 9 February 13:48:00 UTC 2017

Having a mate to swim with – and mirror their movements – appears to make zoo dolphins feel more positive about their prospects in life [Link]

Mashable » London hotel shames Air India's crew for sneaking buffet food in lunch boxes

Thursday 9 February 13:20:46 UTC 2017

Traveling the world as the crew of an airline was once supposed to be a glamorous affair. Not any more, at least for this airline.  The international crew of India's national carrier, Air India, has been shamed by a UK hotel for filling their lunch boxes with buffet food, the Times of India reported. SEE ALSO: People are hating on India's … [Link]

Mashable » Read John Darnielle's 'Universal Harvester' for a haunting look at grief

Thursday 9 February 13:12:49 UTC 2017

Grief can make people do very strange things. And those very strange things can bring people together in very scary ways. John Darnielle, known for over two decades of leading the alt-folk music group The Mountain Goats, has returned to the literary scene with his second novel Universal Harvester, released Feb. 7. SEE ALSO: Yes, really: '1984' is now sold out … [Link]

Mashable » Ebay founder backs tests to give people free money

Thursday 9 February 13:00:30 UTC 2017

The idea of a universal basic income has found growing support in Silicon Valley as robots threaten to radically change the nature of work. Ebay founder Pierre Omidyar is the latest tech bigwig to get behind the concept. His philanthropic investment firm, the Omidyar Network, announced Wednesday that it will give nearly half a billion dollars to a group testing the … [Link]

Slashdot » Verizon and T-Mobile Are In a Virtual Tie For the Best Network In the US

Thursday 9 February 13:00:00 UTC 2017

Verizon has tied T-Mobile for the fastest carrier in the United States and both carriers are virtually tied for the "best" in overall LTE download speeds, according to Open Signal's State of Mobile Networks: USA report. Android Central reports: Using data collected from 169,683 users, 4,599,231,167 data points were used to measure network speeds on both 4G and 3G, network … [Link]

Mashable » YouTube Go is finally here, kind of

Thursday 9 February 11:49:44 UTC 2017

It seems Google is all prepared to release its anticipated data-conscious YouTube Go app to the public.  SEE ALSO: Google CEO: India is a 'quick-test market' for company's products An early version of YouTube Go hit the Google Play Store Wednesday. The app, as promised by Google last year, is light (less than 10MB in size) and features an option to … [Link]

Mashable » This is what Mr. Darcy would have actually looked like — and it's not pretty

Thursday 9 February 11:35:12 UTC 2017

It’s fair to say that Colin Firth's rendition of Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice captured the hearts of countless Jane Austen fans.But a group of UK academics have discovered that Austen's fictional heartthrob Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy didn't look at all like the actors — Colin Firth and Matthew MacFadyen — who've played him. SEE ALSO: Thirsty Mr. Darcy fans will … [Link]

Mashable » 'Beauty and the Beast' mashed up with 'Harry Potter' makes a bizarre love story

Thursday 9 February 11:25:59 UTC 2017

Belle (or is it Hermione Granger?) and Lord Voldemort aren't an obvious pairing, but this trailer definitely makes a case for the couple. SEE ALSO: Emma Watson singing in 'Beauty and the Beast' leaked by Belle doll The YouTube channel PistolShrimps is known for parodies and movie mashups. They re-created a trailer called Beauty and Lord Voldemort by replacing the … [Link]

Mashable » Daisy Ridley won't even tell freakin' Judi Dench what 'The Last Jedi' means

Thursday 9 February 11:14:02 UTC 2017

To be fair to him, this time Josh Gad really tried his best to extrapolate from Daisy Ridley a few answers to the lingering questions about the next Star Wars instalment, The Last Jedi.  SEE ALSO: Daisy Ridley won't even tell her co-star what 'The Last Jedi' means His first attempt, at the end of January, resulted in an epic failure.  … [Link]

Mashable » 'Fake news' has officially hit Britain and people can't cope

Thursday 9 February 11:03:14 UTC 2017

LONDON — The term "fake news" feels already like a bad hangover from 2016, when bogus websites published false or hyper-partisan news — such as the conspiracy theory about Hillary Clinton running a child sex ring inside a Washington D.C. restaurant.  SEE ALSO: Tom Hiddleston insists Hiddleswift wasn't fake news President Donald Trump and his staff have twisted the term's original … [Link]

Mashable » Even when wrong, Einstein is still teaching us

Thursday 9 February 11:00:00 UTC 2017

Albert Einstein’s theories have been influencing physics for over 100 years.  Until recently we haven’t had the technology to test these theories. A team of scientists at MIT’s LIGO labs have been proving Einstein’s theories both right and wrong for 20 years.  Around the world in 3,305 Google Maps screenshots Forget Europe: It's all about America's first, Australia second now Daring cat tries … [Link]

Mashable » Madonna confirms adoption of twins with heartwarming Instagram post

Thursday 9 February 10:30:02 UTC 2017

Madonna’s happy brood of four will soon be a brood of six. The pop star recently announced that she's adopted twin sisters from Malawi named Estere and Stelle. SEE ALSO: Madonna out-Madonna'd herself at the Women's March on Washington Madonna posted a photograph of her and her daughters to Instagram with this message: A photo posted by Madonna (@madonna) on Feb … [Link]

Mashable » Around the world in 3,305 Google Maps screenshots

Thursday 9 February 10:11:33 UTC 2017

Forget that around-the-world ticket, instead sit back and see the world in hyperlapse in just over two minutes.  SEE ALSO: Google Maps images will be used to measure environmental damage in this city Graphic designer and video maker Matteo Archondis used only Google Maps and Earth screenshots — 3,305 of them to be exact — to smoothly take the viewer … [Link]

Mashable » There's a chocolate manhole cover in Japan and we don't know why

Thursday 9 February 10:04:51 UTC 2017

It’s a weird shape to mold chocolate into. @38beem, a Japanese Twitter user — in an effort to make a chocolatey gift for Valentine's Day — created what seems to be a manhole cover set into a sidewalk out of chocolate. SEE ALSO: Japanese engineers repaired this monster of a sinkhole in 48 hours He documented the process on Twitter:  マンホー&#1~ … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Primitive plants survive almost two years in outer space

Thursday 9 February 10:00:00 UTC 2017

Searing temperatures, radiation and lack of air didn't kill algae kept outside the International Space Station – so maybe life from space could colonise worlds [Link]

Slashdot » Tesla To Start Pilot Production of Model 3 This Month

Thursday 9 February 10:00:00 UTC 2017

According to Reuters, Tesla is planning to "begin test-building its Model 3 sedans on February 20, a move that could allay concerns about the company meeting its target to start production in July." The sources familiar with the matter did not mention how many of the Model 3 vehicles Tesla aims to build in February, though the number is likely … [Link]

Mashable » Lucky woman wins lottery days after quitting her job

Thursday 9 February 9:50:51 UTC 2017

We hear stories all the time about people quitting their jobs after winning the lottery. SEE ALSO: Messy Oregon man finds a year-old lottery ticket worth $1 million cleaning his house Less common are people who quit their jobs before winning the lottery. However, this is exactly what ended up happening to Colorado resident Yahnique S. She quit her certified nursing … [Link]

Mashable » Google is bringing a rainforest right to your smartphone

Thursday 9 February 9:34:09 UTC 2017

Most of us have never stepped anywhere near a rainforest, much less had a chance to explore it — something Google hopes to change with its new augmented reality experience. The "Into the Wild" exhibit sees some 1,000 square meters turned into a virtual rainforest, home to orangutans, Malayan tapirs and tiny mouse deer.  SEE ALSO: The world’s best wildlife photography … [Link]

Mashable » Get your house fully connected with a smart light switch

Thursday 9 February 9:12:21 UTC 2017

Out of all the home appliances you'd expect could be smart-ified as part of the connected home, the classic light switch might be last on the list. It's basic, with no apparent need for bells and whistles in smart homes where lights are controlled by smartphone — but when you add some connectivity and a color display (who doesn't love touch … [Link]

Mashable » Fancy a Facebook Live at 17,000 ft? It might soon be possible at the Everest base camp

Thursday 9 February 8:56:43 UTC 2017

Soon you will have internet access in the Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain. Visitors will be able to tweet, chat, email and share  from the Lukla-Everest Base Camp and the Annapurna Base Camp with the help of free Wi-Fi offered by Nepal. SEE ALSO: This is how you Snapchat while climbing Mount Everest Its state-run regulator, Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), … [Link]

Mashable » Google Station is coming to an Indian city before anywhere else in the world

Thursday 9 February 8:35:33 UTC 2017

Moving beyond railway stations in India, Google will soon begin working on its Station project to bring fast Wi-Fi at other public places. About 150km south-east of Mumbai, the city of Pune will soon become the first place in the world to see Google deploy fast-internet hotspots at public places as part of its Station project, according to a person familiar … [Link]

Mashable » Nobody can agree on exactly how Samsung's battery factory fire started

Thursday 9 February 7:41:14 UTC 2017

Samsung definitely doesn't need this right now.  Accounts of what started yesterday's fire at a Samsung SDI factory have been conflicting, with Samsung and Tianjin's fire department giving differing accounts of exactly how the fire was started.  While fire personnel said batteries on the production line were behind the incident, Samsung says it was caused by already-discarded faulty batteries. The factory, … [Link]

Slashdot » Glass From Nuclear Test Site Shows the Moon Was Born Dry

Thursday 9 February 7:00:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from New Scientist: We can't recreate the giant impact that led to the moon's formation in a lab, but humans have made some other big explosions. By examining residue from the first detonation of a nuclear weapon, researchers have cracked a window into the moon's past. On 16 July 1945, the U.S. army detonated … [Link]

Mashable » Facebook snaps up ex-MTV executive in latest hint it's chasing original TV

Thursday 9 February 5:46:44 UTC 2017

Time to be worried TV execs: Facebook seems to be getting serious about original programming. On Facebook (where else?), Mina Lefevre announced Wednesday she would be joining the company as its new head of development. Formerly executive vice president and head of scripted at MTV, Lefevre said she was excited to embark on the "new adventure." "I have always been drawn … [Link]

Mashable » Star Trek fans will finally get a 'Deep Space 9' sequel, but there's a catch

Thursday 9 February 5:30:00 UTC 2017

It’s finally time to go deep on Deep Space Nine. In the Star Trek universe, Deep Space Nine is not necessarily one of its brightest stars. Not because the show wasn’t as good, interesting or long-lived as the others (it ran seven seasons from 1993-1999), but because it was unlike any Star Trek property that’s come before or since. Darker, moodier … [Link]

Mashable » Trump starring in weird ads for socks and pizza? Feels like a long time ago.

Thursday 9 February 4:53:52 UTC 2017

Remember when Donald Trump was just a rich dude who was the host of The Apprentice, and got paid lots of money to appear on TV commercials in Australia? Feels like a lifetime ago, but it happened. Take this 2004 ad for socks, which journalist Amy Remeikis brought back to light on Twitter recently. SEE ALSO: Twitter has a grand old … [Link]

Mashable » 'Legion' episode 1 recap: We all go a little mad sometimes

Thursday 9 February 4:30:00 UTC 2017

If you’ve suffered through enough mediocre X-Men movies to feel a general fatigue for any live action incarnations of Professor X and his lovable gang — comics fan or not — Legion is capable of changing your mind. Legion has all the ingredients for greatness: A promising cast, a wealth of well-regarded source source material from the X-Men comics, Fargo TV … [Link]

Mashable » Han Solo, meet Fleabag? Millennium Falcon may gain a CGI character

Thursday 9 February 3:58:53 UTC 2017

Move over, Chewie. There may be another kind of fleabag aboard the Millennium Falcon next year.  Actress Pheobe Waller-Bridge, star of the BBC and Amazon-produced comedy show Fleabag, is in talks to join the forthcoming Han Solo movie, Mashable has confirmed via a source familiar with the talks. SEE ALSO: Young Han Solo director finds the perfect way to reveal filming … [Link]

Slashdot » Scientists Successfully Decode the Genome of Quinoa

Thursday 9 February 3:30:00 UTC 2017

Gr8Apes writes: Scientists have successfully decoded the genome of quinoa, a hugely popular "super-food" because it is well balanced and gluten-free. They have pinpointed one of the genes that they believe control the production of saponins (bitter toxic compounds that protect the plant from predators) which can facilitate the breeding of plants without saponins, resulting in sweeter seeds without having … [Link]

Mashable » Baby turtle found near lumps of coal sparks fears for Great Barrier Reef

Thursday 9 February 2:53:09 UTC 2017

Scientists and environmental advocates are up in arms after lumps of coal were found washed up on beaches around Australia's Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Showing what's at stake for vulnerable marine life, a local found a turtle hatchling next to a lump of coal on East Point Beach in Mackay, Queensland and shared the pictures. SEE ALSO: Something is … [Link]

Mashable » Uluru looks just as stunning viewed from the International Space Station

Thursday 9 February 2:00:23 UTC 2017

If there's one thing that puts everything else into perspective, it's images of Earth from space. So get ready, cause this new photo of central Australia's stunning Uluru, as seen from above is about to make you feel small and insignificant. In a good way. SEE ALSO: 7 obvious reasons why you shouldn't climb this sacred site in Australia The photograph … [Link]

Slashdot » Linux Kernel 3.18 Reaches End of Life

Thursday 9 February 1:50:00 UTC 2017

prisoninmate quotes a report from Softpedia: Linux kernel 3.18.48 LTS is here and it's the last in the series, which was marked for a January 2017 extinction since mid-April last year. According to the appended shortlog, the new patch changes a total of 50 files, with 159 insertions and 351 deletions. It brings an updated networking stack with Bluetooth, Bridge, … [Link]

Mashable » Pushing a tennis ball out of a snake is a tricky, and gross, operation

Thursday 9 February 1:35:54 UTC 2017

While some people might not harbour much sympathy for snakes, even they'd feel bad for this python who swallowed a tennis ball. Luckily, the snake was found in the backyard of a Queensland home in Australia, where it was able to get the ball removed. How? It was pushed back up it's body. And oh boy, it's as gross as it … [Link]

Mashable » Hulu VR app lets you watch shows in a virtual living room with your virtual friends

Thursday 9 February 1:10:44 UTC 2017

While some traditional media players rush out virtual reality apps in slapdash fashion, hoping to ride the trend with me-too, lackluster efforts, Hulu's attempts are actually promising.  On Wednesday, the company released an update to its mobile VR app for the Gear VR and its desktop app for the Oculus Rift, both of which make watching Hulu content in VR even … [Link]

Slashdot » Android Wear 2.0 Is An Evolutionary Update To Google's Smartwatch OS

Thursday 9 February 1:10:00 UTC 2017

Google is officially launching Android Wear 2.0 today — the biggest update to the company's wearable operating system since its launch in 2014. While Android Wear 2.0 will be launching with two new flagship watches from LG — the LG Watch Sport and LG Watch Style, a number of existing Wear watches will also get this update in the coming … [Link]

Mashable » Got puggle? World blessed with a brand new magical echidna baby

Thursday 9 February 1:07:15 UTC 2017

Truly, we live in a blessed universe. Sure, our planet is stricken by greed and disaster — but we also have puggles.  Otherwise known as baby echidnas, puggles are the cutest creatures to ever come shuffling into existence. And now the world has got just a little bit warmer and fuzzier, thanks to a brand new puggle being born in Perth … [Link]

Mashable » Verizon is making its own LTE-enabled watch for Android Wear 2.0

Thursday 9 February 1:03:35 UTC 2017

This year could be shaping up to be a good one for Android Wear. We just got an initial look at at the first pair of Android Wear 2.0-ready watches from LG, and now Verizon has announced it's also making its own watch for the platform. The company showed off a new LTE-enabled watch called Wear24, which will run Android Wear … [Link]

Mashable » Hey, Kylie Jenner, here's a bunch of things you can trademark besides your name

Thursday 9 February 1:00:00 UTC 2017

‘Kylie’ may not be available but you still have options! Kylie Jenner, cosmetic connoisseur and dog mom, recently lost a trademark battle for her first name against Kylie Minogue, the Australian singer. The Kylies had been fighting over the trademark 'Kylie' in the U.S. but, in the end, Minogue won and blocked Jenner from owning the name. SEE ALSO: There can … [Link]

Mashable » Someone's giving away copies of '1984' and urging people to 'fight back'

Thursday 9 February 0:45:35 UTC 2017

Even if our president doesn't read, that doesn't mean that we can't settle down with a disturbingly accurate depiction of what our country will likely become. At a San Francisco bookstore a mysterious benefactor has made it that much easier to curl up with some dystopian classics by giving away free copies of certain books over the past few days. SEE … [Link]

Mashable » Forget Europe: It's all about America's first, Australia second now

Thursday 9 February 0:44:41 UTC 2017

Various countries in Europe are clamouring to be America's number two, albeit with their tongue firmly in their cheek. But we all know second place is a spot reserved for the United States most ever-loyal and long-suffering BFF, Australia. Remember the good old days (pre-disastrous presidential phone call) when Americans laughed at Aussies' weird accents and knife-wielding abilities?  Look, Australia … [Link]

Slashdot » Facebook Is Closing 200 of Its 500 VR Demo Stations At Best Buy Stores Across US

Thursday 9 February 0:30:00 UTC 2017

According to Business Insider, "Facebook is closing around 200 of its 500 Oculus Rift virtual-reality demo stations at Best Buy locations across the U.S." The reason has to do with "store performance," as multiple Best Buy pop-ups told Business Insider that "it was common for them to go days without giving a single demonstration." From their report: Oculus spokeswoman Andrea … [Link]

Mashable » How #DeleteUber serves as a stark warning for all startups

Thursday 9 February 0:28:57 UTC 2017

The ferocity of the #DeleteUber movement is a warning for technology companies: If you're going to benefit from the industry's capitalist-hippy playbook in good weather, customers will expect you to back those values when things get stormy. Only a handful of companies have Uber's visibility and reputation, but its missteps during the backlash to Donald Trump's "Muslim travel ban" — especially … [Link]

Mashable » Apple rumored to remove even more buttons from the iPhone

Thursday 9 February 0:14:02 UTC 2017

If a new bombshell report from Fast Company is to be believed, the iPhone 8 sounds like it's going to have an even more radical design than we thought. The most insane nugget is that Apple might remove all physical buttons (volume, power and mute switch) and replace them with "touch-sensitive inlays in the metal." SEE ALSO: iPhone 8 concept combines … [Link]

Mashable » Apple dominates the smartwatch market — but competition looms

Thursday 9 February 0:04:17 UTC 2017

With the release of its record-breaking earnings report for the fourth quarter of 2016, Apple silenced its haters (at least for a moment) and gave us fewer reasons to doubt its decision making process. Still, the company won't reveal any specifics about the Apple Watch, but using new smartwatch market projections from analysts, we can take a stab at just how … [Link]

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