Piano Guys: Batman Evolution

Another robot joins the Martian population

India’s Mars Orbiter Mission satellite joins Maven around the red planet.

And speaking of Mars…

High Point

Kim Stanley Robinson’s Mars Trilogy, the novel series that sparked the hard SF Renaissance in the 1990s, will become a TV show!

Low Point

…on Spike. I’ll be adopting a “wait and see” attitude.

Some planets contain organic life

Of course, earth still reveals surprises, like this recently-discovered species of teeny-tiny poisonous frog.

Will the Phone Booth be Sports Car Red?

Those other heroes travelling through time in a phone booth, Bill and Ted, will receive another sequel. This one will address the slackers’ middle-aged adventures.

Cons After the Break

This week’s Con/Cosplay videos come from Copa Cosplay Pacifico (Mexico) and Long Beach Comic-Con.

Continue reading →

No more delays, delays…

The Maven spacecraft arrives in Mars orbit:

And if they get loose, we can print a cat…

Space-X delivers a 3-D printer and mice to the International Space Station:

Galactus hungers!

Monster galaxies tend to absorb or “eat” smaller one.

The Dawning of the Diamond Age?

Scientists have discovered how to create ultra thin diamond nanothreads.

But what’s the average nerd up to?

Below: some footage of the Japan Weekend 2.0 cosplay in Madrid, Spain, and the Geek Gathering, 2014, Shefield Alabama:

Continue reading →

Russian dash-cam, for the win:

Life out there?

The International Space Station has been in the news recently, due to reports of microbes allegedly living on its surface and Earth-imaging satellites apparently launching themselves.

Life down here

Paleontologists announced the discovery of the well-preserved remains of a Dreadnaughtus—the largest dinosaur– or any land animal– ever identified.

Dendrogramma, a deep-sea species first identified in 1986, continues to defy attempts at classification.

Imitations of Life

Japan’s Silicon Studios bring videogames a little closer to VR The rendering engine demo appears below, followed by the Science of Beer, and a belated Fan Expo video by Northern Belle.

Continue reading →

iCloud hack? What iCloud hack?

NASA announced the intention to get our butts to Mars in 2018. Otherwise, this week’s Newspace is rather Con-heavy, what with Atlanta’s DragonCon, Seattle’s PaxPrime, and Toronto’s Fan Expo (where William Shatner pontificates on the mythological appeal of SF.

As a bonus, you’ll find footage of Dubai’s recent Comic-con and an aerial drone vid of Burning Man, now wrapping up for another year.

Some language/content may be mildly NSFW.

Continue reading →

Is this the real life?

Reprogrammed cells have been used to build a functional organ.

Is this just fantasy?

Fan view of Anime Revolution Vancouver

Galileo, Galileo

The recent launch of the Soyuz-Fregat to position Galileo satellites proves unsuccessful, as the navigation satellites have been left in a “useless” orbit.

And SpaceX experienced a setback on Friday, when a three-engine version of the F9R test vehicle exploded.

Figaro, magnifico…

Nearly twenty lifts later, the charming Hitchbot has completed its cross-Canada journey. My favorite moment may be Hitch beside a B.C. mammoth.

Also, that pristine copy of Action #1 that was up for bid on ebay? It sold last night for $3.2 million!

Wizard World ComicCon Chicago, and some Con Ice Bucket challenges, below:

Continue reading →