The Best TV of 2024

At io9,we watch a lot of TVand were not afraid to admit it. And from all those hours binged andstreamed, these 16 series rose above the rest. Here are io9s favorite sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and animated shows of 2024. © Science Saru/Crunchyroll, Netflix, AMC Whats more, you dont have to suffer through playingLeague of Legendsto appreciate it. We cant wait to see how Science Saru takes on the rest of the story from here!...

December 20, 2024 · 1 min · 209 words · Mary Jackson

The Theory That Volcanoes Killed the Dinosaurs Is Officially Extinct

For years, scientists have floated an alternative theory to explain the extinction of the dinosaursone involving extreme volcanism. Its an intriguing idea, but new research seems to have finally put this competing explanation to rest. Did the final blow come from devastatingvolcanic eruptions, or acatastrophic asteroid impact? New research casts serious doubts on an alternative theory of dinosaur extinction.© Freer/Shutterstock The peat samples they studied contained unique molecules produced by bacteria whose structure changes based on the temperature....

December 20, 2024 · 1 min · 120 words · Marcus Brown

Tired of Your AirTags Running Out of Battery? This Case Will Make Them Last a Decade

Apples AirTagsand virtually every other Bluetooth trackermight last you a year before you have to change the battery. I know this because all my AirTags are dead, and I always forget to buy new batteries. Thats why theElevationLabs Time Capsulefor your AirTags is so appealing. © Image: ElevationLab It promises to make your tag last 10 years instead of one because it uses AA batteries. Otherwise, the construction is incredibly simple....

December 20, 2024 · 2 min · 253 words · Kathleen Harris

Twin Brothers Find ‘Magic’ in Quarks at Large Hadron Collider

The futurist Arthur C. Clarkefamously saidthat any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Top quarks are one of the six typesor flavorsof quark, and theheaviest particlein the Standard Model. Magic is the measurement of how difficult a quantum state is for a classical computer to simulate. The ATLAS experiment at CERN.Photo: CERN / Claudia Marcelloni The idea is that with particularly complex problems, classical computers are of little use....

December 20, 2024 · 1 min · 198 words · Jesus Foley

Two Lunar Landers Are Headed for Ancient Impact Sites. What You Need to Know

The Moon is the place to be right now. Firefly AerospacesBlue Ghostlander and ispaces Resilience lander are set to journey to the Moon aboard SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket. The rocket will launch during a six-day window in mid-January. An illustration of the Blue Ghost mission on the surface of the Moon.Firefly Aerospace The basalts in Mare Crisium are between 2.5 to 3.3 billion years old, according toNASA. The lander will operate for about seven hours into the night on the Moon....

December 20, 2024 · 1 min · 134 words · Matthew Todd

Ukraine Is Using Millions of Hours of Drone Footage to Train AI for Warfare

One drone that costs $15,000 can take down a F-16 that costs tens of millions. Dmitriev toldReutersthat the system has collected more than two million hours of battlefield video since 2022. Now, more than six terabytes of data is being added to the system per day, on average. Ukraine is collecting millions of hours of footage to train AI for battlefield purposes.Anton Petrus/Getty It is not just local Ukrainian companies that are building new AI technology for the battlefield....

December 20, 2024 · 1 min · 166 words · Pamela Riley

Apollo Landing Keypad Shrunken Into World’s Coolest Calculator Watch

British startupApollo Instrumentscreated a wristwatch that replicates theApollo Guidance Computer. But it does function in its own way. The watch has a built-in GPS, a digital display, and a working keyboard. Apollo Instruments wristwatch made to resemble Apollo Guidance Computer.© Mark Clayton/Apollo Instruments So if you have some features youd like to run, its open to input. Ultimately, the DSKY Moonwatch is a novelty. And priced at 649 (about $812), its not exactly a cheap one....

December 19, 2024 · 1 min · 146 words · Susan Brooks

Apple AirDrop for Android? It Sounds Like a Dream That Will Never Come True

I have a unique lifestyle, constantly shuffling between different smartphone platforms. These can be notifications, automatic Wi-Fi connection, AirPlay, AirDrop, or automatic Bluetooth audio switching. In its interoperability report, Apple responded, Its getting personal. © Florence Ion / Gizmodo Apple is fantastic at marketing itself as a company that cares first and foremost about its users. I dont particularly like opening Android to every third-party player, either. Im convinced that if we all stay in separate lanes, well be fine and more secure....

December 19, 2024 · 1 min · 204 words · Peggy Valenzuela

Arizona School’s Curriculum Will Be Taught by AI, No Teachers

Remember that one teacher who made going to school fun and inspired you to pursue your passions? Students at a new charter school in Arizona wont, because they dont get to have teachers. This ensures that each student is consistently challenged at their optimal level, preventing boredom or frustration. Students at Arizona’s new Unbound Academy wills pend just two hours a day on academics, all taught by AI.© Patrick T. Fallon/Getty Images...

December 19, 2024 · 1 min · 101 words · Melissa Wright

Biologists Discover What Makes Bed Bugs Uniquely Hard to Kill With Insecticides

By the 1960s, widespread pesticide use had nearly wiped out bed bug populations. In the past two decades, however, the blood-suckers have staged a nasty resurgence. Now, scientists have uncovered genetic factors that are helping to explain this unwelcome resurgence. A bed bug.© Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Bed bugs can be a royal pain in the ass. Additionally, disproportionate itching could lead to secondary skin infections. They then compared the two genomes and identified hundreds of mutations linked to insecticide resistance in the resistant strain....

December 19, 2024 · 1 min · 178 words · Tracy Jacobs

Dan Da DanIs a Lovey-Dovey, Madcap Sci-Fi Anime Drama About Finding Your Balls

Anime adaptations often follow one of two paths. DescribingDan Da Danis like conveying what an okapi looks like to a schoolchild without a picture. Their call to action? © Crunchyroll/Science Saru Retrieve Okaruns family jewels. Despite its un-serious logline,Dan Da Dantriumphs as the must-watch anime of 2024. Dan Da Danalso stands out among its contemporaries by having a musical score that is not understated. © Crunchyroll / Science Saru Chief among them is Ushio double-dipping with hisclub remix of Gioachino Rossinis William Tell Overture....

December 19, 2024 · 1 min · 151 words · Amy Obrien

Elon Musk Is Using His Platform and Power to Meme Us Into a Government Shutdown

He posted about thismore than 100 times. As of this writing, feels like Musk has gotten his wish. Angry constituents called their representatives. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Vice President-elect JD Vance attend the 125th Army-Navy football game at Northwest Stadium on December 14, 2024 in Landover, Maryland.© Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images The GOPs most unhinged members revolted and thebill is dead in the water....

December 19, 2024 · 3 min · 545 words · Nicholas Perez

Everything We Noticed in the Epic First Trailer forSuperman

The first trailer forJames GunnsSupermanis hereand, wow. Heres our breakdown of the first trailer forSuperman. This is Superman (David Corenswet) and hes messed up. Let’s go piece by piece through this trailer.Image: Warner Bros. Breathing heavy, bloodied, this is not what were used to seeing from the character. Hes basically indestructible, is he not? How did this happen? Superman in the snow – WB Thats quite the twist, is it not?...

December 19, 2024 · 7 min · 1326 words · John Jensen