These optical helmets are like funhouse mirrors for your face

These optical helmets are like funhouse mirrors for your face

The optical helmets of Korean artist Hyungkoo Lee are delightfully creepy. Carefully positioned lenses of varying surface curvature make dysmorphic playthings of the wearers' features – shriveling mouths, inflating noses, and multiplying eyes in cartoonish displays that are as captivating as they are disturbing. » 3/15/14 8:45am Today 8:45am

Why You Should Care That Sea Cucumbers Are Going Extinct

Sea cucumbers are in trouble. Everyone knows about the problems that elephants and rhinos face due to poaching, that dolphins face due to drive hunts, and that sharks face when overzealous governments try to convince their constituents that they're helping them avoid shark attacks. Sea cucumbers may not be as… » 3/15/14 10:34am Today 10:34am

Why are materialists less happy?

The latest word on how to be happy: be more appreciative of the things you have. Newly published research out of Baylor University finds materialistic people are less happy in large part because of their lack of gratitude. » 3/14/14 9:00pm Yesterday 9:00pm

This was the first kiss ever filmed—and it was between two women

The Internet is currently ablaze over a video of strangers having a first kiss, but what was likely the first kiss committed to film was between two models—two female models. Oddly, the photographer filmed a same-sex kiss because, not in spite of, mores of the era. Artful nudity below. » 3/14/14 8:00pm Yesterday 8:00pm

What's the right mix of science and fiction in science fiction?

Parsing out just the right ratio of science to fiction in science fiction is a long-standing question, with no easy answer. Here's how the Adult Swim animated show Rick and Morty deals with that conundrum. » 3/14/14 4:20pm Yesterday 4:20pm