entertainment

Design FX - The Maze Runner Exclusive: Building the Mechanical Grievers & Complex Maze Set

Based on the hit YA novel of the same name, the upcoming flick The Maze Runner takes place in a post-apocalyptic world. To create the vast maze and relentless mechanical creatures called Grievers, FX experts Method Studios used technical and complicated special FX. Mike Seymour breaks down the tech behind the film.




entertainment

Angry Nerd - The Equalizer's Awesome Title Sequence & Why '80s T.V. Show Credits Rule

The new Denzel Washington crime thriller, The Equalizer, is based on the 1980s show of the same name. And while Angry Nerd doesn't really remember much about the show, he does remember the killer opening title sequence.




entertainment

WIRED Live - ABC's Dan Harris on How Meditation Can Make You Happier

ABC News correspondent and Nightline co-anchor Dan Harris explains how meditation helped him feel better—and how corporations are using it for their workforce, too.​




entertainment

Battle Damage - Want an iPhone 6? Smash Your iPhone 5s with a Safe

We've all been there: You dropped your iPhone on the ground and sometimes it shatters into a billion pieces, but sometimes it's completely fine. What happens if you drop a 55-lb safe on top of it? YouTuber KuSh SuDrA dared us to test it, and we did. Find out what happened.




entertainment

WIRED Design, October 2014

Thanks to 40 years of increasingly cheap and tiny processors, new software, cheap sensors, and digital manufacturing, we can build products that seemed impossible a decade ago. WIRED has dubbed this new design renaissance Silicon Modern. Our editors collected 10 great exemplars of this movement, encompassing big ideas, inspiring projects, and new forms of expression. Silicon Modern is here, and design will never be the same. Original Composition by Nico Bergmann Recorded at First Voice Studio




entertainment

RetroGrade - Skip the Apple Watch, Go for the Casio Timepiece Calculator

Apple recently announced its new timepiece, but the tech giant was hardly the first to make a foray into smartwatches. In the early '80s Casio debuted a dual watch-calculator, paving the way for multipurpose, wearable gadgets.




entertainment

What's Inside - Golf Balls

Anyone who’s played a round knows that golf isn’t a science, but that’s not the case when it comes to golf balls. The compact, dimpled balls have come along way from goose feathers wrapped in leather—find out what’s inside golf balls.




entertainment

WIRED Live - Creating Video Games That Are Easy to Learn, but Difficult to Master

Atari founder Nolan Bushnell and game developer Dong Nguyen join author David Kushner to talk about the ingredients for a successful video game and how the industry has transitioned from being a hobby to a full-blown business.




entertainment

Battle Damage - Microsoft Zune Torture Test

Released in 2006, the Microsoft Zune was intended to be a competitor to Apple’s iPod. It didn’t stand a chance then and it doesn’t stand a chance now. See what happens when we go medieval on this week’s gadget, as recommended by Mark and Todd from Barely Political.




entertainment

Neon Future Sessions - Ray Kurzweil & Steve Aoki Talk Technology, the Future & Humanity

Steve Aoki talks with famed futurist Ray Kurzweil about how technology will shape our future, in terms of creativity, consciousness, and the coming singularity.




entertainment

Angry Nerd - Star Wars Rebels: Strong With the Force, or a Pile of Sith?

Star Wars Rebels is Disney’s latest foray into the Star Wars universe, but will this animated installment use the power of the force for good, or take a trip to the dark side? Angry Nerd Chris Baker reviews all of the animated renditions of Star Wars to uncover what worked, and what was a steaming pile of Sith.




entertainment

Battle Damage - MacBook Air vs. Karate Kick of Death

Apple’s MacBook Air is light and easy to transport, but can it withstand a blow from our stunt performer who holds a black belt in karate? YouTuber @Jackson challenged us to find out—see what happened.




entertainment

Angry Nerd - Why "Dracula: Untold" Will Suck the Blood (and Soul) Out of You

The latest victim in the movie studios' quest to take stories we know and love and destroy them with tedious pre-history? Dracula: Untold, which provides us with the unnecessary origin story on how the original vampire became a thirsty bloodsucker, long before the days of Twilight.




entertainment

Battle Damage - The Indestructible Nokia Phone vs Liquid Nitrogen

It’s the most requested gadget we’ve received by far and we’ve finally put it to the test. See what happens when the Nokia “Brick” phone goes swimming in a vat of liquid nitrogen.




entertainment

Angry Nerd - Will the New U.K. Import “Gracepoint" Join the Ranks of “The Office,” “House of Cards,” and “Shameless”?

The British are coming. Can the new crime drama Gracepoint (based on the U.K. hit Broadchurch) find success stateside and join the shortlist of Brit expats that found their footing on red, white, and blue T.V.s, like The Office, House of Cards, and Shameless?




entertainment

Lim: A Prosthetic That Radically Improves Lives

A new company called LIM is radically rethinking the way prosthetics fit the human body, so that wearers of artificial legs can walk farther than ever before.




entertainment

Ziba: A Bold Vision for the Future of Postage

Signet, created by the design firm Ziba, is a visionary concept for changing the way we send mail.




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What's Inside - Glow Sticks

You can find them on Halloween, at raves, and in the military, but how do the compact, plastic tubes of neon light actually work?




entertainment

Array of Things: A Fitbit for the City

The Array of Things project in Chicago, led by the University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, the Computation Institute, and the School of the Art Institute Chicago, is installing hundreds of sensors across the city, in hopes of providing a new breed of data-fueled urban planning.




entertainment

WIRED - November 2014 - The Big Heroes of Disney Animation

Dinosaur. Treasure Planet. Home on the Range. For years, Disney Animation churned out duds. Then Pixar's masterminds took over and we got blockbusters like Wreck-it-Ralph and Frozen. In the November issue, WIRED senior editor Caitlin Roper talks to Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios' Ed Catmull and John Lasseter about their latest film, Big Hero 6, which proves the magic is here to stay. Also this month: what's inside a flu shot; the NBA's money ball moment; the future of AI.




entertainment

Battle Damage - Can a GoPro Survive a Golf Club?

It’s time to test everyone’s favorite action-camera. The GoPro performs under extreme sports conditions, but how does it hold up against a 9-iron and a powerful swing? Find out, as we take the camera out of its durable case and tee it up for a test of total destruction.




entertainment

Angry Nerd - Horror Movie Cliches that Deserve to be Slaughtered

Angry Nerd is sick of the latest crop of cliché killer movies. Do we really need Michael Bay bringing another Hasbro product to life with “Ouija"? Who asked for the new wannabe “Blair Witch Project” called “Exists”? Angry Nerd explains why the only frightening thing this Halloween is the surplus of crappy horror flicks.




entertainment

The Window - The Alvin Submarine Part 1: Updating the Deep-Diving Submarine at 50 Years Old

It’s the only deep-diving research submersible in the United States, and nearly 50 years after its first expedition it’s getting an upgrade. Take an exclusive tour of the Alvin submarine, and see how the updated vessel is continuing to push the boundaries of deep-water exploration




entertainment

Battle Damage - 40" LED T.V. vs. Potato Gun

Can a flatscreen withstand a vicious potato gun and a flying soda can? Find out as we put the 40” LED T.V. to the ultimate spuds test.




entertainment

The Window - The Alvin Submarine Part 2: Incredible Views On-Board the Deep-Sea Vessel

The technological upgrades on the U.S. Navy-owned Alvin submersible allow the deep-sea diving vessel to go to new depths. Reaching 98 percent of the sea floor, the submarine is able to explore complex hydrothermal vents and ecosystems.




entertainment

WIRED by Design - Bjarke Ingels Will Make You Believe in the Power of Architecture

Architect Bjarke Ingels at WIRED by Design, 2014. In partnership with Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA. To learn more visit: live.wired.com




entertainment

WIRED by Design - Adam Savage on His Lifelong Obsession With Recreating Movie Props

Mythbuster Adam Savage at WIRED by Design, 2014. In partnership with Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA. To learn more visit: live.wired.com




entertainment

WIRED by Design - An Aerospace Whiz Shows Off a Space Suit Made for Mars

Dava Newman and Gui Trotti at WIRED by Design, 2014. In partnership with Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA To learn more visit: live.wired.com




entertainment

Angry Nerd - Big Hero 6 is More Than Just a Disney-fied Version of a Marvel Classic

When Disney announced the launch of Big Hero 6, Angry Nerd was skeptical it’d turn into another kid-friendly version of Marvel IP. Turns out the House of Mouse was able to adapt the classic comic (albeit with a few major changes) into an entertaining animated feature that’s not just another Disney dud.




entertainment

Battle Damage - Roomba vs. Battle Axe

We trust them to clean our floors, but how do they stack up against a battle axe? Angry Nerd dared us to test the vacuuming robot Roomba—see what happens when we put it through a destruction test of viking proportions.




entertainment

WIRED by Design - What a Sex Toy Start-Up Taught Ethan Imboden About Design

Designer Ethan Imboden at WIRED by Design, 2014. In partnership with Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA. To learn more visit: live.wired.com




entertainment

WIRED by Design - What Power Plant Software Can Learn From Consumer Apps Like iTunes

Greg Petroff at WIRED by Design, 2014. In partnership with Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA. To learn more visit: live.wired.com




entertainment

WIRED by Design - These Incredible High-Tech Exhibits Are the Future of Museums

Jake Barton at WIRED by Design, 2014. In partnership with Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA. To learn more visit: live.wired.com




entertainment

The Window - The Alvin Submarine Part 3: Humans vs. Robots and the Future of Deep-Sea Research

The technological advances in remotely operated vehicles (R.O.V.) have allowed researchers to uncover new ocean depths, like the 1986 footage of the Titanic by the Alvin submersible. Find out what lies ahead for the future of deep-sea exploration from the scientists who are taking the plunge.




entertainment

WIRED by Design - Radical Ideas for Reinventing College, From Stanford's D.School

Sarah Stein Greenberg at WIRED by Design, 2014. In partnership with Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA. To learn more visit: live.wired.com




entertainment

Angry Nerd - Hate to Say It, But "Dumb and Dumber To" Is Destined to Fail

The original came out nearly 20 years ago, yet now is when we’re finally getting the follow up to “Dumb and Dumber.” Angry Nerd explains why the new Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels release has already missed the mark in terms of historical relevancy, and why it’s destined to fall victim to the curse of the long-delayed movie sequel.




entertainment

WIRED by Design - How Metaphors Make Us Love Some Designs and Not Others

Michael Hendrix at WIRED by Design, 2014. In partnership with Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA. To learn more visit: live.wired.com




entertainment

What's Inside - Kiwi Shoe Polish

It contains flammable agents and edible wax, but no kiwis are actually harmed in the making of this shoe polish. Find out what’s inside the shoe care product that’ll keep your wingtips in top form.




entertainment

Battle Damage - Is Killing a BIG JAMBOX Impossible?

Viewer Greg Kindra dared us to test the compact sound system, but will it live to jam another day once we’re through with it? Find out what happens when we go old school on a JAMBOX.




entertainment

Look Inside a Lab Hacking Athletic Performance

Just down the road from Facebook and Google, Dr. Phil Wagner runs a laboratory dedicated to optimizing the performance of some of the world’s top athletes.




entertainment

How Animals Can Predict Human Performance

Stanford researcher Mark Denny used models from the animal world to examine just how much faster we might get in the future. Here, he explains his work.




entertainment

RetroGrade - Remember When People Used VHS Players?

Watching video on the go just got easier with the portable VHS player Rampage VBP1000. With a built-in dual stereo and a battery life of up to 50 minutes, you can watch (part of a) movie anywhere, anytime.




entertainment

WIRED by Design - Designing a Brand That Even Non-Designers Can Work With

Natasha Jen at WIRED by Design, 2014. In partnership with Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA. To learn more visit: live.wired.com




entertainment

Game|Life - The Making of the “Atari: Game Over” Documentary with Zak Penn

It’s been called the worst video game in history, but could E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial really be the cause of Atari’s downfall? In the new documentary “Atari: Game Over” director Zak Penn follows the rise and fall of the trailblazing video game company, including the game that caused Atari’s demise. Watch as Penn takes us behind the scenes of the documentary and shows us exclusive footage ahead of the November 20 release.




entertainment

WIRED December 2014: Space, Time, and Multiple Dimensions. A special issue directed by Christopher Nolan.

Few Hollywood directors can match Christopher Nolan’s ambition, skill, and mind-bending story sense. For our December issue, the man behind Memento, Inception, the Dark Knight trilogy, and Interstellar brings his formidable talents to WIRED as our guest editor.




entertainment

Angry Nerd - "Hunger Games" and the Terrible Trend of Turning a Book into Two Movies

Why turn one book into one movie, when you can turn it into two? Despite “Mockingjay” being the weakest book in “The Hunger Games” series, movie execs have decided to translate it into a two-part film. Angry Nerd explains why the stretch from one to two is a terrible trend that needs to end.




entertainment

Meet the Mapmakers Who Are Changing the NBA

From what shots are the most efficient to how defenders alter offense in the post to placing a value on every action on the court, they’re helping bring hoops into the big data era. See here how they do it.




entertainment

RetroGrade - When Was the Last Time You Left a Message on an Answering Machine?

“Please leave a message after the ….” It’s a phrase we all know, but in 1971 the PhoneMate 400 took voicemail to the next level. Find out why the hi-tech machine changed the answering machine game.




entertainment

WIRED by Design - David Chang Shares the Secrets Behind Momofuku's Delicious Success

David Chang at WIRED by Design, 2014. In partnership with Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA. To learn more visit: live.wired.com




entertainment

WIRED's Gadget Challenge - Can a Hand Vacuum Suck Up a Kiddie Pool of Fruity Pebbles?

Erik and Justin test out the most stylish gadgets available at this year’s WIRED Store. See what happens when the two get their hands on a Dyson handheld vacuum, the Ballo stool (a sleeker update to the balance ball chair), and a modern, Bluetooth-controlled gramophone.