Why All the Best Kit Kat Flavors Are Only in Japan

Wasabi, strawberry cheesecake, green tea, dark chocolate, sweet potato. What do these flavors have in common? They’re all KitKat varieties exclusive to Japan. but how did the crispy, break-associated candy get so popular overseas? Read more…

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Why All the Best Kit Kat Flavors Are Only in Japan

Beyond Gorgeous Video Shows the Making of a Damascus Steel Sword

Turn it up to 8K if you can (you can’t), because this truly awesome video of master bladesmith Tony Swatton working on a Roman Gladius Sword made from damascus steel is a treat to watch. Damascus steel is basically art in a material as the layers get built, this sword is especially awesome because it combines a 93-layer damascus technique in the blade with a twisted grip. Read more…

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Beyond Gorgeous Video Shows the Making of a Damascus Steel Sword

This Portable Shower Reuses the Same Water for Two Whole Weeks

Indoor plumbing and unlimited clean water aren’t available everywhere. That’s why this clever, compact shower that recycles the same water several times—after purifying it after each use!—seems very handy. Read more…

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This Portable Shower Reuses the Same Water for Two Whole Weeks

J.J. Abrams Insists the Portal and Half-Life Movies Are Still Happening

Billie Lourd says she’ll be back in a bigger capacity for Star Wars: Episode VIII . A Thor supporting character may not return for Ragnarok . . Plus new details for Scream Queens ’ next season, set pictures from Wonder Woman , and a ton of clips from tonight’s Supergirl . Spoilers now! Read more…

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J.J. Abrams Insists the Portal and Half-Life Movies Are Still Happening

A Hiker Stumbled Across This Incredibly Rare 2,000-Year-Old Gold Coin

Finding money on the floor is rarely this exciting. This single gold coin was discovered by a hiker and Israel’s Antiquities Authority has since established that it’s one of only two ever discovered. The coin’s 2, 000 years old—and, before you ask, priceless. Read more…

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A Hiker Stumbled Across This Incredibly Rare 2,000-Year-Old Gold Coin

Software brings your PC’s entire interface to VR

Virtual reality faces numerous challenges , but one of the biggest is having to take your headset off whenever you need to run a conventional app. What if you want to maintain that immersion, or just want to use a VR device as your only display? That’s where BigScreen thinks it can help. It’s developing software that places your entire Windows desktop in a VR environment. It’s partly for the sake of immersion (you can have a massive, wall-filling screen without spending a fortune ), but it’s a bigger deal for social experiences. You can see a friend’s shared screen as a separate virtual monitor, or play games and movies with friends who sit in using personalized avatars. You can sign up for a public beta test today, and the finished software should be available for both the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift when they’re available in April. Samsung Gear VR support is due later in 2016. BigScreen is definitely going to be a niche app on launch (you’re going to need an expensive headset and a powerful PC just to use it), but it’s an important step toward turning VR from a once-in-a-blue-moon experience into something you use every day, whether you’re catching up on Netflix or creating worlds . Via: Upload Source: BigScreen

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Software brings your PC’s entire interface to VR

A ‘Star Wars’ VR experiment is coming soon to HTC Vive

Last year Industrial Light & Magic teased an HTC Vive VR tie-in experience (the old teaser clip is embedded after the break) to go along with The Force Awakens and to celebrate the launch of its ILM Experience Lab . It appears its release was delayed along with the headset, but now that it’s rolling out, we should see it soon. Earlier this evening a short YouTube teaser for Star Wars: Trials on Tattooine appeared on the ILMVisualFX YouTube channel before going private, and it showed something that appeared to go beyond the Jakku Spy experience that appeared last year for Google Cardboard. It flashed a glimpse at the Vive headset, along with a VR trip in the Star Wars universe featuring everything from R2-D2 to player-controlled lightsaber battles. These screenshots should give you an idea of what this Cinematic Virtual Reality Experiment will be like, now we’re just waiting to hear when it will be available. [Thanks, Anonymous!] Source: ILMVisualFX (YouTube)

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A ‘Star Wars’ VR experiment is coming soon to HTC Vive

A New Bill Wants to Put an End to Ridiculous Airline Fees

Airlines make a killing by charging fees for everything from checked bags to seat changes. A new bill—The Forbidding Airlines from Imposing Ridiculous (FAIR) Fees Act—aims to keep these fees in check. Read more…

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A New Bill Wants to Put an End to Ridiculous Airline Fees

Fabricated Lab Result Puts Almost 8,000 Criminal Cases in Doubt

A lab technician working at a New Jersey State Police drug testing station has been accused of fabricating drug test results, potentially upsetting almost 8, 000 criminal cases in the state. Read more…

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Fabricated Lab Result Puts Almost 8,000 Criminal Cases in Doubt