Collective Shout, an organization “for anyone concerned about the increasing pornification of culture,” based its claim that Steam and Itch.io host “hundreds of rape and incest games” on user-generated tags, and the organizations that co-signed Collective Shout’s open letter to payment processors did not respond to 404 Media’s questions about whether they tried to verify…
Welcome back to the Abstract! Here are the studies this week that boiled my blood, warmed my heart, and got permanently inked into my memory. First, a new look at some very old tattoos. Then: a posthumous discovery from a beloved defunct telescope, an update on lava planets, the adventures of translocated mole rats, and…
After spending last week with Tesla fans who wanted the world to know that their Tesla purchases had nothing to do with politics, I spent this weekend at the Tesla diner protests, talking to people who disagreed with that stance. On both Saturday and Sunday, organisers from Resist the Coup and Tesla Takedown Santa Monica…
This is Behind the Blog, where we share our behind-the-scenes thoughts about how a few of our top stories of the week came together. This week, we discuss messy Tea and our first livestreamed event. SAM: We had an awesome time hanging out with a couple hundred of our Angeleno friends at Rip.Space on Wednesday!…
Independent game developer Paolo Pedercini wanted to announce his new game Future? No Thanks! a few weeks ago, but said it was delayed because Steam found a screenshot it planned to share “had suggestive themes.” The screenshot? A low-polygon woman in a short dress with her legs closed together. Future? No Thanks! was meant to…
In late May, Apple announced what seemed on its face to be a big, positive development for iPad owners: It was going to begin selling repair parts for iPads to the general public, which is a requirement of a series of new right-to-repair laws. “With today’s announcement, we’re excited to expand our repair services to…
A generation who thought they were immune from being fooled by AI has been tricked by this video of bunnies jumping on a trampoline: @rachelthecatlovers Just checked the home security cam and… I think we’ve got guest performers out back! @Ring #bunny #ringdoorbell #ring #bunnies #trampoline ♬ Bounce When She Walk – Ohboyprince The video…
The Sun powers almost all life on Earth, but chemosynthetic life is the fascinating exception. These organisms find fuel in chemical reactions, allowing them to flourish in places where the Sun doesn’t shine—like the deep sea. Now, scientists have discovered chemosynthetic animals, such as foot-long tubeworms and mollusks, nearly six miles beneath the ocean surface,…
By accident, journalist Jack Poulson discovered Google had completely de-listed two of his articles from its search results. “We only found it by complete coincidence,” Poulson told 404 Media. “I happened to be Googling for one of the articles, and even when I typed in the exact title in quotes it wouldn’t show up in…
Spotify is requiring users in the UK to verify they’re over 18, following the enactment of the Online Safety Act, which forced platforms to verify the ages of everyone who tries to access certain kinds of content deemed harmful to children. “You may be presented with an age check when you try to access certain…
