John Wenz

The Written Word

This Algorithm Creates Its Own Alien Alphabets

The magic of mathematics makes a mysterious glyph that would make Tolkien or Klingon fans proud.
John Wenz
6.21.17
energy

The Clean Energy Debate Is Fueling One of the Most Vitriolic Fights in Science Publishing

A Stanford scientist says one of America's best science journals published a paper "riddled with intentional misinformation" from the fossil fuel industry.
John Wenz
Jason Koebler
6.19.17
space computers

How the Humble CPU Launched NASA’s Golden Age of Space Exploration

Even today, retro-computing is carrying humanity to the edge of interstellar space.
John Wenz
5.28.17
apps

Car Makers Hedge Against the Future with Ridesharing Investments

Toyota, GM, and Ford must adjust to a future which on-demand rides are a big part of how people get around.
John Wenz
5.31.16
video

This Fabrication Technique Uses Individual Electrons to Make Metal Velcro

Using a low-power electron laser, researchers use a weird effect of physics to make dozens of tiny hooks quickly. Or, clearly witchcraft.
John Wenz
5.15.16
Reptiles

Scientists Use Play-Doh to Understand the Feeding Habits of an Ancient Reptile

The hammerhead-shaped, zipper-teethed mouth of the Atopentatus was used to scrape algae off rocks and slurp it up.
John Wenz
5.8.16
3D

This Holographic, Flexible Smartphone Makes 'Angry Birds' Way Better

For now, it’s still pretty primitive. But the future could hold some truly fantastic things for this mini 3D projector.
John Wenz
5.8.16
YouTube

YouTube Copyright Claim Strips Audio Out of Conference on Surveillance Overreach

Georgetown’s Color of Surveillance conference produced productive dialog on racist surveillance policies. A YouTube copyright claim silenced it.
John Wenz
4.9.16
nasa

Stop Blaming Everything On Planet Nine

Blaming everything on a planet we haven't officially discovered yet is a little premature.
John Wenz
4.9.16
Space

We Just Found Dozens of Never-Before-Seen Galaxies in Our Backyard

This inches toward figuring out the “Great Attractor” mysteriously pulling at us.
John Wenz
2.9.16
History

Analysis of Ancient Poop Indicates That Roman Plumbing Was Highly Overrated

Parasitic diseases persisted despite the increased sanitation efforts.
John Wenz
1.9.16
Space

Watch An Ancient, Voracious Galaxy Finally Settle Down Into Its Quieter Years

The former quasar settles into its retirement years.
John Wenz
1.9.16
0106