People say The Hunger Games is a watered-down Young Adult version of the brilliant Japanese movie Battle Royale, but Angry Nerd completely disagrees. He likens the sci-fi tale to a watered-down version of Running Man, but with a premise that doesn’t actually work.

Take a look inside the first commercial-scale solar energy plant to use nothing more than the sun, molten salt, and a whole lot of mirrors to send power to the people. If the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy facility works as promised, it could be a model for the future of renewable energy.

Outside Tonopah, Nev., a construction team of 600 is working to get the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy project up and running by 2014. WIRED has an exclusive look inside the construction of this first-of-its-kind renewable-energy power plant.

As the largest producer and consumer of milk in the world, India faces a serious problem when it comes to off-grid dairy farmers. In this World Economic Forum discussion, Promethean Power Systems co-founder Sam White describes his approach to ensuring that milk is properly refrigerated and not spoiled by bacteria.

Consider it sound you can see. Find out how Ashik and Jenelle Mohan of Born of Sound are using audio recordings to create works of art, bringing to life a child’s laugh or heartbeat in a fluid, vibrant print. Brought to you by Intel.

In this World Economic Forum discussion, Johan Rockström, executive director of the Stockholm Resilience Centre, proposes a new scientific framework called Planetary Boundaries—a way of thinking about consumption and sustainability that could help keep Earth habitable.

They’ve resurrected RoboCop and we can’t figure out why. Actor Joel Kinnaman has a big helmet to fill, and considering all of the outrageous changes that have been made to the reboot, Angry Nerd is doubtful that the new cyborg will live up to the task.

Veronica Mars fans pledged more than $5 million on Kickstarter to get a film adaptation of the show off the ground. And while Angry Nerd is all for crowdfunding for a good cause, when it comes to fans calling the shots in return for financial backing, the money-making model might end up causing more harm than good.

Hollywood is always trying to sell us crazy computer interfaces. Wavy hands and holograms? Never gonna happen. But now Fox News is in on the game, too—and the Angry Nerd is unfairly unbalanced about the network's giant, newsgathering touch screens.

Angry Nerd is ready to demote Captain America from his current rank to lieutenant. In the Marvel superhero’s newest movie adaptation, his vibranium shield defies everything that physics and materials science has taught us. Angry Nerd calls blasphemy on the ingredient-altered shield.

By implanting a tiny computer chip into the brain and decoding the data that’s produced, Brown neuroscientist John Donoghue is hoping to help people with paralysis reconnect to the world around them. In this World Economic Forum discussion he explains how.

Is it possible to scientifically prevent depression? In this World Economic Forum discussion, University of Oxford molecular psychiatrist Jonathan Flint explains the research he’s doing to uncover the genetic and biological basis of disorders like depression, in order to help develop better therapies.

With optogenetics, the ability to restore and enhance brain function is becoming a reality. In this World Economic Forum discussion, Nature magazine neuroscience editor I-han Chou explains how the radical method works and the ethical issues it could cause.

We’ve long imagined a device that renders virtual reality that's indistinguishable from the outside world. In the June issue, Senior Editor Peter Rubin explores the Oculus Rift—a VR headset doing just that. Also this month: creating a museum from the ruins of 2,983 lives, the surprising science of the hangover, and the quantum computer that maybe isn’t. Music: "On Pagaie" Performed By: HUMANS (http://dashumans.com/)

It’s almost time for the lightning pitches, but as the pressure mounts can the Thiel Fellowship hopefuls keep their cool? In this episode, the finalists run through their strategies—and lack thereof—as they get ready to present to the judges. Plus, finalists Alexander Koren and Andrew Ninh explain their medical- and tech-based projects.

The deliberations are over and the judges are ready to notify the 2014 Thiel Fellowship winners via Skype. Find out which 20 kids will have their lives changed forever as they win a $100,000 grant and drop out of school to pursue their dreams.

With Darth Disney holding the keys to Star Wars, the fate of the expanded universe is at stake. Since the movies are only a fraction of the franchise’s stories, Angry Nerd makes a desperate plea to the only one who can help save the unabridged material: George Lucas.

Seventeen-year-old Catherine Ray just received a $100,000 Thiel Fellowship. Armed with a B.S. in computational physics, the mathematics whiz is planning to fix everything that’s wrong with wheelchairs. Get to know the teen technorati.

A fully functional portable computer that weighs in at only 29 lbs.? Now we’re talking. With features like word processing and a calculator, the 1984 LCD-286 PC computer was like carrying a filing cabinet with you on the go.

Founder and COO of Unruly Media, Sarah Wood, explains the myths, value, and impact of video content in an evolving digital landscape.

It's time for the bi-annual Under 20 Summit, where past, present, and future Thiel Fellows connect with one another and meet with mentors. In this Season 2 finale, the winners of this year's Thiel Fellowship reflect on their progress thus far, and share their goals for the future.

Catch a first-look at the giant creature in action as the team tests out the mechanics of the frame.

Wonder how Bodock the Giant Creature and his alien sidekick got their voices? In this episode, we take a trip to Anarchy Post to see how the creature's voice came to life with the help of voice actors and Dehumaniser—a real-time vocal processor for monster sound FX.

How do you make a 2,000-pound creature move with fluidity and ease? Find out, as we break down the animatronics and mechanics that control the mobility of the giant beast, including nostril flares, mouth movements, and more.

What inspires a 17-year-old to go into cancer research or a 19-year-old to develop an obsession with astrophysics? Find out, as the 2014 Thiel Fellows explain how they first discovered their passions and why they've decided to turn them into careers.

Award-winning author James Bamford spent three days interviewing Edward Snowden in Moscow. He emerged with an indelible portrait of the elusive whistleblower, one that sheds new light on exactly what led Snowden to decide to leak tens of thousands of top-secret documents. Also in this month's issue: A new scientific effort to understand nutrition and health plus a riveting profile of Sin City auteur Frank Miller.

Glenn Brown of Twitter Amplify explains how the social media service is giving brands and users a digital megaphone to tweet during broadcasts and major events.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

T.V. may be in a golden era, but that’s no excuse for you to skip out on the best movies of the year. Angry Nerd names the 10 most underrated movies of 2014, including “Only Lovers Left Alive,” “Snowpiercer,” “The Raid 2,” and “Edge of Tomorrow.”

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

Justin and Erik are equal opportunity destroyers. So after testing every generation of the iPhone it only made sense to see how android devices hold up. See what happens when Samsung’s Galaxy S series gets put to the test.

We stack up four popular iPhone cases, including the OtterBox Defender, the Lunatik TAKTIK Extreme, the Griffin Survivor + Catalyst (note: corrected), and the Lifeproof Fre to see which design will actually keep your smartphone safe.

WIRED editor Chris Kohler breaks down why Sam & Max Hit the Road is the funniest video game of all time. What’s not to love about a duo of anthropomorphic “freelance police”?

The new horror movie “Unfriended” uses a screen-capture format to shape the film’s narrative. But guess what? Using Facebook messages, Skype calls, and Gchats to tell a story isn’t innovative, it’s LAZY! Angry Nerd explains why the cyber-horror flick deserves an IRL “dislike."

Some virtual reality headsets are better than others. But which one is actually the toughest? Find out as we give the Oculus Rift DK2, Samsung Gear VR, and Nintendo Virtual Boy a dose of real-world damage.

The Next List. You don’t know them, but you know their work. WIRED presents the unsung geniuses who are shaping the future of business. Also this month: What it takes to create the most nonstop-action-packed movie ever, how Apple created a watch to finally free us from our phones, Ross Ulbricht’s journey from libertarian idealist to savage kingpin and more.

WIRED editor Chris Kohler explains why Super Mario Bros. is the most important video game in history. From rich graphics to expertly composed music to innovative game design, Super Mario Bros. set the standard for what makes a great video game.

Elite Beat Agents is based off a Japanese video game for Nintendo DS. But instead of male cheerleaders and Japanese pop songs, the U.S. version relies on “Men In Black”-like agents and good ol’ fashioned American hits from the Jackson 5 and Madonna. Chris Kohler explains why the stateside edition is the best music game of all time.

People are freaking out about powdered alcohol, but I wasn’t convinced they understood the science behind it. So I tested their concerns. Will it get you crazy drunk? Will people snort it? Watch & see! -Brent

It’s reminiscent of old Grand Theft Auto games, but Hotline Miami is in a league of its own. It tricks you into thinking it’s cute, but don’t be fooled, it's one of the most gruesome and bloody video games of all time.

This year, Industrial Light & Magic celebrates 40 years of creating the impossible. In WIRED's June issue, we present an oral history of ILM, and look at how George Lucas’ little DIY effects shop changed movies forever. Also this month: Silk Road mastermind Ross Ulbricht's journey from drug kingpin to convicted criminal, Senator Cory Booker's attempt to drag the Senate into the 21st century, the global battle over one of Earth’s most plentiful resources, and much more. #WIRED2306 #WIRED

Shot mostly in Africa with real vehicles and complex stunts, “Mad Max: Fury Road” brings a high intensity to the post-apocalyptic franchise. Mike Seymour breaks down the complicated camerawork and VFX behind the action-adventure flick.

WIRED senior writer Andy Greenberg puts new homemade gunsmithing tools to the test as he tries three ways of building an untraceable AR-15 semi-automatic rifle---a so-called "ghost gun"---while skirting all gun control laws.

WHEN BJARKE INGELS set out to create the fourth and final skyscraper at the reborn World Trade Center earlier this year, he faced the same dilemma that has burdened every architect who has ventured onto New York’s most hallowed and expensive construction site.

THE BIGGEST APPLE developer event of the year kicked off this morning at Moscone Center in San Francisco. WIRED’s David Pierce attended the WWDC keynote, and he gives us a quick recap on all the news. There are enhancements coming to Apple’s desktop OS, it’s iOS software, and a big update to the three-months-old Apple Watch that includes support for native apps.