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Angry Nerd - Why "50 Shades of Grey" Matters to Fanfic

Honestly, Angry Nerd probably won’t see Fifty Shades of Grey. But he gets it. He does. Because poorly-written “romance” novels are right in geek culture’s wheelhouse. “Fifty Shades” is just fan-fiction—erotic and “Twilight”-derived and not in space, but fanfic nonetheless. Nerd’s built fan fiction from the ground up, and fan-fiction is what’s behind today’s biggest blockbusters.




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3D-Printing a Custom Battle Damage Drop-O-Matic

Go inside Erik’s workshop to find out how he created a drop-o-matic device for the iPhone Battle Royale challenge using a 3D printer and a whole lot of creativity.




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Out of Office with Brent Rose - What $500 Can Get You on Magic (Silicon Valley’s Newest Texting-Based Delivery Service)

We gave tech writer Brent Rose $500 to stress-test Silicon Valley’s overnight sensation, Magic. From meatballs to medicinal cannabis to Mexican wrestling, see what unfolds when he pushes the new text message-based delivery service.




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Out of Office with Brent Rose - Fitness Trackers vs. Smartphones: Why Wearables Win

Tech writer Brent Rose debunks a study claiming smartphones are as good as wearables at tracking activity. From the Fitbit Charge HR to the iPhone 6, Brent's stress tests uncover compelling results that demonstrate why wearables with heart rate monitors win.




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Angry Nerd - Clicking Dislike on the Cyber-Horror Film "Unfriended"

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."




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Data Attack - How Tech Companies Avoid Taxes Explained with Magic

Publicly traded U.S. tech companies have stashed as much as $530 billion in offshore tax havens. How’d they do it? Find out what magic tricks companies like Google, Apple, and Microsoft have up their sleeves.




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Split Screen - Silicon Valley's Gender Gap

Peter and Kelli Rubin love TV, movies, and games but don’t always see eye to eye—and the return of Mike Judge's HBO satire is no exception.




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Angry Nerd - The Avengers Get Voice Acting Wrong

Computer-generated characters are looking better every year, but there’s one thing that’s not up to technological snuff: the voices. The new Avengers film is no exception—Angry Nerd explains the problem with having Ultron sound exactly like James Spader instead of an evil robot.




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Out of Office with Brent Rose - Tesla’s Powerwall Home Battery: The Stuff Worth Knowing

Elon Musk recently unveiled Tesla Energy and the Powerwall home battery. I'll attempt to cut through the hype and break down the basics. NOTE: One of the most important things we neglected to mention in the video is that a big part of the appeal for this system is not economical, but environmental. It may not be easier on the wallet (at least not yet) but you're powering your home with green energy instead of fossil fuels, and there's a lot to be said for that. -Brent




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Talking Pictures: Skyglow

Filmmakers Harun Mehmedinovic and Gavin Heffernan discuss how their quest for dark night skies for time-lapses led to a project imagining what bright cities like Los Angeles could be with visible stars.




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Unnecessarily Rushed Explanations - Best Music Game of All Time: Elite Beat Agents

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.




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WIRED Business Conference - The Best Pieces of Fan Art Dedicated to Breakout Wattpad Writer Anna Todd

At the 2015 Wired Business conference, WIRED editor-at-large Jason Tanz interviews breakout fanfic author Anna Todd, who writes novels entirely on her smartphone then uploads them to Wattpad, a wildly popular digital publishing platform and writers community.




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Out of Office with Brent Rose - Fun With Powdered Alcohol: You Can Stop Being Scared Now

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




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Design FX - Tomorrowland: Behind the FX of the Futuristic World

See how Industrial Light & Magic created the futuristic tech and magical world in Brad Bird’s Tomorrowland.




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WIRED Issue Preview June 2015 - Inside the Magic Factory

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




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I Made an Untraceable AR-15 'Ghost Gun' In My Office

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.




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Out of Office with Brent Rose - Best & Worst Foods for California’s Drought

California is in an unprecedented drought, but you gotta eat, right? Well, some foods use way more water than others. We chewed through a ton of data to make this bite-sized video. For you! -Brent




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Three Things to Know About Apple Music

WIRED senior writer David Pierce explains how Apple, the most powerful company in music, is shaking up listening again with its new Music platform which combines streaming audio, worldwide human-curated radio and a social network of artists and fans.




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The Coldest Place on Earth | Talking Pictures

New Zealand based photographer Amos Chapple traveled to Siberia, to make images of life in Oymakon, Russia, said be the coldest place on earth. There hardy residents endure winters with 21 hours of darkness and temperatures can plunge to –90 Fahrenheit.




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Unnecessarily Rushed Explanations - The Most Difficult Video Game of All Time: Super Hexagon

Super Hexagon is not a video game for the easily discouraged. You die early and often until eventually (hopefully) you get into the swing of things. WIRED editor Chris Kohler explains why it’s the most difficult video game of all time.




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Creating Jurassic World’s New Genetically Modified Dinosaur

Legendary paleontologist Jack Horner—the real-life inspiration behind original “Jurassic Park” protagonist Alan Grant—explains how they conceived the genetically modified dino, Indominus rex, in the new film “Jurassic World."




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The Director of ‘Jurassic World’ on Tackling the Beloved Franchise

When Colin Trevorrow saw Jurassic Park as a teenager it sparked his interest in the power of film. He spoke with WIRED about taking on the franchise and getting the audience to cheer for their favorite dinosaurs.




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Would Jurassic World’s New Dinosaur Win in an Epic Showdown?

Who would win in a battle of the dinos? “Jurassic World” consultant and renowned paleontologist Jack Horner gives us his picks, if the new “Jurassic World” dinosaur Indominus rex came face-to-face with a Tyrannosaurus rex and a velociraptor.




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Design FX - Jurassic World: Using Motion-Capture to Create Realistic Dinosaurs

“Jurassic World” debuted with a record-shattering opening weekend, netting nearly half a billion dollars. See how Industrial Light & Magic used motion capture to help design the complex dinosaurs, including the genetically modified Indominus rex.




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Mission to Pluto: The Story Behind the Historic Trip

It’s taken nine years to get there, but on July 14, 2015 the New Horizons spacecraft will finally fly by its destination: Pluto. Find out how the historic mission to Pluto happened from the people who helped launch it.




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Out of Office with Brent Rose - Mini GoPro! Hero4 Session: Full Review, Tests, Comparison Footage

If you hate GoPro's rectangular shape, your prayers have been answered! Sort of. We took the new Hero4 Session into rivers, lakes, and surf, off cliffs and platforms, through trees and go kart courses. Our full review will tell you everything you need to know.




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Darth Vader Chokes Comic Con

Few could resist the asphyxiating grip of the Dark Side when Dupree Jones, who cosplays as Darth Vader, tried out the Sith lord's famous Force choke on the rebel scum of San Diego Comic Con 2015.




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Behind the Mask: Darth Vader at Comic Con

You saw him choke Comic Con goers at this year's SDCC. Get to know cosplayer Dupree Jones as he shows us what it takes to transform into Darth Vader.




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Out of Office with Brent Rose - Rideables Are So Hot Right Now. We Put Them to the Test

Electric personal transportation devices (aka “rideables”) are everywhere. We’re seeing them under everyone from Justin Bieber to J.R. Smith to Casey Neistat, but are any of them worth a damn? We put four of the most promising rideables to the test and I’ve got the scars to prove it. -Brent




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Talking Pictures: Sam’s Cure

Writer Fred Vogelstein describes the moving images photographer Elinor Carucci made of his family as they seek a cannabis derived treatment for his son Sam’s epilepsy.




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Booze Science | Ice

Booze Science is better drinking through chemistry. WIRED articles editor Adam Rogers explores the scientific ways ice can influence a cocktail with Jennifer Colliau, beverage director at San Francisco's innovative bar The Interval at The Long Now.




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Simply Perfect - Vsauce3 on Comic-Con Cosplay, Doctor Who & Artists Alley | Sponsored by Patrón Tequila

Wonder what it’s like to attend Comic-Con? Jake Roper of the YouTube channel Vsauce3 offers an insider’s look at the people who bring the event to life, from the designers who create fan art on Artists Alley to the Doctor Who-obsessed cosplayers. Sponsored by Patrón Tequila




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Talking Pictures | The Many Contradictions of Gitmo

Photographer Debi Cornwall made numerous trips to Guantánamo Bay Naval Base to make startlingly banal images of detainee and military personnel life. Children's jungle gyms, tiki bars and the overstuffed chair and shackles of the "Compliant Detainee Media Room."




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Think Like a Tree - Using Live Oak Trees as a Blueprint for Surviving Hurricanes

With sturdy, spiral trunks and deep roots that intertwine with neighboring trees, a live oak is a force to be reckoned with. Find out how architects and engineers are starting to think like a tree when designing safe and resilient structures.




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Predicting Hurricanes in High Definition

In the decade since Hurricane Katrina, tools for tracking and modeling powerful storms have grown in sophistication and detail.




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The Ludicrously Fast Tesla Model S P90D | Zero to 60 at Supercar Speeds

The Tesla P90D is the fastest Tesla on the market. WIRED associate editor Alex Davies gets behind the wheel to test out "ludicrous mode" which uses both of the car's electric motors for acceleration speeds normally only experienced in supercars from the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini.




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Talking Pictures | The Icy Surf Photography of Chris Burkard

Photographer Chris Burkard doesn't make the usual images of surfers. He and his crew don thick wetsuits and head for the poles to make photos of surfers paddling out in slushy cold waters off of Norway, Iceland and Chile.




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XtraCycle EdgeRunner: The Pickup Truck of Electric Bikes

The EdgeRunner by XtraCycle is a load hauling behemoth of a bike that makes pedaling that much easier with a robust electric motor assist. WIRED senior writer David Pierce puts the bike through its paces with various cargo loads.




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Design FX - Maze Runner: Scorch Trials—Building a Post-Apocalyptic City

The second installment of “The Maze Runner” takes place in a mythical post-apocalyptic city. Find out how Weta Digital took an unusual approach to creating the vast, ruined landscape by building the entire city first, then destroying it.




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Electro Musician Robert DeLong Shows Off His Tricked-Out Rig

It's equal parts D.I.Y. and high-tech; electronic musician Robert DeLong shows us his awesome rig, which includes a mix of video game controllers, a cutlery tray from Ikea, two Mac minis, and more. See how it all comes together as he performs “Don’t Wait Up” from his new album "In the Cards," out Friday, September 18 on Glassnote Records.




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Out of Office with Brent Rose - Teched-Out Van

Brent Rose has just taken “Out of Office” to the next level. In this episode, he shows off the teched-out van he will be living in during his nascent year-long road trip across the United States. Brent gives us a fun tour of his supremely techy mobile home, including the roof-mounted solar panels, cutting edge lithium ion batteries, GPS-enabled, smartphone-connected alarm system, fingerprint-secured safe, and cutting edge stereo system.




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Eli Roth Explains “The Green Inferno”—His New Cannibalistic Horror Film

Following Cabin Fever and Hostel, The Green Inferno is the latest film in Eli Roth’s travel trilogy. The director explains what inspired his new cannibalistic horror movie, and how he achieved a realistic look and feel while shooting on set in the Amazon.




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Flying in the Folding ICON A5 Airplane

For years we've been promised flying cars and for years we've been disappointed. The ICON A5, with its folding wings, may be the closest thing yet, and it's a boat, too! WIRED writer Tim Moynihan goes for a ride in the A5 over New York City.




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How to Make Your Facebook Profile Picture Into A Looping Video

Facebook has a new feature for some users that lets them turn their profile picture into a GIF-like video. WIRED's Dellea Chew demonstrates how she made a clip of her dog Dude into her Facebook looping video.




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Data Attack - Are You the Most Average Person in America?

Do you get 8.7 hours of sleep every night? Spend a daily total of 30 minutes in the bathroom? Use Facebook for 40 minutes (and Tinder for 77 minutes) each day? If so, you just might be the most average person in the U.S.




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Guillermo del Toro Explains Why “Crimson Peak” is Not a Horror Flick

Don’t call Guillermo del Toro’s new film “Crimson Peak” a horror film. The director explains why his new movie classifies as a gothic romance, and he talks about how they built a real version of the castle that’s featured in the flick.




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Director Danny Boyle on Why “Steve Jobs” Is Not a Biopic

“Steve Jobs” is more than just a biopic. Director Danny Boyle explains the unique approach he took by shooting the movie in three different film formats to capture the life and achievements of the Apple co-founder.




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Inside the Making of the Apatosaurus from ‘Jurassic World’

In this behind-the-scenes video from the making of ‘Jurassic World,’ director Colin Trevorrow explains why he needed an animatronic dinosaur for one key scene.




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Microsoft's Surface Pro 4: A Hybrid on Its Way to Greatness

The laptop-tablet hybrid is clearly the future of Windows mobility, so it makes sense that Microsoft is trying to corner the market.




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Talking Pictures | The Longest Night

Photographer Philip Montgomery narrates a selection of images from "The Longest Night" his project documenting protests in Ferguson, Missouri and the interaction between police and communities of color.