BY KYLER GEOFFROY
A round-up of the best tech, science, and geek-related news from around the web.
5 new "record-breaking" theme park rides that will make you s**t your pants this summer. The 17-story Verrückt waterslide [pictured above] is taller than Niagara Falls and shoots raft-riders down at 65 mph. Verrückt, German for insane, seems like an apt name for the jaw-dropping plunge.
Senator Al Franken has a new petition you can sign to help "save the internet" and net neutrality.
Google launches same-day delivery service for household items and non-perishable goods in New York City and Los Angeles.
Speaking of Google, if it really only costs them $80 to make Google Glass, then its $1,500 price tag is quite the markup.
The humanitarian org Water is Life has come up with a revolutionary new way to combat the 3.4 million worldwide deaths due to waterborne illness each year – The Drinkable Book. Basically, it's an educational manual for safe water habits that's also printed on technologically advanced filter paper designed to kill diseases like cholera, typhoid and E. coli. The paper costs only pennies to produce and each book is capable of providing someone with clean water for up to four years.
Retro gamers who grew up with the Nintendo Entertainment System can now preorder the gorgeous Analogue Nt machine to play old NES games on your hi-def television.
Virtual reality company Oculus VR wants to build a billion person massive multiplayer online (MMO) experience with its new owner Facebook.
Roku’s new Streaming Stick gives you access to your HBO, Hulu, and Netflix content on the go.
Cosmos takes a look at the terrifying and enormous insects of the past.
What should consumers expect from 3D printing in the near future? “Beyond the hype, [current] consumer 3D printers can’t make anything your heart desires—they mostly make junk, and there are only so many synthetic orange dinosaurs in top hats one person can collect. While this argument is true, after a fashion, the field is continuously improving. And not so long ago, affordable consumer 3D printers didn’t exist at all. The selection of desktop machines is growing. Desktop printers are increasingly available for around $1,000 or less. And setup is easier. Whether the printer connects by WiFi or USB, more printers are nearing plug-and-play."
Your cell phone can now alert you if you're near a store that sells items or products you've searched for online. So excuse me while I go delete my browser history…
And lets face it, your cell phone's screen is probably a dirtier surface than even your toilet seat. Just think about all the random door knobs and body parts you touch in-between your Candy Crush play sessions. Luckily, the folks over at Phonesoap have developed a combination sanitizer and charger that uses ultraviolet rays to zap all manner of gross bacteria. It's like a mini tanning bed for your phone!
Scientists can now reprogram skin cells into sperm cells. The tricky question, however, remains whether or not they should.
