Best of the Week: February 4-February 10, 2012

It's been a while since we've had a good schlocky direct-to-video (or direct to Syfy) feature like Sharktopus — so this new trailer for 2 Headed Shark Attack is quite possibly cause for rejoicing.

Javier Grillo-Marxuach originally created The Middleman as a comic book before turning into a beloved television series — so when he launches another new comic, it's best to jump in on the ground floor. More »

People always accuse The Vampire Diaries of being a Twilight clone — and if you only saw the first few episodes, there might be some justice to that accusation. More »

A while back, comedian/erstwhile Four Loko taste-tester John Hodgman saw a photo of actor Maurice Evans in full Dr. Zaius make-up on the set of The Planet of The Apes reading a biography of Mark Twain. More »

Life isn't easy if you're a genetic experiment. Or an expendable minion, a powerful being wedged into an itty-bitty living space, or a recently downgraded scientific entity. More »

It's rare to get any good news associated with reports of Alzheimer's disease, but neuroscientists have just released word that one drug is dramatically reducing symptoms. More »

The horrors of the nuclear age, in terms of exploding reactors and nuclear bombs, are well known. Behind the well-publicized threat of mass death lies a secret history of nuclear projects being used to destroy individuals. More »

The Eleusinian Mysteries are a set of traditions that have been practiced for 2000 years. The popular pseudo-religion invited all, accepting slaves, women, and men, regardless of financial standing and background. More »

This month is like exhibit A for Hollywood's propensity to churn out sequels that nobody asked for. You've got Journey 2, opening today. And then next week, there's Ghost Rider 2, in which Nic Cage tries to "improve" upon the first flaming-skull motorcycle movie. But it gets worse. More »

Brachiosaurus is estimated to have weighed close to thirty metric tons. Put two of these behemoths together, and you're dealing with upwards of 125,000 pounds of dinosaur. More »

At the beginning of the 20th Century, the US decides to turn the tables on Mother England and turn its former motherland into a conquered territory. The American conquerors quickly get to work, importing architects and sculptors who make the city of London look just like New York. In the February... More »

Everyone, this is Jaimie Mantzel, and he is about to blow your mind. We think the video pretty much speaks for itself, so just kick back and enjoy. What it doesn't provide, however, is some insight into the man behind this wonderful piece of spider-mech magic. More »

Say you were a regular Fringe watcher at some point during the past, but you've dropped off in the past year in the face of one contrived plot twist too many. More »

One of the big selling points of the Speedo Fastskin FSII was that it was developed using biomimetics, cribbing good design from nature. So how well does it compare to the actual sharks on which it was modelled? More »

Remember when the Church got all up in Galileo's grill for challenging the geocentric interpretation of the Universe? Seeing this almost makes you wonder if the Universe is still a little sore about that. Then again, maybe it's just a coincidence. More »

It's Friday, which means it's time to embark on the greatest adventure of them all — the weekend. But before you leave for your vessel of exploration, let's celebrate by putting some inspiring scenes of space adventure on your computer desktop. We've scoured the web for the coolest spaceship... More »

Really, one of the key issues with sushi is that it doesn't glow under black light. To solve that problem, the Center for Genomic Gastronomy is using genetically modified fishies from the pet store to create tasty treats that will be perfect for your next rave. The Center for Genomic Gastronomy... More »

Speaking of completely improbable comic book crossovers, here's something completely different. This May, IDW Publishing will release an Eleventh Doctor/The Next Generation mash-up comic book starring The Doctor, Rory, Amy, Picard, Worf, Data, Geordi, Troi, and Riker. More »

In science fiction, everybody's always running and flying and questing, and time is always running out. So that makes those occasions when our space heroes and future warriors take the time to kick back and relax in a bar that much more alluring. More »

Once hipsters start collecting social security, how will all those ironic t-shirts and QR code tattoos hold up? Will the future elderly tell their grandchildren about their nebulous community manager jobs and funny cat videos? More »

Evidence suggests that driving high may be less dangerous than driving drunk, but driving stoned is still driving impaired — and assuming otherwise could get you killed. A new paper, published in this week's British Medical Journal, revealed that smoking pot within few hours of driving was... More »

Fukushima may still be reeling from last year's nuclear disaster, but a global interest in nuclear power looks to be on the up and up — even here in the U.S. Yesterday, for the first time in over 30 years, the U.S. More »

The effectiveness of zinc as a treatment for colds is hotly debated, but it appears the element might have a major role in saving lives — with a completely different disease. More »

The science of dendrochronology observes changes in the pattern of tree rings in an attempt to create a time line and infer climate changes. Using tree ring data, it is possible to link the past 11,000 years in parts of Germany & Northern Ireland, but only the past few centuries in other parts of... More »

George Lucas has already sworn to stop making big-budget movies in response to fans' criticisms, but he still has an axe to grind. In particular, about the common complaints about his endless revisions of the original trilogy. More »

Director Andrew Stanton and the whole cast takes you inside the world of John Carter. Morgan Freeman joins Tom Cruise's post-apocalyptic epic. Genre star Amy Acker discusses her Grimm guest spot. More »

What would happen if everybody found out that we all only had a few weeks left to live? Director Lorene Scafaria's apocalyptic romantic comedy Seeking a Friend for the End of the World starring Keira Knightley and Steve Carell captures the fall of society after it's announced that an asteroid is... More »

If you really want to keep up with what's happening in the world of science fiction writing and publishing, you need to read Locus Magazine — it's an essential resource for anyone who cares about the state of the field.

Explanations for why zebras are stripey run a wide gamut: some say camouflage, or that it makes it hard to target individual members of the herd, or even that it's a cooling method. More »

We've often wondered what you would call a remake of Space: 1999, the 1970s series about a Moonbase on the loose, and now we know. The show is being remade by a team that includes the same studio that brought you the V remake, and they're calling it Space: More »

In what can only be described as the most shocking revelation since I learned that tumors can grow teeth, it turns out your pancreas has taste receptors. More »

Are you more creative when you're drunk? It's one of those soundbites that you're liable to hear a friend spout off somewhere between their fourth and fifth beer — More »

The invention of the toilet accomplished many good things, but it did rob us of the chance at immortality - through our poop. Ancient humans have revealed some of their greatest secrets through paleofeces, the study of the waste they left behind. More »

Suit up in your very own red, white and blue Captain America motorcycle suit, and no one will miss you while you scream down the highway. UD Replicas has made official Iron Man, Batman and Stormtrooper motorcycle suits — More »

The io9 Book Club meets every month to discuss a book, and then the author usually joins us for a chat. In February, we're meeting on the 21st to discuss Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus. More »

Brimstone Angels by Erin M. Evans is not your typical fantasy novel. There's jealousy, unbidden powers, forbidden lust — and not a magic Macguffin in sight. More »

Over 2000 nuclear tests took place between 1945 and the signing of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1996, with the United States and Soviet Union combining for over 1700 explosions. More »

Imagine that you're coral at the bottom of the sea — a thrilling fantasy, we know. You're minding your own coral business when suddenly some obnoxious scuba diver ungraciously dumps sediment on you. More »