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One of the worst examples of unrealistic science in movies is the overly simple alien planet. Oftentimes, our heroes will visit the desert planet, or the Irish planet. But the best extraterrestrial worlds in science fiction are the ones with variety and a realistic ecosystem. They have cities as well as countryside, and a range of environments. Here's our guide to the most realistic — and interesting — planets in science fiction. More »
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How exactly do Superman's kryptonian powers work? I mean, how do you account for the super-speed, the way he gets his abilities from the yellow sun, his super-breath, and even how he shaves in the morning? Now you can have the answers to these crucial questions and more at your fingertips. Philipp Lenssen gives you a quick lesson in stick figures (via Sketchcast) on how all these powers work, in a very no-nonsense fashion. Sit your non-Superman converts down and see if they come away enlightened, confused, or wanting those few minutes of their life back. Check it out. More »
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It's sunset on Krypton. The towers of Krypton grew organically, like crystals, but then humans carved and polished them afterwards. That's the theory that concept artist Jason Dunn brought to a Krypton flashback in a recent episode of Smallville. This mix of the organic and the hand-crafted informed Dunn's sketches and matte painting for the episode. More »
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