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The Spanish ribbed newt has an unusual method of protecting itself: when presented with an attacker, the newt can pierce its own skin with its rib bones, allowing it to stab a predator and deliver a dose of deadly poison. More »
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For the first time ever, two animated science fiction movies will open the same day, this Friday. Of course, Star Wars: Clone Wars will smush the flies-in-space epic Fly Me To The Moon like... well, like a bug. But this animated traffic jam is still significant, because of what it signals: the rise of animated science fiction from a minor subgenre to a full-blown genre in its own right, complete with a range of competing styles. More »
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All sidekicks must have certain key lovable qualities, or else they lose that sparkle that makes them so endearing. But sometimes the cute-overload factor goes too far and a gag reflex kicks in, making people want to destroy that character. Compiled after the jump is a list of the most adorable sidekicks in science fiction TV and movies, some good, some too cute for their own good. More »
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What is it with Pixar and its cutsey-poo apocalypse movies? In a big announcement yesterday about upcoming Pixar offerings, the studio discussed Newt, the wacky little "mad about you" tale of how the last two blue-footed newts on the planet don't get along — but will have to breed to reboot their species. The two are brought together by scientists hoping to save the nearly-extinct newts, and lovable goofiness ensues. More »
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