Geek Out

Sword Belonging To Infamous Pirate Blackbeard Discovered In Shipwreck

The odd mess in this photo is a copper-alloy sword guard discovered in a shipwreck which is believed to be Queen Anne’s Revenge. Yes, that was the name of Pirate Blackbeard’s ship—and yes, this could be his sword.


December 31, 2010
Entertainment

Open A Champagne Bottle With A Saber

There are multiple ways to pop New Year’s champagne: the Super Bowl air-spray, the casual Diddy pour-on-the-floor, or, if you’re feeling awesomely Napoleonical, you can slice the damn thing open with a sword (or good kitchen knife). Here’s how.


September 21, 2010
Science

Terry Pratchett’s Meteorite Sword The Closest We Get To Excaliber

Terry Pratchett may write a mean fantasy novel, but he also forges one heckuva sword. In honour of being knighted last year, Sir Pratchett dug up 80kg of iron ore, sprinkled in some meteorites and made himself a proper weapon.


September 17, 2010

I’d Like My Ring Samurai Style

Despite a lifelong fascination with the pinkie ring and a brief flirtation with a Livestrong bracelet, I’ve never actually worn jewellery. I might have to revise that stance, though, for this ring forged by samurai swordmaking technique.


September 2, 2010
Science

Rock-Slicing, Nanotech Super Steel Forgotten 250 Years Ago

If you were on a battlefield, say, 700 years ago, Damascus steel mattered. The super-strong blades were fabled in their age, said to have sliced through the swords of foes and solid rock. Then we forgot how to make it.


August 18, 2010
Geek Out

SWAT Team Called Over Umbrella With Samurai Sword Handle

ThinkGeek is now joking that its Samurai Sword Handle Umbrella should come with a warning label: “May incite SWAT teams.” The reason? Panic on a Georgia university campus.


May 7, 2010

Swords: The Original Gadgets

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You might think you can’t live without your phone and laptop, but back when men were men and things made sense, a big fucking sword was all you needed. These days, however, swords are strictly for weirdos.


November 14, 2009

Robot Practices Tai Chi And Swordplay In Preparation To Kill Us

The first HUBO robot innocently rode a Segway. The HUBO 2 looks like he’s ready to turn into a killer ninja-bot as he practices tai chi, hones his swordsmanship has a drink when he’s finished.


September 16, 2009
Geek Out

Student Kills Intruder With Samurai Sword After Laptops Stolen

Holy crap. Detectives are still interviewing a John Hopkins University student who fatally lacerated the upper body of a man breaking into his off-campus residence overnight. The suspect also suffered a nearly-severed hand, and was pronounced dead at the scene.


April 23, 2009

Can the iPod Shuffle Be Swallowed?

Someone asked that question when the tiny shuffle came out, so we tried it. Well, we didn’t, but we found someone who did: The very sweet sword-swallower Heather Holiday, from the Coney Island Circus.