Remember how the Internet finally “killed” SOPA and PIPA? Remember how people said they might come back? Well, they haven’t but they have a cousin called ACTA that’s stirring up similar trouble of a global kind. I know we all want to rest on our laurels for a while, but until digital media is well understood and accepted by rights holders (read: A long time from now) there are no victories. That’s why it’s time to buckle down and take on the next guy: The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement or ACTA. ACTA just got Signed by 22 member nations of the EU. The United States signed it months ago. It’s a very different beast than SOPA or PIPA. Hold on to your hats, this is a rough one.

Twitter has gained something of a reputation as being a tool for social change, after its prominence in the disputed Iranian elections in 2009, the Arab Spring of 2011, and as a growing piece of the political discussion in this country. Key to this has been Twitter’s universality; a Tweet from Tehran or Cairo can appear to anyone around the world. Now, Twitter has announced new changes that will allow them to hide tweets in countries with differing interpretations of “freedom of expression.” Yeah, that pretty much sounds like censorship.

How many of us have lain awake at night, wondering what a mouse embryo looks like during the early stages of its three week gestation? Well, you can find all your answers here thanks to an ongoing series from Cambridge University called “Under the Microscope.” The most recent video shows seven days of mouse embryo growth, taking it from something that resembles a newt to something that almost resembles a mouse. More than just being interesting, researcher Erica Watson explains that because mice us similar genes during fetal development, there’s a lot humans can learn from their rodent companions. Piqued your interest? See the video after the break.

Etsy seller Barry Shields has constructed this tasteful Star Trek Enterprise coffee table and put it up for sale, for the low (high) price of $3,100. The table, constructed in the likeness of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-C, is made from ash, poplar, and cherry wood, and took Shields one month to build. The glass that makes the tabletop was cut to make it look as if the ship is in motion, and the base of table is made to look as if the ship is in orbit over a planet. The table has a poly finish coat for protection, and the glass dimensions measure in at 34″ x 54″ x 17″ tall. The table hasn’t sold yet, so get to buying if you’re interested, and head on past the break to check out some more pictures taken at different angles.

This is one of those stories that starts big, and then makes you go, “oh.” Here’s the big part: Sacramento, CA resident and FrontierVille player Cathy Matthews has acquired some one million comments on a single Facebook post. That’s quite a feat, but here’s the part that wrinkles the whole thing: Most of the comments were two-letter words. “Go” seems to have been a popular one.

Q-Games, makers of the PixelJunk games, has revealed today that PixelJunk Eden will be breaking out of its PSN exclusivity and hitting Steam. Though PixelJunk Eden has been released since 2008, the game remains absolutely excellent, and the Steam version will include its Encore DLC pack, which adds new levels, and the whole package will only cost $9.99, which after having played through both Eden and Encore, I personally consider a steal.

Over the past few days, you may have seen the above picture of Earth floating around the ol’ Internet, dubbed the largest picture of Earth ever taken. While the picture is absolutely gorgeous, it’s not actually the largest picture of Earth ever taken. Norman Kuring, the NASA oceanographer who made the picture, says though the picture is indeed large, it’s by no means the biggest, and on top of that, is actually a composite of a bunch of different segments.

Now back when I learned how to beatbox –poorly– it was “boots and skirts” but I suppose cats are fine, and I must admit I’m a fan of the catbee. This video, with music by Robert Clouth and animation by Henry Edmonds, is one of the coolest visualizations of beatboxing I’ve seen in a while, and believe you me, I’ve seen a few. Give it a look. I’ve got to go out and pick up a new pair of leather knee-high cats.

Everyone’s favorite PC game distribution platform Origin Steam is rolling out a mobile app. Get ready to spend 200% more on Steam sales. The new app, for both iOS and Android will allow users to chat with friends, check and update their friends list, and most importantly, buy games. Gone are the days of rushing to your computer to buy Steam games before the sweet deals expire. Also gone are they days of you having any money.

Netflix won’t be getting in on video game rentals anytime soon, it turns out (TDW: Geeks)

Could a balloon fly in outer space? (Scientific American)

Apple is successfully infiltrating the office (Infinite Loop)

Underwater Bahama caves could give clues to life beyond Earth (Science Daily)

Dubstep Cat couldn’t have happened without the Internet (BuzzFeed)

6 hugely successful products invented for something else (Mental Floss)

Apple employees get $500 off Macs, $250 off iPads (9to5Mac)

(title pic via reddit)