To Find Life on Other Planets, Scientists Will Look For… Hairspray?

We've never been closer to finding life on other planets. It shouldn't come as a surprise, but it's an important fact to keep in mind when you think about what you're about to read. In trying to figure out how the human race might be able terraform and live on other planets, scientists have discovered what may be the best way to detect whether intelligent alien species have been there before us. While it's a technically advanced process and nothing scoff at, in the end scientists have decided that, from now on, they will make a concerted effort to look for signs of spray deodorant and hairspray on previously undiscovered worlds.

Rocket-Powered Prosthetics Will Allow Us to Compete With Our Robot Masters

The world of prosthetics is reaching critical turning point. Though the goal in the field has always been to replicate and replace human limbs as accurately as possible, we're now able to see a future where mechanical enhancements may make people stronger and faster than when they were whole. There's no reason why prosthetic-wearers shouldn't be allowed to live as discrete super-human cyborgs, though. Researchers at the University of Alabama are trying to make their new rocket-powered ankle more discrete than those controversial prosthetic blades from a few years back.

The New Grand Theft Auto V Trailer Doesn’t Look as Good in Grand Theft Auto IV

Whether you're a fan of the series or not, Rockstar Games' second trailer for Grand Theft Auto V looks really slick. It's well composed, and shows that, if nothing else, the game is going to look beautiful. If you're interested, one industrious GTA fan has removed some of the trailer's smooth veneer by recreating it in Grand Theft Auto IV.

Geekolinks (11/18)

1. Take a Quiz: Are you a good texter? (Buzzfeed)
2. The Biblio-Mat is vending machine for used books (Quill & Quire)
3. It isn't easy to watch Netflix on linux, but it can be done! (Engadget)
4. 25 little-known facts about Nintendo (GamesRadar)
5. This robot can 250 pages-per-minute (Gizmodo)
6. Einstein's Brain was literally extraordinary (Scientific American)
7. Jeremy Renner played Hawkeye again on SNL last night... (The Mary Sue)

(Title pic via Reddit)

Robocop’s New Suit Doesn’t Look Like Batman Anymore

A couple of months ago, we were shocked and disturbed when images leaked from the set of the upcoming Robocop remake revealed that the cyborg hero's iconic look had been replaced by a black-plated suit strongly resembling Batman's costume in the Christopher Nolan trilogy. We're now happy to find that new concept art has surfaced, indicating that Robocop will, somewhere down the line, get some silver armor that looks more like the original than a generic "super-suit."

Marijuana Vending Machine Maker’s Stock Skyrockets and Everybody Freaks Out

Based on this month's election, the idea legalizing marijuana seems more popular than ever. Two states, Washington and Colorado, have legalized pot at the state level. With the legal marijuana market looking stronger than ever, there are companies out there looking to build around big-marijuana when commodity reaches critical mass. For now, most of those companies are waiting in the wings, but not medical supply distribution producer MedBox, which has been thrust into the spotlight. The company, which makes vending machines for hospitals, pharmacies, and “alternative medicine clinics,” has seen their stock price rise by 3,000 percent since the 2012 election. You'd think MedBox' executives would be ecstatic, but in reality, the company is terrified of what will happen now that they've suddenly become so popular on Wall Street.

The Newest Version of Android Dislikes The Holidays, Doesn’t Include December

The end of the year can a be a very lonely time for a smartphone. When the holidays roll around, people tend to get together with their families and speak to each other in person, so the phones just sit there in their owners' pockets or on a table somewhere. Well, after years of abuse, Android-based phones have decided they aren't going to take it anymore. As a sign of protest, (or because of unforeseen bug) Android Jelly Bean 4.2 skips the month of December, 2012 in certain apps.

Wii U Launch Day Resource Round-Up

A new era of video game consoles kicked off at midnight with the launch of the Nintendo's dual-screen wielding platform, the Wii U. Whether you've already run to the store and picked one up, or still aren't sure whether you see a new Nintendo console in your future, you probably have a lot of questions about it: "What exactly can this thing do?" "What games should I buy?" "Do I really need to download that day-one patch?"

Geekolinks (10/17)

1. 8 frustratingly bad tie-in video games ever (io9)
2. The 100 most depressing death scenes (Movie Miscellany)
3. Windows 8 isn't easy to use when you're drunk (Mashable)
4. Upcoming Mass Effect 3 DLC won't be coming to Wii U (Polygon)
5. How To: Make a Twinkie (and other Hostess desserts) (Instructables)
6. Apple own the rights to "turning the page" on tablets and e-readers (Gizmodo)
7. Famous literary Feuds that Fizzled (Flavorwire)

(title pic via Klat)