Man Attempting To Trade Derelict USSR Space Shuttle For Human Skull

Plus, Chatroulette's founder has spent 12 years trying to solve the, uh, "eggplant" problem.

The Futurist uncovers unique and inspiring topics that feed your curiosity. Curated articles on technology, science, and culture delivered to your inbox. Not for you? Unsubscribe anytime below. /health CAN MIGRAINES BE UNTANGLED BY NEW MEDICAL THINKING? "It doesn't matter how severe someone says a headache is — from a broad societal perspective, the thing that really counts is what the headache stops them doing. It's the disability side of things, because people with migraine are in a very productive demographic. I remind my colleagues and any funders who care to listen, that migraine is a disorder of taxpayers." It's an argument that works. "Migraine is finally having its time." The Guardian /tech REVENGE OF THE ANNOYED Telemarketer messages, spam texts, spoof calls, and other scams are highly annoying — and highly difficult to banish. Just got the baby to sleep? Here comes a call about your car's extended warranty! Wrapping up an important project for your boss? Time for a pre-recorded message insisting your social security number has been stolen! Wanna get revenge and make them go away? There's a pretty slick solution. New York Post /vice CHATROULETTE'S FOUNDER HAS SPENT 12 YEARS TRYING TO SOLVE 'THE PENIS PROBLEM' When Ternovskiy launched the site in late 2009, he was 17. The site was an overnight viral sensation, with more than a million users per day at its peak. Much of the media attention it garnered (and it was covered everywhere, from NPR to Tosh.0) focused on the reputation it had gained as a place to flash meat to unsuspecting strangers, from the comfort of your bedroom. In 2010, a now-defunct analytics firm determined through some undisclosed method of nude numbers-crunching that the "overall pervert rate in Chatroulette is 13 percent," meaning about one in every eight sessions contained something explicit. Vice /lifehack EASY, AFFORDABLE RENTERS INSURANCE Getting renters insurance may sound complicated, but Lemonade makes it a sweet deal. Sign up online and get AI-powered coverage instantly for as little as $5 a month. Easy, right? Every experience with Lemonade is seamless. Reviewers are in awe of their fast payments, with claims coming in at lightning speed for things like stolen bikes. They also take care of the community; the company will donate unused premium dollars to the cause of your choice. [Partner] /interior @saraparsons /story MAN ATTEMPTING TO TRADE DERELICT USSR SPACE SHUTTLE FOR HUMAN SKULL In 1988, the Soviet Union's first Buran-class space shuttle — its equivalent of NASA's Space Shuttle — made its maiden voyage, circling the Earth twice with no crew on board. Five years later, the shuttle program was canceled and the spacecraft never took to the skies ever again, destined to live out the rest of its life in a hangar near the Baikonur cosmodrone in Kazakhstan. But in 2002, the hangar's roof collapsed, destroying the once-mighty prototype. And now things are getting even stranger, with Russia's now feuding with a Kazakh businessman named Dauren Musa, who claims he owns the Burya shuttle, Ars Technica reports — and, in a bizarre twist, he says he'll give it up in exchange for a specific human skull. Futurism /gear HIT THE TRAILS WITH THE RIGHT GEAR Hiking can be a lot of fun, but if you're heading out with sub-par gear, you'll find yourself uncomfortable at best and injured at worst. Don't be the citidiot on the rock scramble in Chucks or struggling out of non-breathable layers when you should be enjoying the view. Check out Merrell for everything you need for your next out-and-back. Merrell /explore WHY THE BEST ALIENS ARE JUST A LITTLE BIT HUMAN On the astrobiology front, there's this Neil deGrasse Tyson tweet that calls out Hollywood for having aliens that aren't different enough from species here on Earth. I feel like, by definition, if we can't imagine it, we can't imagine it. But in movies like Arrival, it can be a truly alien species, but humans comprehend it through a lens we're familiar with — a reptile or a cephalopod or a crustacean. We see that in the world, too. We constantly try to relate to people who aren't like us through the terms and customs we're used to, which sometimes causes offense and sometimes builds bridges. So how does one define something that is truly "alien"? Vox /posted @ricard0_ram0s /bites OK, MacGyver, it's time to ditch the duct tape DIY and skill up with one of the heaviest, most aggressive rubberized tapes available Not getting enough sleep? Try Drops+ Sleep. This doctor-formulated supplement combines CBD, CBN, and synergistic terpenes that induce a great night's rest Less daylight equals more darkness equals it's harder for drivers to see your bike on the road. Stay lit THE FUTURIST Advertise |  Talk to Us  |  Shop |  Unsubscribe |  Our Friends @ The Fanny Pack Powered by StackCommerce 21 Market Street | Venice, CA 90291