Over and over, you ask yourself the same question:

"What are Bitcoins? Do they bite?"

Well, no, they don't. We can tell you that much from experience. The digital peer-to-peer currency was invented in 2009 and has only recently surged into the broad public consciousness. Though it holds no true inherent value, the decentralized cryptocurrency can easily be compared to traditional mining.

Redditor Artesian elaborated on this extended metaphor, which runs as deep as the Bitcoin mine itself — just imagine CPUs are pickaxes and GPUs are jackhammers Read more...

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NASA has posted an image of its new solar-electric propulsion thruster, which uses xenon ions for propulsion

The engine in the photo, blue with the glow of xenon gas, is being considered to become a part of NASA's Asteroid Retrieval Initiative, a proposed program to robotically capture a small near-Earth asteroid and redirect it to a stable orbit around Earth. Such an asteroid could then be visited and explored by astronauts

Often mentioned in science fiction novels, ion propulsion is one of the most efficient known ways to travel through space. "The ion propulsion system's efficient use of fuel and electrical power enable modern spacecraft to travel farther, faster, and cheaper than any other propulsion technology currently available," claims NASA Read more...

More about Nasa, Tech, Gadgets, Ion Propulsion, and Solar Electric Propulsion

Whether you're an Android newbie or a longtime user looking to boost your experience without breaking the bank, one thing is certain: You're going to need some apps. Not sure where to start? Mashable has you covered.

These are the essentials for your phone or tablet. You'll find apps to read, write, watch and stay connected. Apps to save time and to waste time. We've collected the unmissable, the obscure and the exciting, so you can get the most from your device — without spending a penny

Do you know an Android app that belongs on this list? Tell us about it in the comments. Read more...

More about Mobile, Apps, Android, Features, and Mobile Apps

This Saturday, Bayern Munchen won the Champions League final game against Borussia Dortmund 2:1, securing the team's fifth title in Europe's most prestigious football cup

The game was intense, with Arjen Robben scoring for his team in the 89th minute for the victory. Now, you have a chance to watch the shortened version of the match, recreated with Lego bricks, courtesy of The Guardian

The 3:14-minute long video has all the highlights from the game, including the three goals and the celebrations that followed the game

How do you like the video? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Image courtesy of The Guardian Read more...

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Are you in need of turn-by-turn navigation for your cycling adventures in Europe? Cyclists rejoice, as Google Maps has just added bike directions to six new European countries: Germany, France, Poland, Ireland, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein.

Just like in other countries where biking navigation is enabled, users can now get a route that uses bike paths and avoids busy streets. They can also get voice turn-by-turn navigation to guide them on their way

For those who are more adventurous, Google has added some classic cycling routes to Maps, such as Tour de France. Users can also use the biking-directions legend — activated from the menu on the top-right of the Maps screen — to find nearby cycling trails. Read more...

More about Google Maps, Cycling, Tech, Apps Software, and Bike Navigation

For the past few weeks, Warner Bros. has been releasing trailers to promote its Superman flick, Man of Steel. One, entitled "Ideal of Hope," just received the Minecraft treatment — everything from the explosive action scenes to Superman himself were painstakingly recreated using blocks from the sandbox construction game

Created by media-creation studio Steelehouse Productions, the video — dubbed "Mine of Steel" — was posted to YouTube on Monday. It has since received more than 74,000 views.

Compare the Minecraft trailer with the original, below: Read more...

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We're not sure who those naysayers are, but if somehow there remains anyone on the planet who denies the absolute awesomeness of animals, this video will set them straight

Created by YouTuber Humansare2011, — known for the Humans Are Awesome viral videos — this video highlights the beautiful and splendid creatures of the animal kingdom. From parading elephants to runaway camels, water-skiing dogs to walruses that do sit-ups, these animals have got it going on

It's a miracle animals haven't overtaken the human population and started to run the planet for themselves. Clearly, they are just way too nice to us, the lowly species Read more...

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In real-life, your friends are great — they're normal, fun-loving people — until, that is, they log online. After that, your friends become social-media monsters, sharing too-personal status updates and humble-bragging all over the interwebz.

Sound familiar? It's a disconnect that YouTube user blimeycow describes in his latest video, "I like you in real life (but not on the Internet)." Some annoying online-exclusive behaviors include: compulsive selfie-taking, Internet-whining and song-lyric posting

Have your friends ever bugged you with their online personas? Give us examples in the comments, below. Read more...

More about Real Life, Watercooler, Videos, and Conversations

It all began in June of 2010 when a photographer spotted Keanu Reeves eating a sandwich on a New York park bench. In one shot, Reeves looks dejected for reasons unknown. The image was metastatic: he was isolated from the original and pasted into new scenes all over the webSad Keanu was born, and then reborn, as a life-like 3D rendering.

But that was all in the computer. Now he'd been printed. This was the real world. What had the the flip-flop done to him?

Light did not reflect off Sad Keanu the way it was supposed to. It was as if the photons knew he did not belong here.

I remembered reading The Indian in the Cupboard, and hoped Sad Keanu would come to life. Maybe he would be voiced by a former comedy star — Pauley Shore perhaps, tuned to that Serious-Robin-Williams pitch. I imagined what Sad Keanu might want. A sandwich, I decided. And we rode to the store. Read more...

More about Pics, Internet Memes, Sad Keanu, 3d Printing, and Tech

NASA's Curiosity rover, the 1-ton mobile laboratory that's been tooling around Mars since August 2012, has sent tens of thousands of images of the remote planet back to Earth. Now, thanks to one YouTube user, you can see nine months' worth of those photos in just over a minute.

In what he claims is his first attempt at the time-lapse process, Karl Sanford has compiled raw images from Curiosity's mission, creating a stunning visual chronicle of the rover's movements on Mars. He even posted the code he used to create the video on GitHub.

To assemble the time lapse, Sanford used images taken by Curiosity's Front Hazard Avoidance Cameras, or Front Hazcams, which were snapped from Sol 0 to Sol 281. (Sol is the term used to refer to a Martian day.) The resulting video covers some nine Earth-months of the rover's data-gathering mission on Mars Read more...

More about Space, Nasa, Science, Mars, and Curiosity

Gawker successfully raised $200,000 on Monday to bankroll the purchase of an iPhone video that allegedly shows Toronto mayor Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine. But with an AWOL seller, the media company is losing faith in completing the transaction

At the time of writing, the Indiegogo campaign — dubbed "Crackstarter" — has raised just over $200,000 — the king's ransom demanded by drug dealers who say they smoked crack with Ford. But with the sellers MIA, just if and when we see the footage is very much in question.

Gawker editor-in-chief John Cook, who says he's seen the tape, describes the video as follows: Read more...

More about Indiegogo, Crowdsourcing, Canada, Crowdfunding, and Gawker

When it comes to comedy, the fewer bells and whistles, the betterOccam's razor, and all that.

YouTube user perkyballs has clearly taken the axiom of the effortless to heart, uploading a 10-second video that's genius in its simplicity, hilarious in its execution. And — bonus — it stars an adorably nonchalant cat. On wheels.

As the video description elegantly states, "Cat Boarding cat is boarding down the hall. No glitch in the matrix." It's just that simple.

What say you, Internet? Could this be the meme you're looking for?

Ladies and gentlemen: Watch the cat-boarding video. Then start your cats. Read more...

More about Viral Videos, Cats, Memes, Watercooler, and Videos

The Internet has a new way to bum you out

Behold, Screenshots of Despair, a Tumblr dedicated to sharing the web's most depressing screengrabs. That's right — you no longer need to peruse your Facebook friend's beach-vacation photos or log in to your bank account to experience a moment of glum.

Or maybe, you'll find the bright side, and just be thankful these screenshots weren't taken from your computer.

Image via iStockphoto, antonbrand Read more...

More about Tumblr, Humor, Watercooler, and Pics

You're either a huge fan of Google Glass or you think it's ridiculous. Either way, Google's pair of augmented reality glasses remains the most talked-about gadget in the tech world, and it's getting bigger.

But can new apps for your favorite social networks — and the mere concept of wearable tech — really change the fact that Google Glass makes you look, er, a little dorky?

Like cellphone charms and bunny-eared cases, here are some accessories that would make Google Glass look even worse. Let's hope it doesn't come to this.

1. Deely Boppers

Mashable composite; image via iStockphoto, mariana579 Read more...

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Memorial Day may mean three-day weekends and the start of summer to some but, at it's heart, the holiday is in remembrance of the fallen men and women who have served the United States in its military

People across the country paid tribute on Monday to U.S. soldiers by visiting graves, war memorials and holding patriotic parades

Here are 12 images that show the spirit of Memorial Day, honoring those who have died while serving their country Read more...

Civil War reenactor David Hillier salutes the grave site of a soldier killed during the Korean War, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.

More about Pics, Memorial Day, Us World, and Us

There's a new drone on the market that can fly higher and faster than bad weather. The Aeryon SkyRanger is a rugged, four-rotor copter that can sustain extreme weather conditions, making it a big innovation in drone technology.

The SkyRanger can tolerate temperatures from 22 below zero to 122 degrees Fahrenheit, and can maneuver with wind gusts up to 55 miles per hour. The drone's cameras also operate in HD and have infrared filters to work in low-light settings

The SkyRanger was also designed to be used with minimal training, so anyone could potentially have a shot at flying one of these around Read more...

More about Tech, Gadgets, Newsy, and Drones

Ukrainian tennis player Sergiy Stakhovsky stopped play at the French Open on Monday to use his iPhone to snap a photo of a disputed line call.

The bizarre interruption happened during 101st-ranked Stakhovsky's first-round loss to Richard Gasquet of France. The call in question happened in the first set and when Stakhovsky's argument with the chair umpire failed, he put down his racket and took on the role of amateur sports photographer.

Stakhovsky grabbed his iPhone and leaned down close to the red clay to capture a close-up shot of a mark near the line

The tennis pro later tweeted the image he took with his smartphone. Read more...

More about Iphone, Tennis, Entertainment, World, and Sports

Ten years ago today, the first public release of WordPress became available. Initially started as a fork of the little-known blogging platform b2/Cafelog, WordPress has grown to be the largest CMS in the world, powering an astounding 18% of the web.

Nearly 70 million websites run WordPress and it's hard to understate the impact that the software has had on the world of digital publishing. Hundreds of high-profile websites, including blogs from CNN, The New York Times and Reuters, all use WordPressMashable isn't a pure WordPress site anymore, but we do use it as a place to enter content. Since 2004, I personally have published millions of words using WordPress, most of those on Mashable. Read more...

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The weather isn't the only thing heating up for singlesSummer means hot weather and hot romances.

Finding a summer fling to keep you occupied between barbecues and trips to the beach can be a self esteem-bruising endeavor. The endless winking and hair tossing is exhausting — and let's not even mention the whole "trying to execute this cuteness in 95% humidity." Ick.

Even if you can't find a warm-weather squeeze, take comfort in knowing there are a few furry creatures who think you're quite cute. Just keep things in the friendzone, mmkay?

1. Wanna come over and chomp some leaves later?

Image courtesy of Imgur, c00kiemonsta Read more...

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NBC is going to war to crown a new king of late night — one comedian to rule over the Iron Desk

In Jimmy Fallon's chuckle-worthy parody of Game of Thrones, House Fallon is pitted against House Fire Crotch to rule over the Rockefeller Kingdom. Things get messy when a certain blonde lady from across the Hudson brings her peacocks to battle

Who will be the true heir in "Game of Desks"? You really won't believe it. (Here's a hint: He's a bastard child from Saturday Night Live.)

Read more...

More about Viral Videos, Jimmy Fallon, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, Tv, and Game Of Thrones

Dear Bob & Doug:

I am the CEO of a major quick-service chain that serves food and food-like substances to billions worldwide. At our annual meeting last week, I called on a nine-year-old girl, who ambushed me with a screed about our marketing practices. “Something I didn’t think is fair is when big companies try to trick kids into eating food that isn’t good for them by using toys and cartoon characters … Don’t you want kids to be healthy so they can live a long and happy life?”

I was very kind and patient with the little brat. I patiently explained to her that “We don’t sell junk food,” but the whole thing has blown up on social and legacy media all over the world. What did I do wrong?

—Overwhelmed in Oak Brook Read more...

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We get it, you've been busy lately. First you had to plan the menu for the big Memorial Day barbecue, and then you had to stay up all weekend to stream the entire new season of Arrested Development

So you had to sacrifice those precious minutes scouring the Internet for the extra cute, extra weird and extra fascinating videos. But we here at Mashable believe in the importance of staying up to date in all things cats, so here's a quick look at the last week in viral news

Chocolates danced in Zoetrope illusions, people fenced (very badly) and a grown man pretended to be a 2-year-old. And the pièce de résistance: a highlight real from Maru the cat who recently turned 6 Read more...

More about Viral Videos, Newsy, Watercooler, Videos, and Viral Video Recap

If you're on the look out for a new iPhone 5 case, why not celebrate the start of spring and the impending summer season with a fresh floral design?

We have found 10 marvelous, blooming iPhone case designs that feature flowers, from modernist reinterpretations to classic chintz

Take a look through our foliage-filled selection of cool covers in the image gallery above. In the comments below, link us to any other fab floral designs you've seen

Homepage image courtesy of Kate Spade Read more...

More about Mobile, Gallery, Gadgets, Iphone, and Apple

Eighteen-year-old Theodore Chalfen's speech at Fairview High School's commencement ceremony was truly one of a kind. Not because he announced he was gay during it — his whole class already knew that — but because he managed to be insanely inspiring without the use of cliches

Chalfen began his speech by saying he was "skipping over the cliches," then got to the point of thanking the class of 2013 for being supportive of his decision to go through high school as openly gay. It wasn't a decision he made lightly, he said, but didn't regret it because of the outpouring of understanding his classmates showed him for four years Read more...

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Sometimes you just can't put your finger on that perfect song. So you end up skipping 15 tracks until you find one that's suitable for your mood. Why can't your music player just know what you want, when you want it?

When predictive algoritms don't get your playlist right, you need a backup plan. We found the best Spotify playlists suitable for every mood and activity — from drink-mixing and weightlifting, to driving and lovemaking

Here's the soundtrack to your life.

Mashable composite. Image via iStockphoto, nycshooter

For Cardio Workouts

SoulCycle by Arielle Jones
On this playlist, you'll find top-of-the-charts tracks with some remixes sprinkled in. Artists include Swedish House Mafia, Robyn, Calvin Harris and Santigold. It's perfect for a high-intensity workout like spinning Read more...

More about Online Music, Spotify, Playlists, Entertainment, and Music

The creation of a Hollywood movie started with a question on Reddit: Could a modern U.S. Marine infantry battalion destroy the entire Roman Empire during the reign of Augustus?

The head-scratcher of a query, posted to the site in 2011, amassed nearly 4,000 comments and got military historian James Erwin thinking about the answer. Erwin was so intrigued that he sat down during his lunch break and wrote a short story based on the question. By end of day, Erwin had 250,000 visitors reading his blog post "Rome, Sweet Rome."

Erwin told The Financial Times that within a week he had a Beverly Hills-based agent and a contract with Warner Bros. Hollywood tossed "a pretty obscene amount of money" (as Erwin described it) his way to write a screenplay based on his initial post. Read more...

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Products like Google Glass and Nike+ FuelBand hint at the future of wearable technology. It looks pretty exciting, especially for entrepreneurs already planning to implement it in their own businesses and products.

But as cool as innovations like Google Glass seem from the consumer point of view, it's hard to imagine how wearable technology will become part of our lives (and the lives of our customers).

A panel of successful founders shares how they predict wearable tech will change their lives as business owners and members of the tech startup community at large Read more...

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Welcome to this morning's edition of "First To Know," a series in which we keep you in the know on what's happening in the digital world. Today, we're looking at three particularly interesting stories.

Get out your foil-caps, or bow down to the mothershipApple might be sending out some subliminal messages to consumers everywhere. Plus, Yahoo looks to continue its spending spree as it bids between $600 million and $800 million for Hulu

Also there's a bit of real-world sharing that’s causing quite a controversy. In a push to catch up with other major cities, New York City is attempting to introduce a bike share program Read more...

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Five years ago Mashable started covering the intersection of technology and social change. We held the first Social Good Summit to open up the conversations that take place during the United Nations General Assembly to anyone and everyone with a digital connection.

Since then, millions of people around the world participate in the Social Good Summit each September. But everyday, we see people doing amazing things and sharing them online.

We wanted a way to further these global connections on and offline.

We've teamed up with our Social Good Summit partners: the U.N. Foundation, the 92Y, the UNDP, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, with additional support from the Case Foundation, to create +SocialGood, a platform to connect global communities around technology and new media for social change. We hope +SocialGood will fill the gap in the tools available online to assist in creating social good events, and will be a platform to build a global community around social good. Read more...

More about Announcement, Social Good, Apps Software, Us World, and World