The samples were often taken from things like coffee cups, cigarettes, and the rims of water bottles.

Police are collecting DNA from people without telling them

Gene Police

The New York Police Department is growing a massive DNA database of thousands of genetic profiles, The New York Times reports.

Police Are Collecting DNA From People Without Telling Them

A 12-year-old had a sample of his DNA collected from a straw after talking to the police.

"When we first realized how thoroughly unusual SN2016iet is my reaction was 'whoa — did something go horribly wrong with our data?'"

This is the most brutal supernova in recorded history

Unusual Pyrotechnics

Scientists believe they spotted the supernova of the largest star to ever detonate, giving them a glimpse into the universe's past.

This Is the Most Brutal Supernova in Recorded History

It took scientists years to believe what they saw.

"Are you wearing..." "Harvard's robotic shorts? Yea. Yea, I am."

Scientists built robo-shorts to make walking easier

Servo Shorts

Researchers from Harvard's Wyss Institute developed a pair of stride-enhancing, wearable robotic shorts to make walking easier.

Scientists Built Robo-Shorts to Make Walking Easier

Harvard's stride-enhancing shorts could put an extra spring your step.

Launching that Roadster may have just been target practice.

Elon Musk really, really wants to nuke Mars

Please Stop Posting

Elon Musk tweeted "Nuke Mars!" on Thursday, likely to double down on his ill-advised dream of terraforming the Red Planet through nuclear strikes.

Elon Musk Really, Really Wants to Nuke Mars

He's tweeting again.

In February, Virgin Galactic's supersonic space plane, the VSS Unity, took off on its fifth test flight, soaring to a new record altitude of 51.4 miles.

Virgin Galactic unveils beautiful, luxurious spaceport lounge

Virgin Lounge

Virgin Galactic revealed on Thursday what its spaceport at its new New Mexico home looks like — a beautiful vision of the airport's space successor.

Virgin Galactic Unveils Luxurious Spaceport Lounge

This is where you'll wait to board a rocket to space — if you can afford it.

Weird memes should still be fine, though.

Instagram wants to fact-check your memes

Post-Ironic Propaganda

Facebook announced that it plans to extend its fact-checking program to Instagram, but it's not clear that checking memes will accomplish anything.

Instagram Wants to Fact-Check Your Memes

But it's not clear that it'll help.

Nothing says privacy like a public cafe in the middle of London.

Facebook is opening privacy check-up cafes, for some reason

Privacy for the People

In an attempt to convince its two billion users that it truly cares about their privacy, Facebook is opening a number of pop-up privacy check-up cafes.

Facebook is Opening Privacy Check-Up Cafes, for Some Reason

After all, it's up to you to protect your data — not Facebook.

But the reason for the crash landing hasn't been determined.

Norway's new electric plane crashes during demo flight

Cannonball Contest

During its debut flight, Norway's electric plane crash-landed into a lake. The country still hopes to electrify all domestic aircraft by 2040.

Norway’s New Electric Plane Crashes During Demo Flight

"This is not good for the work we do."

Amazon is finally taking ownership of the bizarre PR initiative.

Amazon: those bizarre brand ambassadors are real employees

Human Touch

Amazon confirmed that those bizarre "fulfillment center ambassadors" on Twitter are actually real employees, not the bizarre chatbots that they sound like.

Amazon: Those Bizarre Brand Ambassadors Are Real Employees

Amazon is paying people to tweet about their numerous bathroom breaks.

Next Generation Robots: Autonomous Subsurface Explorers

"The big question for NASA is: Is there life beyond Earth?"

These robots could one day explore caves on distant planets

Lava Tubular

DARPA's Subterranean Challenge is kicking off today, and robotics teams from across the nation are mapping underground environments with robots.

These Robots Could One Day Explore Caves on Distant Planets

"If there is life in the solar system, these are the most likely places to harbor it."

The research for DJUCED involved tapping into "scientific literature and DJ common sense."

If you were worried DJs were working too hard, this idiotic AI literally picks songs for them

Shuffle Mode: Activated

Now there's an AI assistant to help DJs pick songs for their sets in real time. It's unclear what, exactly, is left for the DJ to do.

If You Were Worried DJs Were Working Too Hard, This Idiotic AI Literally Picks Songs for Them

It's like going to a concert where someone just plugged in their iPod Shuffle.

The speed limit even had to be lowered to 70 km/h because of rotting leaves.

Report: The world's first solar road is an absolute disaster

Solar Roadways

Three years later, the world's first solar road in France turned out to be an absolute disaster, as French newspaper Le Monde reports.

Report: The World’s First Solar Road is an Absolute Disaster

Thunderstorms and rotting leaves did a number on the road's solar panels.

The car's on its second battery pack, but still has its original motor.

Tesla owner breaks record, drives car 900,000 kilometers

Travelin' Man

A Germany man just set a new Tesla record for highest mileage, racking up 559,350 miles (900,000 kilometers) in his Model S P85.

Travelin' Man

Tesla Owner Breaks Record, Drives Car 900,000 Kilometers

Road Warrior

World Record