This clever infographic breaks down how and why we humans are afraid of the dark. Spoiler: It may be wired into our genetic code to fell unsettled in the dark. [via...

I don’t use Dove products, but this wonderful ad makes me want to. Pass it on to all the women you know who are more beautiful than they think. [via...

Phillip Light asks, “What if all Disney Princesses were sloths?” and gives us the answers to that question in the form of some rather cute and delightful artwork. [via The Mary...

So as it turns out, emotional tears are kinda fascinating. First of all, they’re exclusive to humans, and second of all, they’re technically a survival mechanism, in that you’re way less likely to get killed if you’re crying. Who knew? Anyway, find out more about why we cry below. [via...

[via GalleyCat] FIGHT CLUB and CHOKE novelist Chuck Palahniuk answered reader questions on Reddit this week. When one reader wrote “It’s rare for a writer’s first book to be as successful as Fight Club was,” Palahniuk clarified and shared some inspiring insight into his career: Please let me address a misperception. ‘Fight Club’ was a huge failure. Most of the hardcovers were going to be pulped. They were unsold when the movie opened… and then the movie was a flop. It has taken years ( decades ) for the story to build an audience. What’s amazing is that it still resonates for young readers; it’s never become dated. ( he shakes his head in disbelief...

My inner five-year-old totally approves of this “How Animals Eat Their Food” video, especially the lizard and flamingo–seriously, I was cracking up. [h/t...

I don’t know why everyone’s so impressed with this chyck’s jump roping skills, I can totally do that. (Okay, no I totally can’t and Adrienn Banhegyi is actually quite cool). [via The Mary...

So if you’re looking to creep folks out and you got at least $350 back from your tax refund, why not buy an ultra-realistic baby mask and then stroll around town? Pick up one HERE. [h/t Fashionably...

Fans of the HUNGER GAMES books will find it interesting to see that the film version will lay out plainly what could only be guessed at in the book: President Snow’s motivation/plan. Because really if you’ve got a great actor like Donald Sutherland, why not use him,...

You know when you shouldn’t do a thing, but you do it anyway? That’s how I feel about my reluctant but totally inevitable future viewing of THE HANGOVER III. Also, “I love cocaine!!!” Alrighty, trailer...

If you don’t have an extra $100-$150 lying around, don’t visit the MacklinMurals Etsy shop, because these custom-made shoes, which come in a variety of styles (including wedges, high heels, flats, and converse), are TOO DIE...

Listen to this brilliant version by one-man acapella phenom, Inhyeok Yeo. [via...

Some fascinating stuff in here, especially if you’ve been living in fear of hair loss because your  mother’s father is as bald as an egg. [via...

How super-frickin-awesome is the Godzilla belt buckle??? Absolutely perfect for stomping around a major metropolis, right?! And I can’t even get over the anatomy detail. Pick one up for a very reasonable $19 at the reaganflegan Etsy...

…watch this video from the Anti-Defamation League, which imagines a world in which some of our greatest martyrs actually got to live out their lives. So incredibly moving, and a good reminder of how important it is to teach our children not to harbor or abide...

It’s Wednesday, and if you’re anything like me, that means that your week, which started off all nice and shiny is already completely out of control. So here’s some advice on how to hack your to do list from David Allen, the author of GETTING THINGS DONE (which is literally on my ToDo list to read…but I haven’t gotten around to reading it yet [sheepish grin]). [h/t...

Because… well, why not? Click on the pic to make it bigger. [h/t LikeCool via I Love...

… courtesy of the Danish reality show, DUMT & FARLIGT, which translates to “Stupid & Dangerous.” So of course the below video is fascinating. [h/t i09, “Watch what happens when you light 60,000 matches...

Just in case you needed some happy thoughts to get you through the work week, here’s “The Science of Aging” by ASAP Science.

So please quit discriminating against the Dark Knight, ya’ll. [h/t We Know...

Do you understand what existentialism is? I mean, really-really understand, not just sorta of understand? If so, then you’ll find the below video, “Explain Like I’m Five” by Reddit, rather funny. If not, then you’ll find it rather informative. Either way, win-win, so go’on ahead and watch it. [h/t...

In other news, I hate when I so nail a title that I have nothing left to say in the introduction. Ah, well… [h/t LifeHacker] click on the image to make it...

“How Big Is the Universe” by Minutephysics explains the difference between the Universe-Universe, the Observable Universe and the Actual Possibly Infinite Universe. In poetic terms, we know a whole lot more about the universe today than we knew yesterday but not nearly as much as we’ll know tomorrow. This will all makes sense if you take five minutes to watch the below video. [h/t...

Um, do I really have to explain why these belly tattoos are beyond awesome? I don’t think so. I’ll just say that you can pick them up for $8 a FredFlare.com. [h/t Fashionably Geek]...

In the habit of hitting that snooze button? Seriously, you need to stop, because it’s only going to make you sleepier and less productive. ASAP Science explains why the snooze button is actually ruining your day. [h/t...

Psyche!!!! No, you’re not. None of us are. See the below infographic, sucker. You probably don’t even have a gas mask, martial arts training, or any prostitution charges, dentistry, or gunsmithing on your resume. Just go ahead an yuk it up today, because if anything big goes down, you’re totally dead, dude. [via National...

I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out if this was an April Fool’s Day prank, but from what I can tell it isn’t. In fact here are some FAQ’s about Scope Bacon from the Scope site itself: Does Scope Bacon make my breath smell like bacon? No. Scope Bacon just tastes like bacon while you swish, but leaves your breath smelling minty fresh 5 times longer than brushing alone. Is Scope Bacon a sufficient replacement for my breakfast? No. Scope Bacon contains zero nutritional value and does not serve as an acceptable substitute for food. Should I use Scope Bacon before or after breakfast? We recommend using Scope Bacon after breakfast. Does Scope Bacon contain real bacon? No. No pigs are harmed during the making of Scope Bacon. The bacon taste you’ll find in Scope Bacon is a perfectly healthy synthetic flavoring. How is Scope Bacon made? A synthetic bacon flavoring is infused in the unflavored mouthwash formula at a specific time in the manufacturing process. File this under: “We’ve Gone Too Far.” God save us all…...

As long as we’re talking about Star Wars, let’s end the day with Princess Leia’s business card. Also, a friendly reminder that we need more real life women in politics. Click through to The Mary Sue to see the other characters’cards. [via The Mary...

…and that’s kinda strange, because this is technically an ad for Tokyo Disneyland, which is over a thousand miles away. But, oh well, enjoy!...

According to the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C., one quarter of the 100 highest-paid American CEOs earned more than their employees paid in taxes in 2010.

If you had plans to discriminate against an elderly woman this month, watch this Oscar-nominated short, written and voiced by Kathleen O’Rourke, and perhaps reconsider those plans. Sleep has no fury like a grandma scorned. [via...

Aw naw, ya’ll done made Wonder Woman pull out her scrunchie??? I pity the fool villains about to be on the other side of this beatdown! This is all to say, this artwork by Kevin Warren is all kinds of awesome sauce. [h/t Fashionably...

We here at Fierce and Nerdy rarely recommend not picking up a book, but c’mon, the GoT books are hella hard to get through — a perfectly explained by this NSFW animation, “What It’s Like to Read the Game of Thrones Books.” [via...

…because why not? Get your T-shirt here. [h/t The Mary...

I have no idea what’s going on in the trailer for L’ECUME DES JOURS, but it’s directed by Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and stars Audrey Tautou (Amelie), so you know I’m going to be watching this ish as soon as it releases in the United States. But seriously if you do want to know what it’s about, click through to i09. They’ve got a description, but be forewarned the plot is almost as nonsensical as the trailer. [via...

“I Love It” by fierce indie synthpop duo, Icona Pop, is basically the best thing to happen to happen to Top 40 radio this decade. That is all.

As long as we’re on the subject of Disney Princesses today, here’s a list of their real ages, which, in some cases, will make you feel a little skeevy for rooting for them to get with a prince. Or, in the case of Mulan and Tiana, it might make you feel like an underachiever. I mean what were you doing when you were 16 and 19? Certainly not saving your land from an evil warlord or opening your own restaurant, right? [via...

We like a happy ending here as much as the next nerd, but internet sensation, Paint, delves into what might have happened to some of our favorite princesses after their happily ever afters — and it ain’t pretty. Some words that come up: beastiality, oil spills, torture, and entrails. If you ignore the fact that most of the issues brought up don’t gel with the historical era in which these stories are set, then it makes for a fun listen. [via...

Just in case you’re now counting down to the next women-led big budget movie like we are after seeing OZ, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL. Meanwhile, here’s an official portrait…...

Friendly reminder… [via i09]

Seriously, if you watch one video this week, watch this one. I’ve been standing and sitting as advised by the fiercely nerdy Esther Gokhale for a couple of days now, and my chronically achy back feels so much better. Also, it’s so much easier to stick my butt out like our ancestors of old than “sit up straight.” Primal posture for the win! [via...

Sadly, our Fierce Women Month series can’t be all unicorns and rainbows. Sadly, despite the real world advances of strong women, damsels in distress are still in large fictional supply — especially in videogames. But knowledge is power. Learn all about the trope in video games from the brilliant Anita Sarkeesian of the Feminist Frequency blog. The history of this trope is both infuriating and fascinating, basically “in the game of patriarchy women aren’t the opposing team, they’re the ball.” [via The Mary...

Just in case you were looking for a reason to spend $125 on a doll in celebration of Women’s History Month, Hasbro has put out collectible Jem & the Hologram dolls. I have like no extra money in the budget, but the Shana doll is tempting me so bad… And I’m not even sure how I’m going to keep on resisting if/when they put out the rumored Misfits collection. [via The Mary...

…I would watch the heck out of it. Check out the promising first 5 minute webisode of “School of Thrones,” which stars the youngest sister from the web series version of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, “The Lizzie Bennet Diaries” as Sansa Stark. In other news, yes, I’m watching way to many books turned into modern day web series these...

So here’s a handy dandy chart from Payscale.com about how to decide whether it’s time to ask for a raise. And, here’s an awesome post that Monique King-Viehland wrote for us a couple of years ago re why women should always, always negotiate their paycheck from the jump off....

The next time you don’t feel like getting out of bed to exercise, maybe re-enact this Matt & Kim video. It looks like a great workout — also, the song is the usual Matt & Kim brand of awesome. [h/t...

Especially for African-American women. Please click through to read a wonderful acknowledgement of the struggles Dr. Mae Jemison, Stephanie D. Wilson, Joan Higginbotham, and Dr. Yvonne Cagle, endured and overcame in order to become astronauts....

Kudos to Kayla, who tried her 2yo best to reach the moon by jumping at it. She didn’t make it, but maybe one day… [via...

…and herstorical badass. Please, please, please click through to read more about this abolitionist who was given a feminine-feature-hiding uniform to serve as a surgeon in the Civil War but purposefully grew out her curls so that everyone would know she was a woman. [via...

Yes, seriously! Take a listen to this “Call Me Maybe”/”Head Like a Hole” mash-up, aptly named “Call Me Hole.” [via...

Feminist satire from 1915. Happy Women’s History month! [via...

Friendly reminder to all you fierce and nerdy parents: forget about piano lessons, enroll your little girl in a breakdancing class. 1) it’s great exercise, and 2) little b-girls are like the cutest things on the planet. Don’t believe me? Watch 6yo Bgirl, Terra, school a fool on the dance floor below. [h/t The Mary...

This touching backstory told by Challenger astronaut, Ronald McNair’s brother has it all: books! racist librarians! Star Trek! fierce nerdery! I teared up like nobody’s business. A wonderful, stubborn, and brilliant mind was lost in that explosion. [h/t...

So really, why fight the robots? asks “Time Robot” by...

After seeing this MRI-based video by Sivu, I really want to know what goes on in our heads when we write. From i09: Musician Sivu spent two hours inside an MRI machine to film the music video for his song “Better Man Than He.” The result is this hypnotic video, which lets us see what literally goes on in Sivu’s head as he...

It’s funny because it’s true…. [h/t...

Several Bond theme songs have been nominated, but only one has ever won, and that’s the immensely worthy “Skyfall” as sung by Adele. Let’s celebrate with this wonderfully snarky honest trailer for...

In the form of Legos. “Lego Dance” by Annette Jung made me want to watch all the MJ TV and movie specials all over again.   [via...

The answer to the timeless question, “Can money buy happiness?” — yes! … provided you spend it in the right way. Apparently, those who spend their money on others and experiences versus themselves and material things report being much happier. See the video below for way more colorful details. [via Jezebel, “Can Money Buy You...

I mean we do want her twins to grow up to be nerds, right? [via The Mary Sue]...

I thought I was done with ads, featuring white people rapping, but then “The Motherhood,” a British ad for the four-door Fiat, pulled me back in! [via Jezebel, “Fiat Mom Raps About Sticky Furniture, Faking Orgasms, and Her Sweet...

Until now. Man, Swiss Alps, you sure are purty at night. [via...

It’s amazing because it’s true. All 100% true — especially the bits involving underpants. READ THE REST...

But warning, do not watch this video if you only have a few minutes to procrastinate. I’m working, but now I want to read a book so bad…

Since Amy is the only one who loves ARCHER more than we do, we’re dedicating this Vulture post about the character models for the animated program to her — with a warning that she’ll probably be a bit skeeved (but sadly, not surprised) by the openly lascivious way the writer talks about Lana’s character model, who happens to be a Hooters waitress in real life. No, I’m not...

You can either use an arc reactor to power an Iron Man suit, or to propose to your girlfriend. Either way, Happy Valentine’s Day! [via...

Big thanks to Jennifer May Nickels from “Gal About Town” for sending this “Daleks in Love” mug to us. Sadly, it’s currently out of stock, at the Betwixxt Etsy shop, but keep it in mind for your nerdy anniversary. This is also a great gift for couples who haven’t been together all that long, but already know that they share a great love … of Dr....

…then book a singing telegram to croon about how much you love the person you love like this xoJane writer did. Check it out below: [via...

Just in case you haven’t had a chance to think about how much you just love fictional robots lately, here’s a timeline. Try not to be bitter that we’ve yet to get a robot maid ala Rosie from THE JETSONS. [via The Mary...

I love Tilda Swinton. I love Tom Hiddleston (better known as Loki from THOR and THE AVENGERS). And I love, love, love director, Jim Jarmusch. So I’m pretty sure I’m going to just adore his upcoming movie, ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE, which involves two of the people I love playing longtime vampire lovers. Here’s a first image: [via...

So you probably didn’t see this ad during the Super Bowl, because it only aired in Oklahoma, Texas, and Montana. But I can almost guarantee that if it had aired nationally, then it would have received a favorable review in Amy Robinson’s SuperBowl commercial round-up — Amy feel free to correct me if that’s not true. [via...

With this $8 cardboard box for the Crib Dribbler, a product that purports to the perfect baby feeding system: With the Crib Dribblerfeeding system, baby will have the alone time it needs and its parents can enjoy some quiet time without having to tend to a hungry baby. You can put the real gift inside and then wait for your “I was horrified, then I laughed so hard” thank you card. [via...

As someone who qualifies myself as a “loud introvert,” I really appreciated this video. It says that basically introversion is on a spectrum, and that people (including introverts themselves) are very prejudiced toward people who are on it. It’s also worth clicking through to take the quiz about whether you’re an introvert, extrovert, or a combination of both. [via...

Some things to think about, just in case you’ve been considering taking a trip through time. Thanks so much to Friend of FaN, Polly Harrison for posting this on her Facebook...

No? Then you should totally watch this under-2-minute history of the universe. I love feeling like a speck in history and a part of something so big at the same time. [via The Mary...

Why yes, Ernessa is still out on maternity leave. Why do you ask? Also, please, please, please click through to BuzzFeed to see all 20 pics of super nerdy nursery theme ideas. These are but a very geeky...

…because why not? [via...

Sadly, due to copyright issues, this poster isn’t technically for sale, but shouldn’t it be? Think of the children, copyright lawyers. Won’t you think of the children??? [via...

And by right thing, I obviously mean training up her babies to fight plush animals in a track suit. [via YouTube]...

It’s also available as a T-shirt boys and girls. [via Fashionably...

And by “wrong” we mean “terrifically cute.” Check out “The Colors of Evil” by Alyse Miller and Phillip Simon. [via...

I so need this concept sofa, which was designed by Seungji Mun, to become a reality. I bet Dog and cat lovers alike would rejoice and buy. [via...

Just so folks can interpret it through dance. From i09 comes a report of a what sounds like a super-fascinating dance competition: For half a decade, scientists from all over the globe have been participating in Science’s annual Dance Your Ph.D. contest. This year’s winners were just announced, and they are every bit as excellent as we’ve come to expect. The rules of Dance Your Ph.D. are simple: 1. You must have a Ph.D., or be working on one as a Ph.D. student. 2. Your Ph.D. must be in a science-related field. 3. You must be part of the dance. Here’s the winner of the Chemistry Category: “A Super Alloy is...

Okay, well, this kind of makes no sense at all. But it’s cool to look at it and it’s short, so why not.   Pockets from DANIELS on...

Because, sadly, kids aren’t getting creeped out enough these days. Put this Dr. Who toy in your toddler’s bed to get her started on the recurring nightmares extra early. [via...

Weird factoid: If you set off metronomes individually they keep their own time. But if you put them on a moving surface, they become good little soldiers. On a side note, this video can also be used as a fantastic meditation. I get a couple of ideas and/or solves every time I watch it. [via...

…it’s because we all start out as girls. Yes, seriously. Check the animated video below. [via The Mary...

If you click through on one post this week, click through on this one. The full explanation is worth it, especially if you’ve pledged to be a bit thriftier this year. [via...

When was the last time you took time out to appreciate the architects that influenced some of our favorite cityscapes? If it’s been a while, I suggest you do so now: [via...

Just in case you were wondering… [via Extra Fabulous...

Still struggling with making or breaking that habit you vowed to make or break on NYE 2012? No worries. As it turns out, making or breaking a habit is easy and yummy if you use the techniques in the Epipheo video below. [via...

I say that because she crocheted her brother a dwarf beard and helmet ala Lord of the Rings. And it’s AWESOME! What has your sister done for you lately? [via The Mary...

Sad because it’s Monday. Feeling like you’ll never achieve your goals. Watch this video for a burst of inspiration. [via...

This House Hunters International parody cum Disneyworld Fantasyland ad would be perfect if Belle didn’t have really good reasons for choosing the castle she did. As we all know, real HHI participants aren’t nearly this reasonable. [via Jezebel, “Belle and the Beast Search for Their Dream Castle on House Hunters...

If I lived in Australia, cake designer, Nicole Kane, would be getting a lot of business from me. Check out this amazing cake, which includes Donkey Kong, Tetris, PacMan, Frogger, and Pong: [via LikeCool, “Retro Video Games on One Cake“]...

Sci-fi writer Nalo Hopkinson describes what it’s like to be a wildly imaginative writer with a non-verbal learning disability. Trust, this is beyond fascinating. [via The AfroFuturist...

Data Visualization expert, John Nelson, has broken down five years worth or traffic fatalities. Main lessons learned: Don’t drive in the wee hours of the night, don’t drive in early morning fog or ice, and d0n’t walk around at dusk. Click on the pic to make it bigger, and go to Nelson’s blog for more details. [via i09, “Visualizing 5 years of traffic fatalities: what is the deadliest time to...

…after watching this.

I would so buy one of these $19.29 mugs right now. In other news, it’s Monday. [via...

…with this Symphony of Science video, which features scientists talking rather excitedly about one of 2012’s biggest scientific (probable) discoveries, The Higgs Boson particle. [via The Mary Sue, “Symphony of Science AutoTunes the Discovery of the Higgs...