Fossils and other remnants from the prehistoric past can usually be only seen in museums. There are, however, some unique sites where visitors can see them in nature and one of these remarkable areas is Joggins Fossil Cliff. Here you can see the impressions of plants and animals that are over 300 million years. This site is so unique that it was named as a UNESCO Heritage site, one of only fifteen in Canada. These cliffs also played a very important role in the history of geology and the location has arguably the most complete fossil record from the Coal Age.
In most cases fossils are deep underground and hidden in rocks. Here however, the elements have eroded the cliffs over millennia and exposed a large number of impressions of prehistoric plants and animals. They are able to be seen by the naked eye and there is a range of fossils from hundreds of millions of years ago as well as a fossil forest .
Read more here:  Ancient-Origins.net

"My mind is going. I can feel it. I can feel it. I'm afraid." Fifty years after audiences first saw, or rather, heard, HAL 9000, the homicidal artificial intelligence in "2001: A Space Odyssey," its melancholy end still evokes a pang of empathy. Thanks, in part, to the film's much-vaunted accuracy in depicting the peculiarities of space travel, Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece ranks among the greatest science fiction films ever made. Unlike most sci-fi flicks, which are typically crammed full of action and noise, Kubrick was unafraid to let his audience experience the slowness and silence of space.
But speaking of accuracy, where are we with HAL? In the movie, it demonstrates mastery of, among other things, space travel, chess, chitchat, art appreciation and, with disastrous results, lip-reading. Never mind the half-century since Kubrick co-invented this miraculous machine with author, Arthur C. Clarke, it's been 17 years since the eponymous space-odyssey was supposed to take place. Are we there yet with AI?
Read more here:  Science

Zieglerville, PA. October 12, 2018 - Master Replicas Group, a specialty retail brand
specializing in licensed paleontological, aerospace, and science fiction collectibles, has entered into a licensing agreement with the steward of the world’s biggest fossil collection and authority on space exploration, the Smithsonian Institution. The range will include collectible items that replicate some of their most exciting prehistoric fossils, housed in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, as well as assets from the collection of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
Master Replicas Group will begin manufacturing immediately and expect to release their first replicas around the time of the opening of the National Museum of Natural History’s new Deep Time exhibit, scheduled for June 8, 2019.  The product line will range from hand-sized dinosaur teeth and claws, up to a four-foot replica of the skull of the nation’s T-rex. 
Master Replicas Group shares in the Smithsonian’s passion for detail and authenticity and hopes to inspire a new generation of dinosaur lovers and future scientists.

About the Smithsonian Institution
Since its founding in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution has been committed to inspiring generations through knowledge and discovery.  It is the world’s largest museum, education and research complex, consisting of 19 museums, the National Zoological Park and nine research facilities.  There are 6,500 Smithsonian employees and 6,300 volunteers.  There were 30 million visits to the Smithsonian in 2017.  The total number of objects, works of art and specimens at the Smithsonian is estimated at 155 million, of which 146 million are scientific specimens at the National Museum of Natural History.
www.smithsonian.org
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SKELETON

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​Master Replicas Group was New York Comic Con showing off a very cool new electronic device: an interactive replica of the HAL 9000 Command Console from the 2001: A Space Odyssey. Priced at $999.99 and limited to 2001 units, not only is this an authentic replica, but it’s also a high-end replica that recognizes your voice commands and responds with appropriate audio clips and video displays. The HAL 9000 with Command Console includes a removable HAL 9000 Bluetooth Speaker, power supply, handsome desk stand, and a numbered and signed Limited Edition certificate. Best yet, the HAL 9000 Command Console is ready for your smart home, having Amazon Alexa pre-installed! Complete details, and pre-orders, can be found HERE.

Master Replicas has also partnered with the Smithsonian on a variety of historic replicas. These include a Fossil Collection – authentic resin castings of a giant megalodon shark tooth, Trilobite and raptor claw, and  Dinoramas – cool wall art of dino hatchlings (pictured above). I picked up a palm-sized Trilobite casting that MRG was selling at the show as a magnet (below). Pretty neato for only $20.  Check out these items and more in our gallery below!

See more here:  Figures.com

Below are some pictures of our booth (#345) at New York Comic-Con featuring our new MRG Fossil Collection and Dinoramas! 
The fossils and Dinoramas are now available for purchase here:  SHOP MRG

​Talking to Master Replicas’ Hal 9000 smart speaker sent chills down my spine.
“I’m sorry Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
Even with the background hum of New York Comic Con all around us, the iconic voice of Hal 9000 — the sentient computer from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey -- made me intensely nervous as its red eye stares back from Master Replicas’ booth on the convention floor.
Steve Dymszo, CEO for the prop-making company, leans in to speak over the noise of the crowd. “What’s the problem?”
“I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do,” Hal responds. Dymszo gestures to the device. “You can go on and on with the rest of the sequence.”
Announced earlier this year in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the iconic film’s release, the speaker system is an impeccable replica of the artificial intelligence’s hardware. It’s large, designed to be mounted on the wall, with Hal’s uncanny eye staring back at us. On the left is a series of buttons and screens that show off reproductions of screens from the film, showing off maps and docking sequences.
Read more here:  The Verge

J0e and his videographer/photographer buddy John Battistini are attending the New York Comic Con this week. It’s a mecca for all things nerdy and geeky from comics, to figures, to toys, books, movies, and more. Joe has made a collection of clips for the first day, so enjoy and keep coming back to this post as it will be updated as the show goes on.
​Read more at TheGadgeteer.com.

TrekCore stopped by our our booth at NYCC and got to meet HAL!