Inside NASA’s Virtual Reality Laboratory

A fun video piece from Gizmodo: “We’ve seen how NASA recreates the vacuum of space right here on Earth, but what about the gravity of space? What about the forces of inertia? When large objects move and behave so differently, how to you train for a mission so you know what to expect when you get there?” Read the associated story, originally published last November, here.

Tested Meets the New BattleBots!

BattleBots is coming back, and we couldn’t be more excited! We’ve been granted exclusive access to the BattleBots pit, where teams from all around the world have brought their new robots to be tested in the combat arena. In the first of a three-part series, we meet with eight of the teams to learn about their robots’ fighting potential and how new technology has changed how BattleBots are built.

Shot and edited by Joey Fameli

The Talking Room: Adam Savage Interviews Andy Weir

By popular demand, an audio version of Adam Savage’s interview with author Andy Weir! Andy wrote ‘The Martian’, the story of an astronaut stranded on Mars–it’s a book we can’t recommend enough. Adam and Andy talk about the research that went into writing the book, the portrayal of astronauts in fiction, and the upcoming film adaptation!

The Talking Room: Adam Savage Interviews Andy Weir

Adam Savage welcomes author Andy Weir to The Talking Room! Andy wrote ‘The Martian’, the story of an astronaut stranded on Mars–it’s a book we can’t recommend enough. Adam and Andy talk about the research that went into writing the book, the portrayal of astronauts in fiction, and the upcoming film adaptation!

Shot and edited by Joey Fameli

How To Make a Realistic Horror Skull Prop

Time for another prop-making tutorial with effects artist Frank Ippolito! This week, we stop by Frank’s shop to learn how to transform a cheap plastic skull into a gory horror prop using simple materials. By layering and sculpting cotton and latex, we can simulate gross charred flesh on the skull or any other body part. It’s very effective! (This video was brought to you by Premium memberships on Tested. Learn more about how you can support us by joining the Tested Premium community!)

Video shot and edited by Joey Fameli
Music Library provided by Jingle Punks

Inside Adam Savage’s Cave: Improving a Cat Exercise Wheel

Adam’s friend Traci Des Jardins visits the Cave with a challenge: fix and improve her cat’s exercise wheel. With some tweaks and swapping out of parts, the giant wheel’s operation is greatly improved. It ended up a fun little project that required a bit of problem solving, and Traci’s cat got a great workout out of it at the end!

Shot by Joey Fameli
Edited by Benito Gonzalez