Image: Lore Sjöberg

I didn’t know this two weeks ago, but it turns out the problem with science is that there aren’t enough theories involving prehistoric narcissistic psychopathic art mollusks.

Here’s the background: A paleontologist recently gave a presentation in which he posited that there once existed a type of giant sea squid that preyed on ichthyosaurs. Ichthyosaurs, by way of explanation, are ancient aquatic reptiles that look like a cross between a dolphin and a prison shiv.

The paleontologist’s theory was that this killer calamari would capture its prey, drag it down and eat it. So far ...

Here’s the strange thing about The Thing, John Carpenter’s unsettling 1982 monster mystery: Though it’s one of the most obsessed-over films of the past 30 years — spawning comic books, a videogame, and a prequel due in October — its initial reception was notably frigid. “The movie was hated,” says Carpenter, 63-year-old director of such classics as Halloween and Escape From New York. “Especially by the science fiction and horror fans. Not a pleasant experience.”

Neither is watching the flick. The story of 12 isolated men (led by Kurt Russell) who stumble upon a 100,000-year-old...