If you thought the idea of an invisibility cloak was a bunch of Harry Potter nonsense, think again. Researchers in London have been given an absurdly large (about $2 million) grant to make this magical invention. OMG! That’s so cool! I bet you’re wondering how in the world that’s possible. Scientists believe they can mold an invisibility cloak from some insane material that would theoretically grab hold of light waves and make them flow smoothly around an object, in the same way that water in a river flows round a stick. Can’t say I understand all the physics involved, but I’ve already started daydreaming about what kind of mischief I will get into when I get my invisibility cloak. Here are 10 situations where it will come in handy. [Daily Mail]

My best friend once made the mistake of telling me that she had written “Buffy” fan fiction when she was younger and I mercilessly teased her for years, even though it was that nerdy center that endeared her to me in the first place. Some of you may not be familiar with the steamy underground world of fan fiction where devoted fans think up (often sexy) scenarios for their favorite characters. For fun, we’ve rounded up six fanfic excerpts and taken out the nouns so you can guess which show/book/movie they are based on. Guess all six correctly and win ... dork credibility?

• Everyone always goes for the green M&Ms (horndogs!), but perhaps you should consider reaching for the blue. Turns out, the compound “Brilliant Blue G,” which makes blue M&Ms blue, can be used to treat spinal cord injuries. Injecting just the right amount of this dye appears to make recovery much faster. The downside? The stuff makes your skin bright blue for a little while. How Smurfy. [Telegraph UK]
• Coca-Cola’s newest drink “Vio” is one part milk and one part seltzer water—and we’re just not sure how that combo could possibly end well. Even more questionable—it comes in flavors like citrus burst, peach mango, tropical colada, and very berry. It has no artificial crap in it but, um, it’s carbonated milk. Gross. [Daily Mail UK]
• The New York Times is up in arms because a number of the characters in the newest “Harry Potter” flick are shown gulping down butterbeer. They say the scenes are all about underaged drinking, but Warner Bros claims that’s “open to different interpretations.” My interpretation? This is like saying root beer is bad news. [NY Times]

This week, New York Times writer David Browne argued that Generation Y is all about nostalgia—and that we develop sentimental feelings about things at a much more rapid pace than Baby Boomers. I fully admit that even at the young age of 21, I feel nostalgic for my childhood all the time. And haven’t we all? At The Frisky alone, we’ve reminisced recently about Zack Morris, Jem and the Holograms, our favorite kids TV show hosts, and even our favorite childhood dolls. But I’m not running to trade in my iPod for a Walkman or my flat iron for scrunchies. I just enjoy a trip down memory lane. And because I’m young, my memory lane doesn’t go on for miles and miles.

Alyssa Rosenberg of The Atlantic recently ranted about overly idealized relationships and a lack of intimate adult sex scenes in the Harry Potter series, accusing J.K. Rowling of being “really awful at writing about adult sexual and romantic relationships.” Her first complaint is that everyone in the books ends up with their first love, avoiding the hardships and dating cycles those of us in real life are forced to endure. She then complains that Rowling doesn’t give readers enough intimate details involving adult sexual relationships—the Weasleys are too preoccupied with their children, the Potters’ relationship is too idealized, Lupin isn’t sexual enough, and a description of Fleur Delacour’s married life is lacking. She finishes her critique by noting that Hogwarts is lacking a sex ed course.

With Emma Watson doing photo shoots for Elle and looking all grown-up these days, no one is saying much about Bonnie Wright. What, you don’t know who she is? Well, Bonnie is the gal who plays cute little Ginny Weasley in the “Harry Potter” flicks. More importantly, in “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince,” she and Daniel Radcliffe totally make out. See? Now, I’ve got your attention! After the jump, we compare Emma and Bonnie. Take a peek and tell us who you think Daniel should date! Yeah, it’s a popularity contest. Sorry.

• “Harry Potter” actor Jamie Waylett, who plays Vincent Crabbe, pleaded guilty to growing marijuana plants at his mother’s home. [PopEater] – Too bad he wasn’t concocting potions. That would have been way cooler.
• Eddie Cibrian, who is best known for having an affair with his co-star LeAnn Rimes, has been dumped by his wife, Brandi Glanville. Cibrian said he was done with Rimes, but according to Us Weekly, he was busted with her late last week. That’s when Glanville threw in the towel. [Us Weekly]—How long until Rimes’ husband Dean files for divorce?

Craft project for the truly “Harry Potter” obsessed: cross-stitch a pattern of Daniel Radcliffe‘s face! CrossStitcher magazine drew up the creepy pattern, presumably for all those randy crafters who figure stitching Harry’s face on a pillow is the only way they’ll get him in bed. [Guardian]

Ebert and Roeper can shove over, because the newest film reviewer, the Vatican, is now voicing their opinion on the latest flicks. Via their official newsletter, L’Osservatore, the Vatican has given “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” two thumbs up. The holy Romans really loved how the adapted film showed that good deserves to triumph over evil and how it portrayed the “correct balance” of adolescent love. So if you were teetering on whether to head to theaters this weekend, now you know that the Catholic Church has totally got your back. [Mirror]

It’s time for a new Harry Potter movie, which opened at midnight last night/this morning, and judging from the posters/trailers, this will be the one with all the sex in it. Right? I don’t really follow the Rowling’s continuum but from what I gather, when young wizards hit puberty they make out and have sexual urges just like you and me.

While I can still recall the first HP film and how young Harry and Ron and those kids looked, that was (almost) a decade before last fall, when the titular actor showed off his little Daniel Radcliffe to audiences on two different continental stages in the play Equus . That was a big deal! We’re in an era in which Jason Siegel flashing his penis in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” or seeing a quick glimpse of manhood from Kim Cattrall’s lust-object in “Sex and the City” barely garners an R-rating. Yet there was something about Radcliffe’s decision to bare-all in that horse sex play: It was almost the boy’s Bar Mitzvah. Last fall, Daniel Radcliffe made the decision to become “a man.”

Dreams do come true ladies, and this video of the cocky Gryffindor student “Cormac McLaggen” from “Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince,” is living proof. I know a bunch of you out there used “The Secret” to will this hot few minutes of actor Freddie Stroma shaking his booty shirtless into reality. It’s actually an ad for Acne man panties, so it’s fitting he’s shaking his money maker! Oh yeah, and Freddie, I’ll still be checking you out (clothed, sigh) in the new “Harry Potter” movie, which opens tomorrow! [WOW]

“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” will hit theaters this Wednesday, July 15, and we can barely contain our excitement. We haven’t seen the film yet, but New York magazine reviewed it, saying some pretty nice things. One aspect that writer David Edelstein took issue with was how good-looking Emma Watson has become. While he says all three main protagonists have all grown up and matured, Edelstein doesn’t think Emma fits as Hermione anymore—she’s not nerdy and awkward enough.

“Harry Potter” actress Emma Watson, 19, is on the cover of Teen Vogue‘s August issue. She looks all grown up, posing in old school Britastic clothing in the English countryside. Despite being famous since she was 10, Emma isn’t really a limelight lover. She is going to college and plans to do it up normal-person style. She’s majoring in English and will even be living with roommates. We understood why she is not all about being famous after she said so many ‘razzi showed up to her 18th birthday that she couldn’t get out the door. She added, “They laid down on the pavement and took pictures up my skirt.” Ugh, talk about barely legal. Check out some other quotes, after the jump. [Teen Vogue]

Around The Frisky office, I get mocked for being mildly obsessed with Harry Potter. Sure, the series isn’t as sexy as vampire stories like “True Blood” or “Twilight,” but Harry’s glasses turn me on. Needless to say, I am excited to watch “Harry Potter the Musical,” a parody created by Potter fans, while I await the July 15 release of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” [via Flavorwire]

MUSIC

• Taylor Swift Fearless A few 18-year-olds are releasing records today, but she’s already been on the Billboard charts. Taylor’s new country album is about love, so I guess the title, “Fearless,” is appropriate.  But I’m more excited to see what she’s planning on doing with Def Leopard.