The ideal distance of a planet’s orbit around its star to allow for conditions where liquid water can exist on the planet’s surface. Astronomers recently found eight such planets in the “Goldilocks” zone.

As the search for life on Mars continues, the Curiosity rover is gathering up more evidence for proof of some type of Martian existence.

 
The newly touched 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet also makes futuristic music.

When you’re circling the globe every 90 minutes, a spaceship can be a tough place to sleep. To help astronauts catch some quality zzz’s while in orbit, NASA used a special lightbulb that diffused irritable short wave blue light, and aided in melatonin production. Now, back on earth, this sleep promoting lightbulb can be yours to help maintain that natural circadian rhythm.

The U.S. Air Force’s unmanned X-37B space plane landed quietly back on earth over the weekend after having been in orbit for the past 674 days “conducting experiments.” Measuring 29′ 3″ long and 9′ 6″ high with a 14′ 11″ wingspan, the plane is thought to be some type of “space bomber spy plane” that is tracking Chinese movements outside of earth’s atmosphere. The military won’t confirm the speculation.

This web series from Alex Goldberg and Steven Brahms is the best thing we’ve ever watched with a weed smoking alien. Yes, even better than Paul.

Here’s the premise:

The year is unknown and the human race is virtually extinct. 5 years ago the last human escaped from Earth before it exploded. He crash landed on Blue Dream, one of the marijuana obsessed planets in the galaxy of Sinsimilla-8. Suffering from acute amnesia he remembers little of life on Earth. In an effort to jog his memories of the human experience, he has been teamed with an alien scientist who specializes in memory retrieval.

Now watch it in reverse

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The potential date for the end of humanity, when Asteroid 1950 DA could possibly collide with the earth. Given that this is 867 866 years away, and the chance of strike is only .3 %, you shouldn’t really worry much about it unless you’re a vampire. In which case, sorry dude. You better hope the scientists working on a solution can sprinkle some sparkly dust around the asteroid to let your biggest enemy, the sun, push the doom rock off its trajectory.

Fueled by the ability to convert electric power into thrust by bouncing microwaves around in a closed container, the “impossible” EmDrive has the opportunity to change space travel forever.

Save the date, we’re 365 days away from being 6,000 miles from Pluto

Tracking the nuclear-level asteroid impacts in our atmosphere over the past 13 years

In 2008, Japanese astronauts took cherry tree seeds with them to the International Space Station. After 8 months and 4,100 times around the globe, the seeds came home and were planted in various locations around Japan. Four years later, some of the “space cherry trees” are now blossoming with just five petals—compared with around 30—a full six years ahead of schedule. Hypothesizing about the radical growth, one researcher said “there is the possibility that exposure to stronger cosmic rays accelerated the process of sprouting and overall growth.”

A short film about lunar litter by Arlen Parsa

via, uniquedaily

The Northern Lights recently took the form of a dragon’s head in images captured by photographer Juan Carlos Casado in the Arctic Circle.

Captured by NASA’s high-powered NuSTAR telescope

The first and only sculpture on the Moon

A new project by Ai Weiwei & Olafur Eliasson

The instant a touch is made, things are set in motion. Make a drawing to reach out and be touched. Drawing together we are drawn together. This is how we make a difference in the world, on micro and macro levels, individually and collectively. Touch the moon by drawing on it – a vision, doodle, statement, a greeting, thought. . . your drawing is a hinge between you, everyone else, and the universe.

By connecting in spaces for imagination – by determining what to share and how to share it – we can create a greater outcome. Through messages and non-verbal communication, in a language unique to each person, the collective work becomes a testament to personal freedom, creativity, and activity.

Celebrate with us the gathering of creative powers from around the globe to mark the passage from nothing to something and from thinking into doing. Savour this moment of transformation. Leave your fingerprint and see the shared moon grow as others reach out too. Let’s show the world that together our marks matter. Creativity defies boundaries.

Ideas, wind, and air no one can stop.

Ai Weiwei and Olafur Eliasson

The New York premiere of INVADER’s short film is tomorrow night (10/29) at Landmark Theatres Sunshine Cinema. Two screenings, 8pm and 9pm, and FREE admission.

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The UN is taking steps to defend planet Earth from humongous space rocks by creating “The International Asteroid Warning Group” which will be manned by members of the “Association of Space Explorers,” and directed by the “Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.”

If you had an extra $75k, would you get into a luxury helium balloon (equipped with a bar) for a 90-minute rise to the edge of the atmosphere? Well, if you said yes, you’re in luck. World View is trying to make this possible for 2016.

via, fastcompany