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Launched into low Earth orbit in 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope has revolutionized our view of the cosmos. But many people don’t realize that Hubble is but one of a fleet of space telescopes observing our universe. Without question, Hubble generates most of the headlines, perhaps because it makes observations in the visible light wavelengths. But many other space-based telescopes have made discoveries that are just as astounding. Here are just some of these other notable instruments and the wondrous discoveries they’ve made.

The world of Star Trek is almost upon us. We now possess personal communicators, talking computers and soon every household may possess a replicator in the form of a 3D printer.  And while warp drive and phasers may be a ways off, 3D printers may usher in another technological revolution. They do sound like the stuff of science fiction: one day soon you may simply download, or create yourself, the specs for countless different items, which a printer can print at home, in the office or at the worksite. As with any technology, it’s impossible to foresee the unpredictable directions people will take it as the technology progresses; witness the recent controversy when a group offered specs allowing a 3D printer to create an operable plastic handgun. Here are five thoughts and observations about the future of 3D printing.

We’ve all seen video images from the International Space Station, of astronauts and cosmonauts floating around in the low gravity, sending their greetings to Earth. But the ISS is far more than just an orbiting outpost; its primary purpose is research, and in its 15-year history, hundreds of experiments have been carried out aboard the ISS, spanning scientific disciplines from weather and physiology to earth observation and physics. Many of these experiments can only be carried out aboard the ISS due to power requirements or the need for a microgravity environment and close observation. The station has racks both for interior experiments and exterior ones for those requiring exposure to the hard vacuum of space. Here’s a look at 10 of these fascinating experiments, both from the past and those planned for the next few years.

One of the biggest mysteries in science is what makes our planet so special. Why did life take hold and thrive on Earth? When we look out across our solar system, we see nothing but barren planets inhospitable to life. Is life a foregone conclusion on a planet like ours, or a series of fortuitous events? One piece of the puzzle is the presence of our Moon. No other planet in our solar system has such a proportionally large Moon, which measures 27 percent the diameter of Earth and 1.2 percent of its mass. And we may just have the Moon to thank for our existence. If this is the case, it would have huge implications for the scarcity of life in the universe. Here are five key roles the Moon may have played in the story of life on Earth.

First, the Internet transformed commerce, communications and shopping. Now, it’s changing the television industry. More and more households are dropping their cable TV package, for several reasons. Ever-faster broadband speeds and better home wireless networks have helped drive this trend, and many new web startups have arisen to fill the need for alternative viewing options. What’s ironic is that cable TV providers now face the same dilemma that they themselves provoked when they took on network TV 1980s. And similar to that era, we’re hearing how programming quality will suffer, much as the networks told us in the ’80s that they would no longer be able to provide programs such as The Love Boat and Fantasy Island if cable came to pass. That said, here are five good reasons to ditch your pay-TV provider, and why if you’re not ready to take that step today, you may be ready in the next couple of years.

The aging process is fraught with uncertainty. Just think of the awkwardness of puberty, the restlessness of the teen years and young adulthood, the aches and pains of middle age, the infirmities of old age. Now imagine what would happen if that normal aging process took place not over several decades, but in the course of a couple of years. For those with a rare condition known as progeria, this is an unfortunate reality. Progeria is one of several extremely rare conditions that affect the aging process. As those who suffer from these conditions try to cope with their fate, researchers are busy seeking a cure that may hold the key to unlocking how we age, which has implications for everyone.

Modern science is filled with puzzles that often defy common sense. We evolved to fit into our environment and understand the world around us from our everyday frame of reference. We can understand something like the distance to the nearest star, Alpha Centauri, on an intellectual level, but our brains just aren’t equipped to understand the actual mind-boggling distance of four light years. Many scientific paradoxes, like science itself, have their roots in mathematics and philosophy. Despite what our senses tell us, these conundrums have predictive power and tell us something about how the universe really works. Here, in no particular order, are 10 of the best-known scientific paradoxes. If you have a hard time grasping these concepts, don’t worry — even the greatest scientific minds have struggled to explain some of these.

Nothing spurs development and innovation like a cash incentive. Cash awards have inspired some great achievements in exploration and science; Charles Lindbergh’s solo flight across the Atlantic in 1927 came about as he pursued a $25,000 cash award. More recently, Scaled Composites claimed the $10 million Ansari Prize in 2004 when it became the first private organization to launch a reusable manned spacecraft into orbit twice in two weeks. Some question why an organization awards a cash prize for a given breakthrough rather than simply spending the money on research. Perhaps it’s to instill competition, or focus on a specific breakthrough. Another argument holds that it’s less expensive and draws good PR. Following are 10 notable and lucrative inducement prizes that have either been recently awarded or have yet to be claimed.

Perhaps no scientific issue is more polarizing in the minds of the American public than climate change. And while many argue that it is an unproven theory, the scientific consensus is that climate change is a reality and human activity is a primary cause. Climate, however, is a complex issue and that’s a problem in today’s society when many people want things to be simple and clear cut. Political agendas further muddle the issue. Many skeptics suspect that talk about climate change is a ruse to stifle the growth of the American economy, while others fear that we’re conducting a global experiment with unforeseen consequences. What follows are five issues complicating the climate change puzzle.

With the termination of NASA’s Space Shuttle program in 2011, all eyes are now on private space companies as a means to get humans and payloads back into low-Earth orbit and beyond. And while companies such as SpaceX and Orbital Sciences are being hailed as “the next big thing,” several significant challenges face these newcomers to the space-travel game. To be sure, most fans of spaceflight support commercial space operations; most of us are simply glad that something is still leaving the launch pad and headed somewhere. Turning away from space travel entirely is what we truly fear. But to build on their early ventures into spaceflight, SpaceX and other private companies must overcome some daunting obstacles.

While a few of us still actually use our smartphones to make phone calls, we’re more likely using them for banking, texting and checking our social media accounts. All of that involves transmitting or storing personal information that can be intercepted or stolen. Likewise, many individuals who diligently keep their laptop computer protected with the latest in virus software are still vulnerable through their smartphones. As smartphone use surpasses desktop and laptop use, an increasing number of viruses are specifically targeting smartphones. Here are 10 things you can do to protect yourself, according to information from the FBI, the Internet Crime Complaint Center and security professionals.

As we approach the annual celebration of love known as Valentine’s Day, perhaps we should more specifically celebrate the science behind love. Because, as unsexy as it sounds, research overwhelmingly supports the fact that we often don’t choose the person we fall in love with; the characteristics we find ourselves attracted to in our mates are encoded in our DNA before we are born. Below are some key factors that researchers use to explain how and why Cupid’s arrow strikes.

The scientific world is buzzing about the approach of asteroid 2012 DA14, which will pass within 17,200 miles of Earth on Feb. 15, 2013. In galactic terms, that is a very close call, passing within the ring of satellites orbiting Earth; according to NASA, it is a record-close approach for a known object of this size, which is estimated at 150 feet. One look at the surface of the Moon reveals the record of impacts from comets and asteroids that have pummeled the inner solar system. The Earth has suffered the same fate, but the evidence has been erased or hidden by erosion, forests, water, etc. Several impacts from large asteroids are suspected in mass extinctions in the fossil record, including the well-known K-T extinction that killed off the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. But unlike the dinosaurs, we have the capability of space flight, and perhaps can do something about an asteroid threat. Here are five thoughts on how and why we are monitoring these threats from space — and how we might try to stop an extinction-level event.

Take a look around your neighborhood. That cable company van sure has been parked there for a long time … and what are those antennae sticking out of it? Or perhaps you don’t even have to look farther than your smartphone or desktop for your daily fix of modern paranoia, as your laptop’s webcam quietly and secretly turns on without your permission. Modern living gives us plenty to be suspicious about. And while Orwell’s terrifying vision of 1984 never quite came to pass, modern technology has allowed governments, corporations and private citizens a greater ability to eavesdrop than ever before. We dislike the thought, but we’re often willing to give up our freedom of privacy for perceived security. Following are five modern high-tech surveillance methods that may either keep you awake at night … or help you sleep soundly, knowing that Big Brother is watching.

We live in a modern world chock full of warning labels and advisories. And while some may lament a “nanny state” mentality, many warnings are there for good reason. If science and modern living teaches us nothing else, it’s that humans are often terrible at assessing risks, and routinely fear things with a low likelihood of occurring while routinely engaging in risky activity. What follows are some classic everyday warnings and advice and what modern science has to say about them.

It’s amazing to think that aviation history is barely 100 years old. And in that relatively short span of history, aircraft manufacturing has gone from bicycle repair shops to a major industry. For every aircraft design that ultimately goes into production, hundreds more are scrapped early in the design stage. A few may reach prototype and experimental status, while some aircraft are made for specialized applications and only one example of them exists. The following list represents 10 such rarities, some of which are still in service and some that can only be found in museums. Also, a truth in advertising admission here: a few of these are not technically "one-of-a-kind" creations, as two or three models still exist. We're sure you'll agree they're all quite unusual — most would easily make any aviation buff’s "must-see" list.

As the date for the much-hyped 2012 Mayan Prophecy passes without incident, there are no more doomsday scenarios to worry about, right? Not exactly. While few people really embraced the possibility of a Mayan apocalypse, scientists and government officials are monitoring several very real scenarios that could kill millions of people. If you’ve watched the show Doomsday Preppers on the National Geographic Channel, you’ve seen some of these threats outlined. In several cases, the U.S. government has either conducted drills to test responses to these possible disasters, or has established commissions to investigate how to avoid such threats. Following is a look at five disaster scenarios. We’ve left out some of the more clichéd events — the infamous planet-killer asteroid, to name just one — and we’ve focused on disasters that would mainly affect the U.S. A couple are so enormous, however, they would have a worldwide impact.

It’s ironic that in an era of ever-shrinking science budgets, high-flying observatories such as Hubble and the Chandra X-Ray Observatory are producing a wealth of data. And while no new interplanetary spacecraft left the Earth in 2012, several previously dispatched spacecraft such as the Curiosity rover on Mars and the Dawn and Messenger missions made headlines exploring worlds in our solar system. These observatories and spacecraft — along with the scientists and technicians monitoring them — made many exciting discoveries in 2012, expanding our knowledge of distant galaxies, exoplanets and the universe in general. Following, in no particular order, are 10 of the most exciting astronomical discoveries in 2012.

Advances in modern medicine have yielded a plethora of high-tech tests, from MRI machines to specialized blood tests, that have helped doctors make faster, more accurate diagnoses. Yet doctors often must diagnose conditions based on evidence that cannot be supported through any X-ray, MRI or blood test. Instead, they must rely on their observations of a patient’s behavior, or their symptoms. Sometimes, doctors get it wrong. Many medical professionals would argue that this has been especially true in recent years, given the huge increase in certain diseases or conditions that were virtually unheard of a few years ago. Critics, while admitting these conditions are real, contend that they are grossly over-diagnosed. The end result: hundreds of millions of dollars are wasted on medicines each year, people are unnecessarily subjected to powerful — and perhaps dangerous — drugs, and children are stigmatized with a condition that can even affect their job prospects as an adult. That said, here’s a review of five commonly misdiagnosed medical conditions.

In the 1920s, American astronomer Edwin Hubble changed our entire view of the universe. It’s hard to believe now, but up until that time, our Milky Way galaxy was thought to be the extent of existence. But Hubble discovered a key cosmic yardstick known as a Cepheid variable, and used it to measure the stupendous distance to what was then known as the “Andromeda nebula.” Thus we came to the realization that the Andromeda and other spiral nebula like it are galaxies, or “island universes” similar to our own, and that our own Milky Way galaxy is but one of billions. The following is a quick pick of some of the most fascinating and significant galaxies as seen from Earth.

For every space mission that leaves the launch pad, dozens of proposals die on the cutting room floor. Most fall victim to budgetary constraints, as NASA and planetary science as a whole face dwindling funds for planetary exploration. Exciting missions are currently underway; Messenger is in orbit around Mercury, the Dawn spacecraft is en route to the asteroid Ceres, and New Horizons is scheduled to make a flyby of Pluto in July 2015. However, it’s rather telling that no nation has a planetary mission scheduled to leave Earth in 2012. Still, scientists have a lengthy “wish list” of future missions they’d like to see launched, and some of these involve rather strange concepts.

It’s been 30 years since Time Magazine named the personal computer its Man of the Year (actually, Machine of the Year is how the magazine phrased it). At the time, even the greatest visionaries could not have foreseen how the technology would transform our lives. So whom can we thank for inventing the first personal computer? A man named Ed Roberts is generally regarded as the “Father of the Personal Computer” for leading the development of a computer known as the Altair 8800 in the mid-1970s. Yet that computer, with no monitor or keyboard, looks nothing like the PCs we use today. Here are 10 key developments in the early evolution of the personal computer, both from a technological and commercial standpoint.

President Theodore Roosevelt is remembered as a larger-than-life figure, a war hero and big-game hunter who turned the presidency into a “bully pulpit” and warned other nations that he would “Speak softly but carry a big stick” in foreign affairs. But one of Roosevelt’s most enduring legacies passed unnoticed at the time. In 1903, Roosevelt established what would become the first National Wildlife Refuge in the United States. That area, Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida, is today one of 556 designated areas around the United States — covering more than 150 million acres — in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Roosevelt, a noted bird lover and conservationist, would undoubtedly be pleased to see how the system he set in motion has helped conserve, manage and restore wildlife, fish and plant habitats in every U.S. state, protecting diverse ecosystems and helping save species from extinction. Here’s a look at some notable facts about the National Wildlife Refuge System, along with some of the wondrous sights to be found in these unique habitats.

The sky, for the most part, is predictable; the Sun rises and sets, the Moon goes through its phases, and the constellations appear pretty much the same on the day that you are born as the day you die. The appearance of a great comet, however, offers a wonderful exception; though many are on periodic orbits, many others enter our inner solar system unannounced, putting on dazzling displays. A bright comet may even be visible in the daytime. The recent discovery of comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) has raised some speculation that we may just be in for such an event in late 2013, with some scientists predicting that comet could be as bright as the full Moon. Here’s a compilation of 10 remarkable comets from the past few hundred years.

Many people assume that mankind’s space missions are all focused on the cosmos, studying our solar system, distant galaxies, stars and other wonders. But from the earliest days of spaceflight, NASA and other space agencies have also been keenly interested in examining the Earth. Earth photographs taken from space have added to our knowledge in many fields, from climatology and oceanography to geopolitics. Through the years, astronauts and satellites have taken more than 1 million images of Earth; if you’re curious, you could spend countless hours browsing through these images at NASA’s Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth site. Here’s an abridged version, featuring 10 unusual or otherwise noteworthy photos with a “Wow!” factor. (Editor's note: All photos are credited to the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center/http://www.eol.jsc.nasa.gov.)

Planetariums are wonderful tools for getting to know the night sky. A planetarium can simulate a true dark-sky environment that few citizens ever really see, and many now run modern, high-production programs with state-of-the-art exhibits. In short, these are not your grandfather’s planetariums. While hundreds of planetariums exist across the United States, the following list represents some of the premier facilities, recognized for their top-notch programs, historical significance and/or cutting-edge public outreach.

Genetically inherited conditions are one of the worst scourges of mankind. As medical science advances in the war on genetic diseases, it’s interesting to look back at some notable figures in history who suffered from such terrible afflictions. Many of their cases are well documented, while others have only recently been discovered, after careful study or speculation. Here are 10 historical figures who overcame their genetic fate to make a mark on the world.

The Human Genome Project (HGP), which concluded in 2003, has been hailed as the equivalent of the Manhattan Project to build the atom bomb, and the Apollo missions to the Moon. Sequencing the human genome led to many surprises. For example, humans have just 20,000 to 25,000 genes, far less than previously thought, and scientists will be examining their role via the exciting new field of Epigenetics for decades to come. This breakthrough promises to revolutionize medicine, and perhaps in our lifetime we’ll see cures or effective treatments for such scourges as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s and more. But like any new scientific discovery, modern genetics is fraught with ethical dilemmas. Who owns your genes? Should a corporation be allowed to patent a gene discovery? Should we manipulate genetics, and will this technology soon be available to “basement tinkerers” as well as major institutions? Just as in the cyber-world, the genetics revolution rolls on as litigation struggles to keep up. Here are some of the major dilemmas facing modern genetics today.

There are literally thousands of great experiments awaiting the scientifically curious. And while the days of chemistry sets containing such chemicals as sulfur and potassium may be long gone, there are still plenty of fascinating experiments from the world of chemistry and physics waiting to be tried. What follows are 10 science teacher favorites. Some of these are classics and straight out of the high school science lab, while others are hidden gems that instructors can add to their repertoire. And while some may require access to exotic chemicals or specialized equipment, some can be done with simple materials found around the house. Here’s a quick rundown, with accompanying videos, of 10 of our favorites. A quick disclaimer: Attempt these experiments at your own risk.

The recent landing of the Mars Science Laboratory at Gale Crater has captured the public’s imagination in a way that few NASA missions have since Apollo 11 landed on the Moon. The Curiosity Rover represents the seventh successful robotic landing on the Red Planet by the U.S. since Viking 1 in 1976. This raises the inevitable question: when will the first humans travel to Mars? A NASA study group in May 2012 set a working goal of 2033 for a manned mission to Mars, but there are numerous technical and political challenges to overcome. Some question whether such a mission is even worth the high cost and risk. Certainly, long-term human spaceflight presents a vexing set of challenges; unlike robots, humans must be fed, hydrated, protected, entertained, and to top it all off, they demand a return ticket home. Here are five issues that must be resolved before humans head to Mars.

We live at the whim of a “stormy star.” While our Sun sustains life on this planet, it is also prone to explosive acts of energy and violence. Once every 11 years, our Sun reaches a maximum level of activity and releases great outbursts of energy known as solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These discharges are the equivalent of billions of megatons worth of TNT, with the energetic fast gamma- and X-ray energies hitting Earth in minutes and the heavier particles impacting our magnetic field days later. Luckily, not all of these outbursts are directed toward Earth, and we have a fleet of observatories in space and on the ground monitoring our Sun for these potential hazards. Most solar storms go unnoticed, but some wreak havoc with communications, satellites and pose a radiation hazard to astronauts in space. And as our society becomes ever more dependent on technology, the chances increase that a large solar storm could seriously impact civilization. Following are some of the biggest solar storms witnessed over the last two centuries.

Tunnels have frequently been in the news this year, and we’re not just talking about those sophisticated drug-smuggling tunnels U.S. officials discovered on the U.S./Mexican border. Across the United States a number of major cities have either opened new commuter tunnel projects this year, or began digging massive rail, vehicle or sewer tunnels. Many cost hundreds of millions of dollars and won’t be done for several years, but in the tunneling world, those figures don’t even raise an eyebrow — some of the tunnels on this list have been in planning or under construction for decades, cost billions, and won’t be done for many years to come. Here’s a look at some of the amazing work going on hundreds of feet beneath some of America’s biggest cities, ranked by estimated final cost.

We live on an active planet. And no matter where you reside in the world, there’s always some threat of natural disaster to contend with, whether it be earthquakes, snow storms, hurricanes etc. But as recent weather in the United States has reminded us, other forms of bizarre natural phenomena can and do occur on occasion. While these sorts of weather anomalies may be rare, they can wreak havoc when they occur. Following are five strange but deadly forms of natural weather phenomena.

Nothing drives a science fiction plot along like throwing in a good fictional element or chemical compound or two. And while some purists may decry this as “plot resolution by techno-babble,” a well-crafted fictional element can enhance a created universe and serve as a way to give characters real-world limitations. Every superhero has got to have a strength or weakness, right? Think of Dune, where the galactic economy is linked to the power of the Spice. In the recent Avengers movie, Tony Stark’s Iron Man suit was formerly powered by palladium (a real element), to be replaced by an unnamed fictional one in Iron Man 2. Following is a look at 10 memorable substances from the worlds of superheroes and science fiction.

No single factor drives the world economy like the price of oil and gasoline. Because oil is also involved in the transportation of goods, people and services, the fluctuations of the market trickle down to nearly every business sector, whether it’s food production, mining, or even travel and leisure. The majority of us “feel the pinch” the most at the pump, and during an election year, much debate swirls around gasoline prices. But what factors make up the price you pay at the pump?

In case you missed the news, Eugene Polley recently passed away at the age of 96. Don’t recognize the name? You’ll certainly recognize his invention. In 1955, the former Zenith Electronics engineer debuted the first remote control. Looking more like a green stun gun than the devices we know today, the Flash-Matic not only helped to grow generations of “couch potatoes” but it freed us from cumbersome cables and mechanical dials, and spun off countless other wireless inventions. Like Polley, the following inventors may not have the name recognition of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs or Mark Zuckerberg, but without these little-known titans of technology paving the way, the aforementioned behemoths of brains (and billions) may never have created the ubiquitous devices, technologies and trends that made them famous.

As the price and demand for oil and gas goes up worldwide, it becomes more lucrative to go after deposits of natural gas by more exotic methods. One of the most controversial methods is hydraulic fracturing, more commonly known as fracking. In this process, millions of gallons of pressurized water, chemicals and sand are injected deep underground to shatter permeable rock layers, making formerly inaccessible deposits flow to the surface. More than 20,000 natural gas wells have been fractured in the last decade in the U.S., and in these lean financial times, many property owners and communities have gladly sold or leased their land in support of this process. Still, many people fear the damage to the environment and especially the water table that might result. Here are the chief concerns about fracking, and a look at why the science in some cases is less settled than either fracking supporters or opponents would like to believe.

We’ve all said dumb things before, things we regret. Most of us are fortunate that our words aren’t recorded for posterity — unless you posted those thoughts on your Facebook page. The people listed below weren’t so lucky; they all made incredibly bold, and in retrospect, incredibly wrong statements that live on decades later. Here are 10 interesting predictions about science and technology that seem ridiculous today.

Humans have long had a love/hate relationship with robots. For every lovable robot, like R2-D2 of Star Wars fame, or the robot in the campy 1960s TV series Lost in Space (Danger, Will Robinson!), there have been evil robots and humanoids we’ve feared, liked the replicants in the classic 1982 film Blade Runner. Then there’s the Terminator series, where Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “character” went from feared in the first movie to beloved in the sequels. But as we watched these movies and shows, very few people probably thought such advances in robotics would occur in their lifetime. Well, we were wrong. One day, in the not-too-distant future, human-like androids will likely walk among us undetected, acting like humans. Watching the following videos, you can see that technology in this field has come much further than you imagined.

We’ve all seen famous examples of “failed” engineering, from collapsed bridges and buildings to $300 million satellite launches that crash into the ocean. What seemed like a good idea during the design phase didn’t work as expected under stress or even normal conditions. In most cases, someone cleans up the mess and another project is started to replace the failed one. But some failed projects are left to stand, and have become renowned as “successful failures.” Here are 5 examples of failed engineering projects still standing today, in some cases a thousand years after they were first built.

We live in a golden age of astronomy. Modern instruments such as the Hubble Space Telescope and its kin have redefined modern astronomical knowledge, confirming old suspicions about the universe while revealing startling new discoveries. Here are 5 modern revelations that have reshaped our understanding of the cosmos and our place in it.

We live on an active planet. Every year, some 50 to 70 volcanic eruptions occur somewhere in the world, some featuring slow pyroclastic flows, others causing violent explosions. As the recent eruption of the Popocatepetl volcano near Mexico City reminds us, many of these hotbeds of activity sit dangerously close to population centers. Following are 10 volcanoes that the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior is closely monitoring due to their potential for eruption and their proximity to large populations. The list is in no particular order, as the IAVCEI did not rank the specific threats posed by these volcanoes.

When the first computer networks went online in the 1960s and 1970s, it didn’t take long before computer whizzes found ways to “game” the system. The earliest so-called “hackers,” “phone phreaks,” learned how to access long distance lines to make free calls. By the 1980s, hackers were illegally accessing banks and other institutions for financial gain, and today, cyber-crime costs businesses worldwide some $400 billion a year. But hacking is a very nuanced issue. Many hackers have used their skills to highlight flaws in computer security, sparking a debate about “black hat” hackers who work for malicious purposes, “white hat” crackers with beneficial intentions, or “gray hats,” who fall somewhere in between. Even the term “hacker” has fallen out of favor in the computer world, replaced by the less-judgmental term “cracker.”

However you classify them, the following 10 individuals all made headlines for their hacking and cracking exploits.

With the end of the space shuttle era, NASA is headed toward lean fiscal times, with funding projected to be less than one-half of 1 percent of the federal budget for the foreseeable future. While public space missions are on the decline, many new commercial space companies have sprung up in the past few years, some with an eye toward tourism, others looking to launch satellites or carry supplies to the International Space Station. It’s ironic that in a time when many traditional corporations are downsizing, many space-oriented businesses are booming. Here are 10 such space companies worth watching.

Modern pharmaceuticals have revolutionized medicine, banished many formerly fatal diseases, and made many chronic conditions treatable. But along with all the success stories we have tales of drugs that were once hailed as a panacea, only to later be identified as dangerous, often with fatal consequences. And while scientists and drug manufacturers can make honest mistakes, many of the following examples illustrate what happens when money, politics, and just plain poor judgment is involved.

Every day, we are bombarded with numbers. Statistics and data provide us useful information about the world, but as we head toward another presidential election, we can expect to see plenty of talk about poll results, margins of error, and the like. Stats tell us the batting average of our favorite baseball player and the likelihood of getting struck by a meteorite, but misunderstanding of statistics is also rife, and can lead to a manipulation of the facts that may be either deliberate or inadvertent. Here’s a look at how statistics can often deceive us.

While it’s true that more species have gone extinct in the history of life on Earth than currently exist, scientists believe the extinction rate is accelerating, and that we may be to blame. Thousands of species worldwide are at risk of suffering the same fate as the dodo bird, to name one famously extinct species. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature maintains a “Red List” of at-risk species. Certain animals are classified as either “Extinct” or “Extinct in the Wild” (animals found only in captivity), but the next most serious category is “Critically Endangered,” for animals whose populations have decreased by 80 percent in the past three generations. Once a population dwindles to a certain point, its chances of coming back are slim due to a lack of genetic diversity. Here, in no particular order, are 10 species in that Critically Endangered category.

While science is driven by careful deduction and analysis, scientists are also human and often have “hunches” about possible future discoveries. To this end, colleagues have been known place bets with each other about possible scientific developments. But beyond just making for a good story, this demonstrates the human side of science, and the fact that those who are ultimately successful may simply be willing to “fail longer than the rest of us.” Even after the seemingly endless rounds of peer review and experimentation, such scientific wagers also reveal the collaborative methods by which science can be self-correcting in the face of new evidence. Following are five of the most famous scientific wagers in history.

Look around your house or car at all the amazing inventions that have come along in the past few years: iPods and iPads, GPS devices, satellite TV, those weird little robots that can vacuum a room by themselves. All these technological toys are like Stone-Age tools compared to the amazing wonders of the human brain. Although humans have been studying the brain for thousands of years, in the past 15 years or so, scientists have debunked some longstanding myths about our most vital organ. Here are some surprising facts about the human brain.

For every new technology that makes it onto the battlefield, thousands of others have been tested or are in the process of development. Many of these strange but true projects originated with the federal agency known as DARPA, or the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Although most Americans have never heard of the agency, DARPA was established in 1958 as a response to the Soviet launch of Sputnik. One of DARPA’s earliest creations, a computer network known as ARPANET, set the foundation for the Internet in use today and demonstrated once again that technology developed for the military can find civilian uses. No one can say just what future consumer marvels will originate through DARPA, but here are 10 unique technologies currently being developed by this special agency.

A society willing to mount explorations reaps the benefits of discovery. Throughout history, while many such expeditions had conquest or riches in mind, a different sort of voyage emerged around the time of the Renaissance — travel with the stated objective of geographic or scientific discovery. Our ventures into space aside, here are 10 famous terrestrial expeditions that provided insight into the physical and natural world.

Our perception of the world around us is limited by our senses, none of which gives us more information than the human eye. But our vision is often fallible, and can be fooled by natural and manmade optical illusions. Thousands of such illusions have either been discovered or created, but here are 10 notable optical illusions that demonstrate psychological tricks of the mind and eye. (Note: Some of these illusions are more noticeable on larger monitors than PDAs.)

Modern science is subject to strict ethical codes when it comes to scientific trials, and for good reason. In the past, thousands of experiments were conducted without regard to safety or ethics, often with deadly consequences. Many were performed because public safety or the imminent threat to the nation was deemed paramount over individual rights. Others resulted from the misapplication of junk science, shortsightedness, or political greed. Such unethical research programs are still making headlines today, as the federal and state governments apologize and grant compensation to victims. Yet, despite our progress in reining in unethical testing practices, some of the below research programs still use questionable methods. That said, here are 10 of the darkest chapters in U.S. scientific history.

Nothing warms a scientist’s heart like a science-fiction film that bothers to “get the science right.” There are plenty of B-grade bad sci-fi movies out there, but every so often a golden nugget stands out. Great science-fiction movies can be educational, stir our imagination, and even inspire younger viewers to pursue careers in science. And while even the gems on this list all contain a scientific error or two, as a rule they do not break the science-fiction mantra of disregarding more than one physical law of nature per film.

History loves a winner. And in the field of science, the big winners are generously rewarded with Nobel Prizes, lucrative patents and international acclaim. Those who lost out in the quest for scientific recognition sometimes waited too long to publish a theory, or perhaps didn’t follow the right procedure in applying for a patent. But sometimes, these historic also-rans did everything right, were the first to make a major discovery and still didn’t receive the credit they deserved. Here are five such scientists who made important breakthroughs but have been overshadowed in the history books.

Space exploration is a hazardous business. Since the launch of Sputnik in 1957, many missions have failed to escape orbit or have crashed back to Earth upon their return, often to great media publicity. In the latest example, the Russian probe Phobos-Grunt, which was launched Nov. 9, 2011 to explore Mars’ moon, Phobos, never escaped Earth’s orbit and is set to reenter the atmosphere Jan. 15 or 16, complete with a payload of toxic hydrazine rocket fuel. Several of the incidents on this list are virtually unknown. Others have become national tragedies where astronauts and cosmonauts paid the ultimate sacrifice for space exploration.

It almost a rite of passage for each generation to have an apocalypse to fear, and astronomy provides plenty of scary scenarios for doomsday. Perhaps such end-of-the-world scares are thrilling or even amusing to some, but the harm comes when individuals act on these fears, often selling off their worldly possessions or even taking their lives. And of course, plenty of hucksters are eager to capitalize on a coming apocalypse. Here’s a look at five astronomical events that were feared by many to signal the end the world as we know it; obviously, the results turned out otherwise.

Technology now permeates nearly every facet of our lives. Whether shopping online, collaborating with distant colleagues, or merely looking for information, the Internet has brought the world to our desktop or smartphone. One of the most exciting things to emerge in recent years is the advent of online citizen science. This enables volunteers to participate in research or to make their personal computer available over a network, where the combined computing power of hundreds or thousands of computers can find answers to problems that would otherwise take centuries to solve. Here is a look at 10 diverse “crowd-sourcing” or “distributed-computing” projects that await the curious online. Best of all, no experience is necessary, and if you or your computer makes a great scientific find, you get the credit.

As each Christmas season approaches, the Bible story of the birth of Jesus is retold anew. Amidst the parable, one particular event stands out in the minds of those of us who watch the night sky; the Star of Bethlehem, mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 2 as “a star in the east” which led the three wise men on a pilgrimage to Bethlehem. The appearance of the star was said to have fulfilled a prophecy from the Old Testament put forth in the Book of Numbers of the birth of the Messiah … but what was it? Do any astronomical events match the description in the scriptures, and could we link Jesus’ birth to a historical date? Following are astronomical phenomena that provide tantalizing comparisons to that famous star.

A team of scientists raised eyebrows earlier this year when they estimated there are 8.7 million species on Earth. Some critics contend that estimate is much too low. Whatever the exact number, each year hundreds of new species of animals are discovered. Some are offshoots of known species, while others had been considered mythical until their discovery. Each year, scientists also rediscover species that had been considered extinct. Here are 10 species of the Lazarus taxon, 10 animals that were once thought to be either extinct or non-existent.

Wind power. Solar energy. Electric cars. For years, we’ve heard about the coming shift from a fossil-fuel-based economy to one that uses renewable and sustainable energy. But while green energy initiatives are great in theory, they’ve had a tough time making their way into the average community or driveway. Beyond the technical problems facing clean energy, the issue has become politically charged, with scandals such as Solyndra and the BP disaster in the Gulf dominating the news. Here are five problems slowing the conversion to green energy in the United States.

Humans existed on Earth for many thousands of years before they knew what their home planet looked like from space. Even in the early years of the space program, photographing the planet was an afterthought, as the primary mission was just to get astronauts into orbit and bring them back alive. In the half century since then, humans have made up for lost time, capturing more than 1 million images of the Earth as seen from space. Here are 10 of the most historic and/or unusual photos and videos from that vast collection.

On Nov. 4, 2011, a crew of six “astronauts” emerged from 17-plus months of isolation from the outside world in the Mars 500 project in Russia, which simulated a roundtrip mission to Mars. The study was primarily a biological/psychological one, devoted to studying the effects such a long-term confinement would have on human physiology during a long space mission. If that sounds strange, it’s only one of thousands of strange research projects or experiments that have been conducted or are currently underway in the world of science. Several of these projects make us first stop and wonder, “Why?” Then they make us think.

One of the biggest questions in modern science is whether or not we’re alone in the universe. The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) crosses scientific disciplines and gets at the heart of such philosophical questions as why we’re here and what it means to be human. A serious search for signals from other civilizations began in 1960 with Project Ozma. Researcher Frank Drake later devised the Drake equation to quantify how many technologically advanced civilizations might exist in our galaxy. As the search for extraterrestrial life continues, a nagging question remains: where is everyone? In 1950, physicist Enrico Fermi outlined this dilemma in what’s become known as the Fermi paradox. In essence, if life is theoretically so common in our galaxy, then why have we not found evidence? Here are the top themes on why we haven’t found E.T.

Lost tribes. Cosmic catastrophes. Fictitious species. If it sounds too incredible to be true, it often is. We’ve all heard of such classic cons as the Cardiff Giant or the Halley’s Comet scare of 1910, but modern-day hoaxes persist. What follows is a list of the top 10 hoaxes that have fooled journalists, the public, and yes, occasionally even the scientific community in recent years.

Rare elements have become a hot commodity. It’s amazing to think that elements with bizarre-sounding names such as dysprosium and ytterbium help power many of the products we use every day, including our smart phones, flat-screen TVs, computers, cars and other applications. The problem: Many of these elements are becoming more scarce by the day. Here are some dilemmas that the United States may soon face based on these vanishing elements.

Science is the bedrock of modern society. And while it’s true that science and technology support everything from communications and medicine to assuring a food supply for our burgeoning population, it’s also alarming that we’ve set up a society where few understand the underpinnings of science. And although those seeking it can still get valuable preparation for a science career prior to college, a great many students in the United States are being woefully underprepared to become citizens of a technical society. Here are five reasons why U.S. students are falling behind in science.

At the end of the 19th century, astronomer Simon Newcomb announced that astronomy as a research endeavor had reached an end, that man had approached “…the limit of all we can know about astronomy.” This was in 1889, years before Einstein introduced Relativity, Hubble identified the Andromeda as a separate galaxy, and astronomy changed irrevocably. Newcomb would scarcely recognize modern astronomy with its blazars, magnetars, and extra-solar planets. Here are five of the most astonishing astronomical discoveries of recent decades.

Exposure to toxins is part of our everyday lives. While such dangerous contaminants as radon and mercury predate industrialization in some areas, modern chemistry has introduced many other harmful toxins into the environment. For many of these substances, there is much debate about what levels are safe in our background environment. There’s also much disagreement as to the cost versus benefit of containing, removing or monitoring these substances. That said, here are the suspected dangers and sources of 10 common toxins, and how you can limit your exposure.

The times they are a-changin’… it can safely be said that we now inhabit the science fiction world of our grandparents. While we do not yet commute to work via pneumatic tube or live on Mars, the reality computers, GPS, and a world made of plastic are now ubiquitous. Here are five emerging technologies that seem to come straight from the pages of science fiction.

The pursuit of science can be a thankless endeavor. For every award or patent given out, countless ideas and concepts fall by the wayside. A lucky few scientists and engineers get their names tagged to theories, constants, or concepts that they are now forever associated with, such as Avogadro’s number or the Hubble constant. Fewer still get their names associated with everyday products or terms frequently used by the general public. Here are five such scientists whose names live on in common usage.

Even though the Apple Macintosh computer and the Windows-based PC are getting closer together in the way they work, the age-old argument remains: Which is better? The answer to that depends on which one you love, but in reality, the Mac is better in every way. If you already are shaking your head at this, then you have not yet seen the light and still trudge along in the Dark Age of the PC. The answer is obvious, though, every time you have to do five steps on a PC when one would do it on the Mac. It’s time to grow up, shed the shackles of Windows and come over to the right side of the Force. There are many, many more reasons than just five why Macs are better, but here’s a start.

The second decade of the 21st century brings some imposing challenges for NASA. The space shuttle program has ended, flagship programs such as the Hubble Space Telescope are aging and in their final years, and budgets have flat-lined. Manned spaceflight will continue in low Earth orbit aboard the International Space Station, but in the short term United States astronauts will have to rely on the Russians for a ride up.

Trends are toward commercial companies such as ULA and Space-X taking over low-Earth orbital missions, but a steep learning curve exists for these industries. It remains to be seen how interested these entities will be in exploration unless a tangible short-term benefit exists. That said, here are the top five challenges facing NASA today.

Nikola Tesla was one of the most complex men in the history of science, equal parts visionary, inventor, engineer, and all-around tinkerer. Although the names of Edison and Einstein are better known, the contributions and innovative thinking of the Serbian-born Tesla did much to shape the modern world. Like Einstein, Tesla’s name is often evoked whenever we think of solitary genius, a notion that stands in stark contrast to the collaborative efforts of mainstream science today. Here are five interesting aspects of Tesla’s life and legacy.

In 2000, the American Society of Civil Engineers took on the monumental task of naming its 10 “Monuments of the Millennium” to recognize the top feats of engineering completed during the 20th century. Selected projects included the Golden Gate Bridge, Empire State Building, Hoover Dam and the Interstate Highway System. Granted, since the list was compiled, Boston’s Big Dig highway project came to a close and the massive Hangzhou and Jiaozhou bridges were constructed in China. These modern marvels offer the best engineering has to offer, standing in sharp contrast to some megaprojects proposed by engineers and scientists which, at best, appear to defy our current technical understanding and, at worst, seem to defy logic. Here are five strange engineering proposals.

Looking to explore the final frontier? Unfortunately, a visit to the International Space Station is still beyond the financial grasp of most U.S. citizens. The good news is, several venues exist nationwide were you can still get a taste of space. Here are 10 sites, from observatories to space museums, which are well worth checking out.

Some of the most beautiful objects in the night sky are the various types of planetary, diffuse, and reflection nebulae that adorn it. But beyond just pure aesthetics, nebulae serve as seeds for heavy elements that propel the life cycles of stars. As stars end their stable period of fusing hydrogen into helium and then ever-heavier elements through the periodic table, they finally shed their outer layers, creating vast shells of gas that lay the foundation for the next round of stars, planets, and, in one case that we know of, life.

As scientific research progresses, long-held beliefs often give way to a better understanding of how things work. This can be a painful process, as we slowly accept the way the universe is rather than how we wish it to be. Here are five scientific theories that seem almost laughable today, but at one time were considered quite respectable before giving way to a better understanding in their respective fields.

Technology has altered the modern battlefield and the nature of contemporary combat. While the most essential weapon is still the soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen who risk their lives in battle, in recent years the U.S. military has also added some unique new weapons systems to maintain a lethal edge in the field. Here are 10 weapons utilized by the modern U.S. war fighter that have debuted in recent years.

It’s all fun and games until someone is killed by a shark. Or a bear. Or any of the other beasts that made it onto this list of the top 10 deadliest creatures in the United States. While fearsome animals such as cougars, or creepy critters like scorpions might seem to merit a place on the list, they were edged out by deadlier creatures. Some, like bears and sharks, are shoo-ins you’d expect on such a list. Others will probably surprise you.

Scientific advances usually come one step at a time, as understanding gained by this generation builds upon the foundation of discoveries made in the past. Today, much of the “low-hanging fruit” of earlier eras has given way to tougher technical challenges that will take our collective ingenuity as a species to solve. The unknown today may well be the known tomorrow, but scientific questions will always exist. Here are the top 5 puzzling mysteries and dilemmas that drive science today.

Meteorites. Bolides. Impact craters. They’ve inspired some very bad science fiction movies, yet one only has to turn a small telescope to the face of our battered Moon to realize that our solar neighborhood is a shooting gallery for flying rocks. Of course, the Moon lacks the effects of wind, rain, and erosion that remove most of the evidence of impacts here on Earth. As a result, visible evidence of impact craters on our own planet is relatively rare.

Thus far, 178 terrestrial impact sites worldwide are known, with more than 30 in the United States (various sources reveal different figures). Many were discovered through geological sampling or aerial photography; very few look like an actual crater from ground level. The following five sites are some of the most visible examples of impact craters in the United States, places where you can stand and imagine a past Armageddon.

You buy the latest and greatest gadget in the store. By the time you get home, it’s not the latest anymore. A year or two later, it’s almost obsolete. Throughout our modern history, many once popular technologies have quickly become casualties of changing consumer tastes and technological innovations. We can look upon some of these technologies with nostalgia, yet their replacements are more efficient and much less annoying (does anyone miss the screeching tones of dial-up Internet service?) Here are 10 technological innovations that enjoyed a brief run in the public consciousness before the next big thing came along. Rest In Peace.

Few stop to think about it, but we now live in a science fiction world. The 21st century, that distant future of our childhood, is now here in full force. Sure, we may not have flying cars and live on other planets yet, but many ideas and gadgets that were once staples in the science fiction of our childhood are now taken for granted in our daily lives.

Animal and plant species are uniquely adapted to their ecological niche. But where man goes, invasive species frequently follow, or at least hitch a ride. These invaders can cause millions of dollars in damage each year and may destroy native species and habitats. Ironically, some of these invasive species were introduced into the United States years ago to solve an environmental problem, before their destructive potential became apparent.

Following are the 10 most troublesome invasive species wreaking havoc in the U.S., ranked according to several factors, including economic damage, the extent of their habitat and the potential for future damage to the economy and the environment.

Scientific developments are usually incremental. Step by step, knowledge is built upon, sometimes in a tough battle against superstition and the common consensus. But occasionally, a breakthrough is made that radically changes the playing field, as a sudden discovery allows a scientific field to flourish. Following is a list of 10 such moments in history, some seminal, a few lesser known.

Saving money is on everybody’s minds these days. Often, we trade money for time or convenience, and in the current economy, many of us are taking a hard look at our expenses. But did you know that many staples of modern living are simply unneeded? Yes, snake oil salesmen are alive and well and routinely fooling the uninitiated in the 21st century. Following is a list of the top 10 items that science says people tend to waste money on.

The negative consequences of global warming are well-documented — melting ice caps, rising sea levels, loss of habitat for polar bears and countless other species, mass disruptions and dislocations around the world as formerly habitable areas become unlivable. It sounds like the world's going to become a very unpleasant place to call home if everything that's been predicted comes to pass.

The less-publicized reality of climate change is that some change is likely to be beneficial. Granted, virtually every positive effect has a negative corollary, and sometimes the negative outweighs the positive (territorial disputes over low-lying islands will cease, which is good, but only because the islands will be underwater, which is worse). But it's not all bad. The following list details the top 10 effects of global climate change that could be good for the planet. This may not convince the doomsayers, but should global warming transpire as many scientists predict, it could make waiting for that toasty Armageddon a much more endurable experience.

A quick glance across the periodic table of elements yields some pretty obscure-sounding elements that may seem to be outside of everyday experience. We’ve never come across a lump of francium before, and elements such as cerium and technetium sound equally exotic. In fact, the universe itself is mostly comprised of the first two elements of hydrogen and helium, and on a rocky world like Earth, silicon and oxygen are the most prevalent. But did you know that some much more exotic elements may exist in your home or neighborhood? Surprisingly, these products of modern living may even be synthetic elements, and may be radioactive. Here are the top 10 elements you didn’t know were in your home.

Modern science fiction can be seen as the true mythology of our age. Barely a genre a century ago, it has flourished and diversified to embody our hopes and fears as a technological civilization. At its best, true science fiction can symbolize the perils and promises wrought by our technological adolescence. What follows is a list of 10 essential science fiction works, some well-worn classics with a few undiscovered gems thrown in. This list is by no means all inclusive of the thousands of fine science fiction tales out there, and is only representative of definitive works of hard science fiction that make a pivotal statement, sparked a sub-genre, and/or bothered to get the science right along the way.

Asteroids. Gamma-ray bursts. Resonances and oscillations. If astronomy tells us anything, the universe is indeed out to kill us. Mankind narrowly escaped extinction with the passage of the last ice age, and we’ve only been on the scene for a tiny fraction of geological time. The following list demonstrates 12 ways that astronomy tells us the world could end, from the least to most likely. That determination is very loosely based, as some of what follows has little precedence and we learn more about the bizarre nature of the universe every day. So without further adieu, let’s destroy the world.