As above, so below

Earth-mass Exoplanets and Their Uses

Will the discovery of an Earth-analog elsewhere in the galaxy be a one-day event, to be eclipsed by still more 'breaking news' in the perpetually overheated reporting cycle? Chances are it will, but my hope is that each intriguing exoplanet discovery will give us a brief window to work on public awareness of Earth's place in the cosmos. If we choose to become a star-faring species, it will be because on the broadest possible level we will have placed ourselves in the context of a galaxy that may well be aswarm with living worlds. The key is to get people thinking, one story, one idea, one planet at a time.