Today’s the day the total solar eclipse distracts America from, well, everything. The better-enjoy-it-now spectacle will cost the United States almost $700 million in lost productivity during the “roughly 20 minutes that outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas estimates workers will take out of their workday on Monday to stretch their legs, head outside the office and Read more

For the most part, earthlings have been listening for signs of life from another system rather than sending out signals to let someone else ‘out there’ know we’re here. That, apparently is about to change because SETI Institute scientist Douglas Vakoch, is planning an ongoing series of messages to begin in 2018. Not everyone is convinced that’s a good idea. Read more