by David Kaplan

The Planetary Society announced that it would send the first of two small spacecraft testing the technology of solar sails into orbit in May.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/27/science/hoping-to-set-sail-on-sunlight.html?smid=nytcore-ipad-share&smprod=nytcore-ipad

Astronomers say they have discovered a gigantic ring system around a distant planet – the first such structure discovered outside our Solar System.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31001936

The largest image of the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31) has recently been unveiled by NASA. Made up of an astonishing 1.5 billion pixels, a total of 600 high-definition television screens are required to view the entirety of the image.
http://www.viralglobalnews.com/science/andromeda-galaxy-revealed-1-5-billion-pixel-image-video/28418/

Researchers have decoded ancient recordings from fragments of an asteroid dating back billions of years to the start of the Solar System.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30916692

The Royal Photographic Society calls for entries into the International Images for Science competition:
http://www.rps.org/exhibitions-and-competitions/competitions/international-images-for-science

What astrobiology can tell us about the fate of the planet.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/18/opinion/sunday/is-a-climate-disaster-inevitable.html?smid=nytcore-ipad-share&smprod=nytcore-ipad

The Town Without Wifi: Greenbank, WV
http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/the-town-without-wi-fi/?utm_source=pocket&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pockethits

Astrophysicists studying the unstable “stellar monster” Eta Carinae unveil fresh insights and a 3D model of the destructive maelstrom at its heart.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30721794

Astronomers measure Saturn’s position with unprecedented accuracy thanks to a continent-wide radio telescope.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30743935

Scientists say a pair of supermassive black holes appear to be spiraling toward a galaxy-wrecking collision that could release as much energy as 100 million supernova explosions.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/08/science/in-a-far-off-galaxy-2-black-holes-dance-toward-an-explosive-union.html?smid=nytcore-ipad-share&smprod=nytcore-ipad