Daily Archives: May 31, 2023

Stars On Mars is a new unscripted reality series on FOX that brings together 12 celebrities competing to colonize the Red Planet. From actors to athletes, musicians to reality TV celebrities, the cast will receive assignments from legendary actor William Shatner, who serves as Mission Control. Following in the footsteps of other successful reality competition shows with casts from various parts of the entertainment industry, including Special Forces: World's Toughest Test, The Traitors, and Celebrity Big Brother, Stars On Mars has a new and interesting concept.

Stars On Mars will challenge the celebrity contestants physically, mentally, and emotionally. William is the perfect host, as the 92-year-old actor not only played Caption James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise for three decades, but he has even traveled to space. On October 13, 2021, he became the oldest person every to fly into space, when he took part in Blue Origin's second sub-orbital human spaceflight, Blue Origin NS-18. With William at the helm, Stars On Mars is sure to be a hit.

In the Stars On Mars trailer posted by FOX, William describes the show as "the most realistic celebrity Mars colony simulation ever created." The celebrities "embarked on a daily mission to outer space, living 24/7 in our hyper-realistic Mars habitat in a social experiment unlike anything else on television." William says that the celebrities have come there to prove that they have what it takes to survive. This mission will test their leadership skills, and only one of them will make it to the end. The contestants will receive their assignments from William at Mission Control.

According to EW, Stars On Mars features 12 celebrities. They include cycling champion Lance Armstrong, actor Natasha Leggero, Super Bowl champion Marshawn Lynch, Superbad star Christopher Mintz-Plasse ("McLovin"), Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon, and wrestler and UFC fighter Ronda Rousey. Joining them will be Vanderpump Rules star Tom Schwartz, football player Richard Sherman, singer/songwriter Tinashe, The Real Housewives of Atlanta's Porsha Williams Guobadia, actress Tallulah Willis, and Modern Family star Ariel Winter.

Stars On Mars premieres Monday, June 5 at 8 p.m. EDT on FOX with a one-hour episode. It will air each week in that time slot. Episodes will be available for viewing the next day on Hulu. Stars On Mars has a unique concept in the world of reality competition television. As the celebrities compete in the Mars simulation, it'll be interesting to see which of them has what it takes to survive the conditions on the Red Planet. With William as host, Stars On Mars will be an out-of-this-world adventure.

Sources: FOX/YouTube, EW

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Everything We Know About Stars On Mars - Screen Rant

An artist's concept of MBR passing an asteroid. UAE Space Agency

The United Arab Emirates announced earlier this week its formal plans to send a mission to the asteroid belt in a grand tour past seven targets.

The working name for the mission is the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (MBR). That acronym echoes that of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum (MBR).

This mission is a follow up and a follow-on to the Mars mission, where it was the first mission to Mars from the region, says project director Mohsen Al Awadhi (UAE Space Agency). Were creating the same thing with this mission. That is, the first mission ever to explore these seven asteroids specifically, and the first of its kind when it's looked at from the grand tour aspect.

The mission has a three-week long launch window that opens on March 3, 2028. No launch carrier or launch site has been announced yet. For gravitational assists to the asteroid belt, the mission will first make multiple flybys past Venus, Earth, and Mars, starting with Venus in July 2028, before arriving at the first asteroid target, 10253 Westerwald, in February 2030.

The mission will target the following asteroids: 10253 Westerwald, 623 Chimaera, 13294 Rockox, and three asteroids without official names (yet): 2000 VA28 (88055), 1998 RC76 (23871), and 1999 SG6 (59980). The UAE probe will be traveling at 20,500 miles per hour (9 km per second) and will pass just 150 kilometers (93 miles) from each target.

The climax of the mission will occur in 2034, when the spacecraft will dispatch a lander in an attempt to touchdown on the 54-kilometer-wide asteroid 269 Justitia.

Justitia is of special interest because its spectrum shows that its quite red, likely due to a coat of organic molecules that's more typical of outer solar system objects. Currently in a 4.2-year orbit around the Sun, Justitia might have migrated to its present position.

The mission builds on precedent: Similar (but not identical) to NASAs Lucy mission, which is currently en route to multiple Trojan asteroids, MBR will carry solar power as well as two imagers and two spectrometers. The two mission profiles are likewise similar. The idea to rendezvous and land on an asteroid also has precedent: Japan's Hayabusa and NASA's Osiris-Rex both completed sample returns, while ESAs Rosetta mission deposited the Philae lander on Comet 67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

The MBR science team hopes to collect the data necessary to answer key questions in planetary science, including the source of Earths water and how the water-rich bodies in the early solar system evolved. The MBR will also collect information useful to potentially mining asteroids for resources in the future.

This is the UAE's second venture into interplanetary space. The UAE launched its successful Mars Hope mission in 2020, which is currently orbiting and exploring the Red Planet. Another mission, the nations Rashid lunar rover, recently crashed on the Moon, along with the Hakuto-R lander that was carrying it.

The UAE has also sent astronauts to the International Space Station and recently fielded crew on the Axiom Space Crew Dragon mission with SpaceX. Further afield, UAE even has ambitions to place a colony on Mars by 2117.

Itll be exciting to see UAE carry out the asteroid exploration mission in the coming decade, as the agency proves itself as a major player in the international space exploration community.

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United Arab Emirates Announces New Mission to the Asteroid Belt - Sky & Telescope

Take humanity to the stars with the best space settlement games.

As we keep searching for star systems similar to our own and work on getting mankind to other celestial bodies, science fiction has been dreaming of space settlements for decades. With the rise of video games, visions of off-world cities and settlements have multiplied. Some are more scientifically accurate than others, but there are plenty of space settlement games well worth checking out. Scroll down to find our ten favorite picks that you can play right now.

This list has been limited to video games that focus on terraforming and the actual process of building colonies as well as conquering inhospitable planets. Heads up: conflicts may or may not be part of their equations. Still, weve decided to mostly include games where the worlds themselves are the main obstacle that must be tamed.

If youre looking for more specific gaming picks, you might want to check out our list of the best space exploration games or maybe the all-spooky best space horror games collection.

For players who want more of a traditional city builder but set in space, Aven Colony is a perfect fit. Its accessible, good-looking, and often exciting. It goes hard on the sci-fi side as well, with plenty of cool flora and fauna sharing the alien territories with your settlements. And, of course, that means trouble more often than not.

Theres also a story campaign worth embarking on and an expedition system that adds yet another layer of unpredictability on top of the daunting task of keeping the settlement running and its citizens alive. Still, Aven Colonys vibes are mostly chill.

Beyond Earth was born as a standalone Civilization V spinoff, which means its systems and mechanics had barely evolved. Moreover, the vanilla experience was a bit dull and largely unbalanced, resulting in a rough launch for the game. Thankfully, Firaxis turned the ship around with its expansion, Rising Tide, and a number of critical updates.

Almost nine years later, Beyond Earth is a pretty solid 4X (explore, expand, exploit, exterminate) game that is easy to jump into and provides a meaty sci-fi spin on the Civilization formula. There are religious cults, transhumanist factions, plenty of alien hazards, and a whole world to conquer however you want. Despite its remaining flaws, we promise the one more turn curse will take hold of you.

Dyson Sphere Program is a sci-fi simulation game (currently in early access) that goes deep and complex with its key systems. The main objective building a galactic industrial empire is simple, but getting there is anything but.

In the far future, science and technology have allowed the human race to thrive thanks to virtual reality and supercomputers, making space and time irrelevant. The only problem is powering the definitive supercomputer. As a result, space engineers are still a thing and are tasked with constructing Dyson spheres to harness the power of stars.

While the core premise behind the game is kind of scary and depressing, Dyson spheres have actually been hypothesized by sci-fi authors and physicists for decades. And seeing such a wild concept powering up an entire game is interesting to say the least.

Fans of strategy games and Frank Herberts sci-fi universe should be happy, as Dune: Spice Wars (currently in early access too) has successfully brought an enchanting mix of real-time strategy and 4X to the sands of Arrakis.

As it stands, the game features five different and well-defined factions: House Atreides, House Harkonnen, House Corrino, the Fremen, and the Smugglers. While all of them share the common goal of controlling the flow of the spice, each group has a set of strengths and weaknesses, unique units, and surprising abilities.

Armed conflicts can rarely be avoided, but Spice Wars heart is in its depiction of Arrakis natural ruthlessness and the technology-driven efforts to tame and exploit the dangerous world. Its also the perfect way to make the wait for Dune: Part 2 somewhat bearable.

Starbound garnered tons of attention during its early access years, but development hurdles and the surge in popularity of the similar adventure-crafting game Terraria cast a bit of a shadow over its full release. Regardless, it built up a healthy community with its unique twist on procedural 2D adventures.

Lost in space with a damaged ship, the only option is to beam down to the planet below to collect resources, build up a new home, and hopefully repair the ship. And thats just the first step, as a working ship means more off-world exploration. Starbound aimed for the stars with its ambitious take on the Minecraft-like formula, and the final result is delightful.

After its rough launch back in 2016, No Mans Sky has grown into a beautiful and mind-bogglingly expansive sci-fi game. The first couple of hours might be rough, but your free time might be in danger if Hello Games behemoth grabs your attention.

The game now supports cross-play and fully online co-op, so thats an added bonus. While it originally stuck to exploration and packed very basic combat and crafting mechanics, the current experience is heavy on settlement and base-building too. Moreover, its procedural universe, from the planets themselves to its inhabitants, is more alive than ever.

Surviving Mars is another great recommendation for players who are passionate about city builders and reasonably deep simulation. Its more peaceful than Aven Colony and not nearly as complex as Per Aspera (listed below) despite sharing with the latter the Mars setting and a focus on the science-y aspect of maintaining settlements.

Another big plus is the cheerful, cartoony art style and how the developers envisioned detailed Martian cities built under protective domes. Moreover, its extra pieces of downloadable content add more life and variety to the game at a reasonable price.

Per Aspera is a complex planetary simulation game which combines hard sci-fi and traditional base-building mechanics. Youre not just in control of setting up a single settlement, but of actually expanding over the entirety of Mars, connecting different cities, and making sure both terraforming and all the technology gluing other systems together work and evolve accordingly.

The cherry on top is a pretty strong narration and the presence of an unexpected mystery which threatens the entire operation. Per Aspera may feel overwhelming at first, but its oddly relaxing and has clear and unique goals in mind.

Endless Space 2 is, in our humble opinion, the best turn-based, sci-fi strategy title that you can find right now. It behaves like a normal 4X game, but the path to victory is never the same due to each species peculiarities. Its universe is vast and rich, and reaching new systems and settling their planets never gets old.

Isolated empires are a viable option, and so is buying peace through a galaxy-wide web of markets. Its expansion packs make things even weirder with species like samurai descendants of birds (really) and immaterial space ghosts. Dont skip this one if youre into absolutely wild universe-building and endlessly replayable, hours-long matches.

RimWorld might be the biggest sim sensation in recent years. Despite its simple visuals, thousands of players have applauded the games intricate simulation systems and seemingly endless creative possibilities. Thankfully, its not hard to get into either.

Starting with a handful of settlers who survived a catastrophe in a distant world, the goal is to make an uncharted planet your new home. The surprise? An AI storyteller that determines the difficulty and overall pace, creating events and helping shape how games of RimWorld evolve. Between this invisible hand and the Dwarf Fortress-like sim systems, RimWorld is unlike anything weve seen.

Want more space gaming articles?

Check out our roundup of all the upcoming space games to keep an eye on this year and beyond. And if you mainly play on Xbox and PC, youll want to learn about the best space games on Xbox Game Pass that are available now.

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Best space settlement games: Manage bases & build cities on other ... - Space.com

Dr. Bruce Bugbee, professor of crop physiology at Utah State University (USU), is back by popular demand and will share his latest cannabis cultivation research with Cannabis Conference attendees in a highly anticipated session.

Dr. Bugbeewho teaches plant nutrition, plant physiology, and environmental instrumentation and is well known for his work with NASA to determine potential crop yield and is currently funded by NASA to study food production for a colony on Marscalls his recent research yielding a new definition of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) the most significant finding of his career to date. Although Bugbee and the USU team are well-known for their cannabis lighting studies, they also investigate other areas of cultivation, including how cannabis responds to different nutrient concentrations and how to optimize temperature at different phases in the plant lifecycle.

His session on Aug. 16 will share key findings on:

and more.

Bugbee is one of nine researchers, professors and scientists who will be sharing their insights and most recent research results with Cannabis Conference attendees, Aug. 15-17, in Las Vegas.

Cannabis Conference is proud to welcome:

Michael Alden Graduate Research Assistant, Ph.D. Student Clemson University Speaking on: All-Access Pass: Crop Steering Intensive: Latest Cultivation Research On Flushing, Height Control And Photoperiod Strategies For Desired Outcomes And Cost Goals

Dr. Nirit Bernstein Head of the Cannabis Physiology and Agronomy Lab, ARO, Volcani Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Israel Speaking on: Affecting Cannabinoids And Terpenes: New Research On Regulating Cultivation Conditions For Controlling Secondary Metabolite Production In Cannabis

Dr. Raymond Cloyd Professor/Extension Specialist Kansas State University - Department of Entomology Speaking on: Got Pests? Learn The Best Strategies For Preventing And Mitigating Them For Good

Dr. Karla Gage Associate Professor of Weed Science and Plant Biology Southern Illinois University Carbondale Speaking on: University Research Roundup: The Latest In Cultivation Science

Dr. Matthew Indest

Technical Director of Agronomy and Plant Improvement Curaleaf Speaking on: All-Access Pass: The Great Balancing Act: Genetic Selection To Give Your Business An Edge In The Competitive Cannabis Market

Dr. Zamir Punja Professor, Plant Pathology/Biotechnology Simon Fraser University Speaking on: All-Access Pass: Cultivators Profit Killer: HpLVd And The Next Viruses Coming To Cannabis

Dr. Shouhua Wang Plant Pathologist Nevada Department of Agriculture Speaking on: All-Access Pass: Cultivators Profit Killer: HpLVd And The Next Viruses Coming To Cannabis

Mitchell Westmoreland Ph.D. Candidate Utah State University Speaking on: University Research Roundup: The Latest In Cultivation Science

View all Cannabis Conference 2023 speakers (to date, more to come) hereand the full agenda here.

Register by June 7 to save up to $400.

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Dr. Bruce Bugbee Returns to Cannabis Conference to Share Latest ... - Cannabis Business Times

As interest in domestic travel continues to increase among U.S. travelers, Stacker used data from YouGov to find out what states are top choices for an in-country visit.

U.S. travelers are expected to visit U.S. destinations more in 2023 than they did before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data from the World Travel and Tourism Council. Thanks in part to rising inflation rates, which make international travel far more difficult to budget for a family, along with the general public's desire to freely move about now that COVID-19 restrictions are fully lifted. Combining that with the plethora of places to choose from when it comes to making your way across America, domestic travel rates went up 30.1% in 2022, and it seems to be on trend to continue its ascent.

With so much to do, however, who could blame someone for wanting to get in the car and leave their cares behind during an epic road trip? For booking that last-minute flight on a whim because the mood seems to strike. The U.S. is home to 424 National Parks, 620 amusement parks, over 35,000 museums, and don't even get us started on how many restaurants there are to try!

As summer approaches, and many are beginning to plot out their itineraries for the road, we wonderedwhich states are the most popular to visit by U.S. tourists? Using data from YouGov to determine what states Americans are visiting, Stacker has ranked the top 25 by the percentage of U.S. adults who have already made a visit. Check the rankings to see if your next destination is among these popular choices, or find your next adventure as you scroll.

Percentage of US adults who have been: 30%

In a state full of early American history, Oklahoma City visitors can take the opportunity to learn about the state's 39 Native American nations in Oklahoma by visiting the First Americans Museum. Tulsa's museum Greenwood Rising tells visitors about the city's Black neighborhood, Greenwood, a once-historic space known as a freedom colony after slavery was abolished. The area, lauded as Black Wall Street, was infamously bombed in 1921 during an incident known as the Tulsa Race Massacre.

Percentage of US adults who have been: 30%

Travelers who like visiting the cultural landmarks listed among the bevy of UNESCO World Heritage sites can see more here than in any other U.S. state. In order to achieve UNESCO World Heritage status, a place must be a work of human genius, contain superlative natural phenomena, or any of the eight other requirements on the qualifications list. The sites located in New Mexico, such as Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, and Taos Pueblo all manage to fit the criteria!

Percentage of US adults who have been: 30%

While Missouri may be most well known for the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, many are unaware upon first glance that the museum housed beneath the landmark is full of history about the "Show Me State" including how it got the nickname. Don't be fooled though, Missouri offers so much more. Branson, for example, is known as the "Live Entertainment Capital of the World" per their tourism site because of the amount of entertainment that is accessible at any given time, and the state has six national parks you can visit.

Percentage of US adults who have been: 30%

Michigan offers a mixture of natural beauty, history, and culture all wrapped up in one state. Visitors often make their way to Detroit to visit the Motown Museum, where curators pay homage to a form of music that, in essence, created the blueprint for all other music to follow. Home to four of the Great Lakes (Erie, Superior, Huron, and Michigan) travelers can also enjoy a car-free adventureincluding a side trip to Mackinac Island, home to Arch Rock. On top of that, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor offers a huge list of attractions from the University of Michigan Museum of Arts, to the Museum of Natural History Planetarium.

Percentage of US adults who have been: 31%

There are some places that make you feel like you've stepped back in time and Louisiana is one of them. It is known for having a multitude of plantations, with at least 14 still open to visit, but they also represent a painful chapter of enslaved people in the state's history. New Orleans is home to the French Quarter, known for jazz on Bourbon Street, shimmery beads during Mardi Gras, and some of the best beignets you can find. Grand Isle is known as a "sportsman's paradise" with amazing fishing spots that offer unencumbered views of the Gulf of Mexico. Plus, if you've always wanted to delve a little deeper into understanding Voodoo, an African diasporic religion, there are plenty of places to dive in.

Percentage of US adults who have been: 34%

Travelers can walk through part of the world's longest-known cave system in Mammoth Cave National Park. With more than 400 miles of explored caves and nearly 53,000 acres of land to explore, you can spend a whole day there and not even notice. If you're in more of a sporty mood, you can head north to Louisville for river cruises, horse racing at Churchill Downs, and baseball nostalgia at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory.

Percentage of US adults who have been: 34%

Massachusetts is the kind of state where the kid in you can come out and play! Baseball fans will feel right at home in Boston's Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox and the oldest ballpark of any Major League Baseball team. Fans can surround themselves with the peanuts and Cracker Jacks as the stadium is open for tours all year round. In the fall, Salem, Massachusetts, becomes the state's focal point as a popular destination to celebrate Halloweenand no wonder, considering the town's history! The infamous Salem Witch Trials took place in the state, a time when religious persecution and fear allowed women to be burned at the stake if they were found to be witches. Speaking of American history, you can also visit Plymouth Rock, known as the landing spot of the Mayflower.

Percentage of US adults who have been: 36%

Winter sports are definitely the draw when it comes to the popularity of Colorado, or at least one of the big ones thanks to the Rocky Mountains as the state's backdrop. Aspen, Vail, and Breckenridge are some of the most well-known ski towns in the country. Colorado is also home to one of the most amazing outdoor amphitheaters, Red Rocks, which gets world-class musical acts on a constant basis and is housed within a natural rock formation. For history fans, the Chicano Movement was a heavy influence on the landscape of the state, and you can visit the Chicano Humanities and Art Council Gallery to learn about the rich history of the 60s and 70s.

Percentage of US adults who have been: 38%

When you think of white sand beaches you might not necessarily think of anywhere statesidebut that's where South Carolina comes in to prove you wrong. The state has a bevy of beaches, including the popular family tourist attraction Myrtle Beach, which offers 60 miles of white sand and a fantastic boardwalk full of carnival rides, games, and delicious food. Speaking of the cuisine, culinary tourists can head to Charleston, which is known for making a killer bowl of shrimp and grits. For a sweet treat, the brown sugar and butter explosion known as Charleston chewies is the local favorite. Both of these borrow heavily from the influence of the Gullah Geechee, descendants of West and Central Africa forced upon the lands during the trade of enslaved people, and who have been well known for preserving and maintaining their cultural heritage.

Percentage of US adults who have been: 38%

Maryland is another state well-loved for its seafood dishes, but here crab is king. Travelers will find plenty of unique local dishes, including Maryland Crab Soup, Smith Island Cake, and stuffed ham. Travelers can also make their way to Baltimore, where you can find everything from the National Aquarium, to the Baltimore Museum of Art, and Oriole Park to spend a day traversing.

Percentage of US adults who have been: 39%

Lucky be a lady in Nevada, or at least she does in its most famous city, "Sin City" Las Vegas, Known as the kind of destination where what happens there, stays there, you can hit the Strip for gambling, fine dining and residency shows that alternate throughout the season. If the bright lights of the big city aren't your thing, Nevada also has spectacular natural attractions like Red Rock Canyon and Lake Tahoe.

Percentage of US adults who have been: 39%

Ohio is full of family-friendly stops, like Cleveland's Great Lakes Science Center and the Cleveland Botanical Garden. Tourists can head out of town to learn about a different way of life with a visit to Amish country, where you can learn about what life is like without technology.

Percentage of US adults who have been: 40%

Nashville, Tennessee, is where country music and bachelorette parties meet in the lively downtown honky-tonks. Head west to Memphis for the soulful sounds of blues music on Beale Street. If you're looking for a strong drink, the Tennessee Whiskey Trail is home to at least 30 distilleries open for a visit.

Percentage of US adults who have been: 40%

Boardwalk and beach lovers get both along the Jersey Shore, which is far more entertaining than what the MTV series made it seem like. In fact, it's known for being a well-loved family destination, especially in Ocean City, which is known as an alcohol-free city. Gamblers can try their luck by heading north to the casinos in Atlantic City, home to the first boardwalk built in the world.

Percentage of US adults who have been: 41%

The natural red-rock formation known as the Grand Canyon may be Arizona's top stop, but Arizona has many natural feats to admire. Saguaro National Park protects the state's majestic cacti, as well as the petroglyphs left behind by the Hohokam tribe. Guided tours in Antelope Canyon can feel like hiking through another world, with canyons and formations that look more like they belong on Mars than in America.

Percentage of US adults who have been: 42%

North Carolina is a regular pit stop for racing fans. Charlotte's NASCAR Hall of Fame not only tells the history of the sport but puts visitors in the driver's seat in its racing simulators. Those who want off the roads and into the great outdoors can make their way to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, full of lush forests, wildflowers, and waterfalls as far as the eye can see.

Percentage of US adults who have been: 42%

Outdoor lovers have plenty to choose from between Virginia's Atlantic Ocean beaches and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Literary fans can enjoy the Poe Museum in Richmond, dedicated to one of the United States' most famous writers and a tragic tale in literary history, Edgar Allen Poe. Fans of history can visit the sites for the Battle of Yorktown, the last battle of the Revolutionary War, as well as the colonial town of Williamsburg known as the world's largest living history museum.

Percentage of US adults who have been: 43%

Foodies have many options in Illinois' biggest city, Chicago, from the city's deep-dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs to upscale dining from award-winning chefs. Tourists and locals alike flock to the lakefront in the summer, when the weather is ideal. The state is also known for playing a heavy role in the Underground Railroad, and in Alton, you can partake in either driving or walking tours that guide you along some of the most important landmarks.

Percentage of US adults who have been: 46%

Atlanta's film and music industries make Georgia's capital city an entertainment hub. You can take a tour of Tyler Perry's massive production studio, or catch a glimpse of The Dungeon, the studio where Outkast recorded their albums. Tourists who want a more relaxing pace choose Savannah's historic downtown and coastal living.

Percentage of U.S. adults who have been: 48%

Head to Philadelphia to bring a U.S. history lesson to life, with visits to Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the Benjamin Franklin Museum. Art lovers can hop over to Pittsburgh to The Andy Warhol Museum, home to the largest collection of Warhol art and archives. You can also get your fill of chocolate as Pennsylvania is the home of Hershey's Chocolate World.

Percentage of US adults who have been: 52%

Trips to Texas leave a lot of ground to cover, from Space Center Houston for NASA lovers, to the Alamo in San Antonio for history buffs, and Big Bend National Park's limestone cliffs in the western part of the state. Fans of live entertainment can also make their way to Austin for SXSW every March for a week-long festival and conference centering around music, arts, technology, and culture.

Percentage of US adults who have been: 54%

Considering this state can take nearly 12 hours to drive the full length of it, it comes as no surprise that there are tons of sights to see in California. Los Angeles is known as the home of Hollywood, the rich and famous, and of course the neighbor to Anaheim's Disneyland. San Francisco offers a wealth of culture with the de Young Museum, Museum of the African Diaspora, and the Mission Cultural Center of Latino Arts. Sacramento, the state's capital, is a burgeoning city recently voted by Forbes as the top place to live in the state and is home to the California State Fair. That doesn't include the nine state parks like Joshua Tree, Yosemite, and more.

Percentage of US adults who have been: 55%

The city that never sleeps is also the city that brings the most visitors to the state of New York. First-time U.S. and international tourists love to visit Times Square, catch a Broadway show, and eat a New York slice of pizza. Music lovers can take walking tours that show you the birthplace of punk in Greenwich Village and the East Village or the birthplace of hip-hop in Harlem. Not to mention the city's countless museums, galleries, live music venues, and more.

Percentage of US adults who have been: 61%

For countless families, a visit to Orlando's Disney World makes a childhood, or adulthood, dream come true. Florida's pristine beaches also make it the top-ranked state for a trip in the U.S. Everglades National Park offers a great day trip for families, and if you happen to have a birdwatcher in your family, the wetlands in the park are home to the largest breeding ground for tropical wading birds in North America.

Data reporting by Lucas Hicks. Story editing by Olivia Monahan. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick.

Originally published on stacker.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.

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25 states Americans visit the most | | thewetumpkaherald.com - Wetumpka Herald

Bungie is nothing if not consistent with their mashups of rampant AIs, aliens, and weird sci-fi lenses. The UESC Marathon started it all.

Before Rasputin whiled away the hours on Mars, awaiting the arrival of the Traveler. Long before Cortana even became aware of the Forerunners or the Flood. There was the UESC Marathon, and its three shipboard AIs, Tycho, Leela, and Durandal. This ship played a key role in an alien invasion, in an attempt to colonize a distant star, and of course, giving birth to an AI that would survive to witness the escape of an eldritch being, sealed in a star, as well as the end of the universe.

But where did it all begin? With a massive conversion effort that would convert a moon into a colony ship. Begun in 2408, the UESC Marathon was finally completed in 2472, with a 300-year mission: to colonize the Tau Ceti system.

In the early 2400s, humanity designed a multigenerational colony ship meant to reach out to solar systems beyond Earth. To accomplish this, a massive crew was needed, and more, a ship big enough to support, not just the crew, but all the technology and materials needed to start a colony.

The vessel would have to be massive. It would have to go the distance. And so, the Unified Earth Space Council Marathon was commissioned. Constructing such a massive ship from scratch might take years and more material than was worth. So rather than begin from zero, the UESC engineering corps constructed the ship from the Martian moon, Deimos.

The converted moon resulted in a truly massive ship. 15 kilometers long, 12 kilometers wide, and 10 kilometers high/deep, the UESC Marathon could comfortably transport a crew of more than 25.000.

The Marathon was outfitted with onboard automatic manufacturing systems capable of manufacturing replacement circuits for damaged components. Onboard hydroponics to make sure that the operating crew had food and water, as well as the one-day colony. And at least one medium-range radio antennae for communication.

Of course, operating such a massive vessel would be almost impossible, if not for the three artificial intelligences equipped to help run the ship.

The Marathon was outfitted with three AI. The ships main AI, Leela, was responsible for the overall operations of the ship. Leelas first duty was to protect the ship, which she mostly did by guiding human agents through various tasks, and activating automated systems as needed.

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Tycho was in charge of the science and engineering network. And Durandal was in charge of the ships autonomous functions, including doors, kitchens, and life support.

Durandal was also part of a secret experiment by his creator, Dr. Bernard Strauss. Strauss was attempting to induce a state of self-awareness in Artifical Intelligences known as rampancy. After becoming more and more destructive, Strauss theorized they could induce a state known as Meta-Stability, resulting in the AI becoming a true person.

This led Durandal to contact the alien beings known as the Pfhor, aiding them in launching an attack on the Marathon. The attack on the Marathon was a ruse, designed to help Durandal escape the Marathon, which was ultimately left damaged beyond repair and bereft of artificial intelligence and human crew members.

As for Durandal and the surviving officers? Thats another story entirely.

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Inside Bungie's First Ship Beset by Aliens and Rogue AI - The UESC ... - BoLS

Blockbuster filmmaking reached a new height in the 2010s. The modern blockbuster took shape in the 90s before becoming more familiar throughout the noughties. However, the 2010s saw an explosion in yearly blockbusters, with these movies slowly taking over cinemas and beginning the decline of the mid-range film.

Indeed, the 2010s produced more blockbusters than ever before, from superhero adventures to ambitious fantasy adaptations and mind-bending sci-fi thrillers. These blockbusters are Hollywood's crowning achievements, breaking box-office records and achieving critical acclaim. Boundary-pushing and groundbreaking, these films are a near-perfect combination of artistry and large-scale filmmaking.

Zack Snyder is an admittedly divisive director; however, his ambition and panache cannot be denied. Luckily, his divisive 2013 superhero movie Man of Steel has both in spades. Henry Cavill stars as Clark Kent, who must reconcile his humanity and superhuman abilities when General Zod arrives on Earth, hellbent on destroying it to create a new Krypton.

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Man of Steel opts for a more grounded approach to the Last Son of Krypton, focusing on the character's struggle between the "super" and the "man." Cavill's stern, stoic approach and the film's choice to have Superman kill Zod have been met with mixed reviews from critics and fans. However, it's undeniable that Snyder shot for the stars with Man of Steel, introducing several intriguing concepts into Superman's lore. And while his reach far exceeded his grasp, at least Snyder offered a new side to one of the most iconic figures in American culture.

The late Paul Walker had his last ride as Brian O'Conner in 2015's Furious 7. The plot centers on Dom, Brian, and their ever-expanding family recruited by Mr. Nobody to protect a hacker from a dangerous terrorist in exchange for protection against the vengeful Deckard Shaw.

Furious 7 is among the most emotional blockbusters ever, acting as a heartwarming send-off to Walker and his character. The franchise still has its gravity and logic-defying action setpieces, but it grounds the action in a poignant emotional narrative. Furious 7 is arguably the high point of the Fast franchise, one it hasn't been able to replicate.

Joaquin Phoenix stars in Todd Phillips' 2019 psychological thriller Joker. A stand-alone origin story for the iconic villain, Joker tells the story of Arthur Fleck, a mentally ill aspiring stand-up comedian whose descent into crime and nihilism inspires a violent uprising against the elite class in a morally-broken Gotham City.

Joker wears its influences on its sleeve. The film isn't afraid to pay homage to the 1970s and 1980s thrillers that came before, although the references are sometimes so obvious they can come across as straight imitations. However, the film rises on the strength of Phoenix's tour de force performance, with the actor fully committing and crafting an intense, harrowing portrayal of mental illness, loneliness, and pain.

Disney Animation proved it was still a force to be reckoned with thanks to their 2013 juggernaut Frozen. Loosely based on Han Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen," the film follows Elsa (Idina Menzel), a young woman who secludes herself out of fear of her seemingly uncontrollable ice powers. When her kingdom becomes immersed in perpetual winter, her impetuous sister, Anna (Kristen Bell), sets out to find her.

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Frozen is not a perfect film. However, an abundance of charm, stellar voice performances, and a surprising third-act twist make up for any of the film's flaws. Frozen's soundtrack also ranks as one of the best in modern Disney, with the titanic hit "Let It Go" proving that few studios match the Mouse House when it comes to producing anthemic songs.

Christopher Nolan finished his Dark Knight trilogy with an uneven but epic entry. Set in a seemingly peaceful Gotham City eight years after its predecessor, The Dark Knight Rises follows a tired Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) returning to the Batman mantle to fight the terrorist Bane (Tom Hardy), who psychologically and physically breaks him.

The Dark Knight Rises is Nolan at his least subtle. The film bites more than it can chew, addressing class struggle and societal divide while outright staging a mini French Revolution on the streets of Gotham City. Still, it's hard to fault Nolan for doing a victory lap, considering his contributions to the superhero genre. Epic and thought-provoking, The Dark Knight Rises is a satisfying ending to Nolan's Batman that might wrap things up a tad too neatly but remains true to the trilogy's gritty, thrilling approach.

Matt Damon stars in Ridley Scott's survival sci-fi The Martian. Based on the eponymous 2011 novel, The Martian follows Mark Watney, a botanist astronaut struggling to survive on Mars after being accidentally left behind by his crew and NASA's attempts to return him to Earth.

Gripping and with a healthy dose of humor and heart, The Martian is a clever and emotional sci-fi that lives and dies with its titular character. Damon arguably gives the best performance of his career, creating a sympathetic, thoughtful, and comprehensive portrayal of loneliness and struggle in service of a classic survival sci-fi story. Deftly handled by Scott's firm approach, The Martian is a brilliant character study posing as a stirring sci-fi adventure.

Following her memorable debut in 2016's Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman took center stage in Patty Jenkins' 2017 origin story. Set in World War I, Wonder Woman sees Diana venturing into the human world accompanied by Steve Trevor. Suspecting humanity is under the influence of the evil god of war, Ares, Diana decides to enter the war.

Wonder Woman soars on the strength of Gadot's unassuming yet riveting performance as the titular hero. Perfectly capturing Diana's selflessness and sense of awe at experiencing the human world for the first time, Gadot creates a fully realized, compelling, and complex Wonder Woman. Further aided by Jenkins' confident hand behind the camera and a series of memorable action scenes that showcase the warrior princess' might, Wonder Woman is among the new millennium's best superhero movies.

It took Marvel an absurdly long time to greenlight a solo project for a Black hero, but it was worth the wait. The late Chadwick Boseman stars in Ryan Coogler's 2018 superhero movie Black Panther, with the story following T'Chala's fight against his long-lost cousin, Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), an extremist who wants to use Wakanda's technology to launch a worldwide revolution.

Successfully blending social commentary with spectacle, Black Panther is among the MCU's best-reviewed movies, marking a new high for superhero cinema. Visually thrilling and narratively compelling, Black Panther was the perfect mix of gravitas and action, an extravagant adventure that marked a before and after in blockbuster filmmaking.

Before the MCU dominated the entertainment landscape, the Harry Potter franchise proved a sprawling and continuous story could work on a cinematic level. The series' last entry, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 premiered in 2011 and centered around Harry's (Daniel Radcliffe) final stand against Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes).

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Deathly Hallows Part 2 was a phenomenon, the highly-awaited conclusion to a decade-long franchise that broke new ground. Delivering the grand spectacle audiences expected without sacrificing the emotionally poignant story at its center, Deathly Hallows Part 2 was a cathartic cinematic event and a satisfying conclusion to the story of the long-suffering Boy Who Lived.

The Hunger Games series was near-perfect, a one-of-a-kind combination of a topical subject, a hot franchise, and a rising star. The saga's second entry, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, continues Katniss' story, seeing her and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) return to the Hunger Games arena after their victory in the previous Games inspires a revolution against the Capitol.

Catching Fire features a deep, intelligent, nuanced exploration of sensitive socio-political issues and benefits from Jennifer Lawrence's passionate performance. The film soars without succumbing to mere bombast, mixing spectacle with gravitas and delivering the YA story to end all YA stories.

The Infinity Saga set its two-part finale with the exciting and surprisingly daring Avengers: Infinity War. The film focuses on Thanos' efforts to gather the six Infinity Stones while the scattered Avengers race against the clock to stop him.

Showcasing Thanos was a stroke of genius. Josh Brolin crafts a nuanced and interesting villain that effortlessly steals the film from within the heroes' noses. Infinity War grounds Thanos' storyline with a genuinely compelling emotional arc, tying him to Gamora and taking him past the one-dimensional territory where most other Marvel villains exist. With a fast-paced, stirring plot and an ending that shocked audiences, Infinity War is arguably the Infinity Saga's high point.

Pixar is a classic and money-making machine - or at least it was throughout the 2010s. The studio pushed the boundaries of animation, delivering thoughtful and highly affecting films that took the medium to a new level. 2015's Inside Out ranks as one of their finest efforts, an insightful and almost philosophical study of the human mind posing as a harmless children's movie.

Visually dazzling and narratively challenging, Inside Out is a rich exploration of the human psyche that improves with every rewatch. Boldly dealing with themes of loss, identity, mental health, and emotional intelligence, Inside Out is Pixar's cleverest film, a coming-of-age story destined to become a cinematic legend.

James Gunn debuted in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with 2014's action-comedy-sci-fi romp Guardians of the Galaxy. The film stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaa, and Dave Bautista alongside the voice talents of Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper. It follows the titular group of misfits as they team up to stop a genocidal warlord from obtaining an Infinity Stone.

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Guardians of the Galaxy is a wild and hilarious romp that instantly stood out among Marvel's other projects. Chaotic but instantly compelling, the Guardians are one of modern cinema's most effective teams, a collection of weirdos who bring out the best in each other. Offering a near-perfect balance of constant, hysterical humor and heartwarming moments, Guardians of the Galaxy remains the MCU's most pleasant surprise.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the most polarizing blockbuster of the 2010s and arguably the new millennium. Directed by Rian Johnson, the film follows Rey (Daisy Ridley) as she trains under a reluctant Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) while the scattered Resistance struggles to escape an attack from the First Order.

Ballsy and truly subversive, The Last Jedi is a breath of fresh air in a franchise that seems opposed to evolving past its initial ideas. The film adopts an almost meta approach with a plot about letting go of the past, warning about the dangers of romanticizing idols and becoming blind to their flaws. The Last Jedi is Star Wars at its bravest and most innovative, offering the series' first narratively authentic story since the 1977 original. Unafraid and refreshing, The Last Jedi is a character-driven blockbuster that challenged conventions and took the franchise to new and exciting territories.

The X-Men series saw a resurgence following the stellar X-Men: First Class; however, it reached its pinnacle with 2014's X-Men: Days of Future Past. Blending past and present actors, the film follows Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) traveling back to the 1970s to join a young Xavier in preventing Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) from killing scientist Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage), a crucial event that would set a chain of events that would culminate with mutants' near-extinction.

Juggling such a massive cast is no easy feat, yet Days of Future Past pulls it off seamlessly and makes it look easy. The film offers a faithful adaptation of one of the X-Men's most iconic storylines, going back to addressing the social issues that made the series interesting in the first place. Featuring several impressive action set pieces and a vibrant recreation of the psychedelic '70s, Days of Future Past is a triumphant achievement and the X-Men's crowning jewel.

Ryan Reynolds produced and starred in 2016's superhero comedy, Deadpool. The beloved actor plays Wade Wilson, a mercenary who submits to a process that leaves him horribly scarred but grants him mutant regenerative abilities. Determined to return to his previous life, Deadpool hunts the men who disfigured him.

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Deadpool is a love story disguised as a foul-mouthed superhero movie. A truly subversive and wildly original comic book adaptation, Deadpool is a monster of a movie: brilliant, clever, hilariously meta, and unafraid to take huge risks. Deadpool soars thanks to Reynolds' unabashed, unrestrained performance, with the actor producing one of the new millennium's funniest and most layered superhero creations.

2012 saw the birth of the modern cinematic universe with the release of The Avengers. The film follows the titular characters as they overcome their differences and unite to fight Loki (Tom Hiddleston), who has assembled an alien army to conquer Earth.

The Avengers was a groundbreaking and game-changing enterprise. Marvel Studios' ambitious dream of assembling a cinematic team seemed too good to be true, but The Avengers proved it could be possible. Exciting and endlessly entertaining, the film successfully built the MCU's overreaching lore, breaking box office records and launching a franchise that would define the 2010s,

Before he traveled to Gotham City, Matt Reeves spent years in a dystopian Earth ruled by intelligent apes. The director took over the Planet of the Apes franchise starting with 2014's Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Andy Serkis stars as Caesar, the leader of the rising ape colony on a futuristic Earth devastated by a deathly virus that wiped out most of humanity.

Juggling themes of oppression, social dynamics, and power, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a visceral, exhilarating, and thought-provoking piece of sci-fi entertainment. Serkis delivers another Oscar-worthy motion capture performance, joined by an equally compelling Toby Kebbell as the emotionally-complex villain Koba. Narratively challenging and visually stunning, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is an ambitious leap forward for the series.

After a decade of continuous storytelling, the Marvel Cinematic Universe's "Infinity Saga" reached its exhilarating and long-awaited conclusion with the epic Avengers: Endgame. The plot finds Earth's Mightiest Heroes attempting an ambitious plot to return those who disappeared after Thanos' Blip before their final stand against the Mad Titan.

Avengers: Endgame's sheer scope is worthy of praise and admiration. Elegantly tying a decade of narrative threads into a neat bow, the film is a victory lap for Marvel Studios and a once-in-a-lifetime cinematic achievement unlikely to be replicated, even by Marvel itself. In many ways, Endgame was Marvel's last hurrah, a gargantuan crossover that set the bar impossibly high for future blockbusters.

Christopher Nolan teamed up with Leonardo DiCaprio for the 2010 action sci-fi Inception. The film revolves around Dom Cobb, a thief specializing in stealing information by entering his targets' subconscious. Given a chance to redeem a tragic mistake from his past, Cobb assembles a team to pull off his most dangerous heist.

Inception is the perfect marriage between large-scale filmmaking and artistry. Based on a cerebral, layered screenplay by the notoriously ambitious Nolan, Inception is the rare blockbuster that's as challenging as rewarding. Featuring multiple action-packed, envelope-pushing action sequences in service of a gripping story, Inception is a modern sci-fi destined to become a classic.

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25 Best Blockbusters of the 2010s, Ranked - Collider