We've heard on the tv as well as the Internet machine that astronomers have recently found a star of modest size around which seven "Goldilocks" planets are orbiting. Because these new (to us) worlds evidently have the qualities which may support life, their discovery has inspired a solar storm of excitement among those who dream of human space exploration and/or colonization.
The only problem with these sites for future fast food joints and theme parks is that they are 40 light years away, a distance of 235 trillion (with a "t") miles away. So if you plan to go, make sure you visit the restroom first.
But seriously, my fellow Nitletters, I have a question for you: which prospect frightens you more: that we are utterly alone in the universe OR that we're not?