Why do researchers study astronomy if there’s not always a clear social benefit? Graduate student and planet hunter Lauren Weiss of the University of California, Berkeley says that other than satisfying curiosity, one reason is to someday travel to these planets and ensure our own survival.

"When I think about humanity, and the idea that we evolved from simple animals, to be curious and ask about the universe, and know that there are other planets out there, I think it would be really sad if our species came and went without ever leaving Earth. And that, to really be the next level of intelligent life form in civilization, we need to become space faring, and then that will also help ensure the survival of humanity over billions and billions of years. If we can spread ourselves out, instead of putting all our chips on one pale blue dot."

Weiss specializes in identifying exoplanets around nearby stars.