The Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, Ontario has appointed Stephen Hawking its first Distinguished Research Chair. In a statement Hawking said, “The institute’s twin focus, on quantum theory and gravity, is very close to my heart and central to explaining the origin of the universe…I look forward to building a growing partnership between PI and our Centre for Theoretical Cosmology, at Cambridge. Our research endeavour is global, and by combining forces I believe we will reap rich rewards.” Hawking will visit the PI several times beginning this coming summer. The PI conducts research in the fields of cosmology, particle physics, quantum gravity and information, and superstring theory. Read more here.

For the first time ever astronomers have actual pictures of planets orbiting a star outside our solar system. The Gemini Team that includes three Canadians has released the historic image of not one, but three planets orbiting a normal star 130 million light years away. Bruce Macintosh (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories) explains, “Until now, when astronomers discover new planets around a star, all we see are wiggly lines on a graph of the star’s velocity or brightness. Now we have an actual picture showing the planets themselves, and that makes things very interesting.” Read more here.

The Hubble Telescope has also taken its first visible light picture of a planet orbiting the bright southern star Fomalhaut 25 light-years away. Read more here.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is set to take flight aboard the space shuttle on Nov 14 reaching its home on the International Space Station. This marks the 60th anniversary of the UDHR’s creation. The Declaration will live symbolically over the earth representing humanity, our universal ideals. Soon there will be six international astronauts “living and working in space in the interests of research and for the benefit of humanity as a whole”. Read more about the launch here.

A tool for hunting dark matter uncovered in Sudbury Ontario. Read more here.

A Rare Prehistoric reptile found in New Zealand. More here.

‘Missions in Spacetime’ Nature Videos are here.