SETI, aim your scopes at Proxima Centauri...
Scientists are preparing to unveil a new planet in our galactic neighbourhood which is "believed to be Earth-like"
http://phys.org/news/2016-08-scientists-unveil-earth-like-planet.html
Proxima is only 4.2 LY away, but on occasion, its brightness increases. Proxima is what is known as a flare star," meaning that convection processes within the star's body make it prone to random and dramatic changes in brightness.
If it's worth saying, but not worth its own post, then it goes here.
Notes for future OT posters:
1. Please add the 'open_thread' tag.
2. Check if there is an active Open Thread before posting a new one. (Immediately before; refresh the list-of-threads page before posting.)
3. Open Threads should start on Monday, and end on Sunday.
4. Unflag the two options "Notify me of new top level comments on this article" and "