Beemer, shown at the Mars Society's Mars Desert Research Station in Utah in 2011, is a candidate for both Mars One and the Mars Arctic 365 program. Max Fagin hide caption

Minister Ryan Bell decided to "try on" atheism for a year; now, although he says atheism is an "awkward fit," he's going to continue to not believe in God. Natalie Gee hide caption

Something's missing in the small town of Jackman, Maine. They've have an electrician and some carpenters among their 800-odd residents, but no plumber — even after establishing a scholarship for local students to become certified. Ruediger Wittmann/iStockphoto hide caption

Common plays James Bevel, Tessa Thompson plays Diane Nash, Lorraine Toussaint plays Amelia Boynton and Andre Holland plays Andrew Young in Ava DuVernay's Selma. Atsushi Nishijima/Paramount Pictures hide caption

Mexican writer Valeria Luiselli is the author of the novel Faces in the Crowd and the book of essays Sidewalks. She is currently working on the novel The Story of My Teeth. Alfredo Pelcastre/Coffee House Press hide caption

Comedian Andrea Martin performs at New York's 54 Below in 2012. She published her memoir Lady Parts in September. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images hide caption

Trumpeter John McNeil rejoins Hush Point, a group of friends from New York's jazz scene, on the new album Blues and Reds. Left to right: Jeremy Udden, Anthony Pinciotti, Aryeh Kobrinsky, John McNeil. Alex Hollock/Courtesy of the artist hide caption