Earth is a 7,917-mile-wide rock drifting through the vacuum of space — a fact that's shockingly easy to forget.

But every so often, a mind-boggling picture appears before our eyes and reminds us just how small, lucky, and plucky we are as human beings.

Some images take us on a billion-year journey back in time. Others bring the blue marble of our home planet into view. And from the ground, we can follow companies and governments on their quests to reach the stars. 

The year 2017 brought some of the most astounding space and astronomy images to date. We've rounded up some of our favorites.

SEE ALSO: Incredible photos from space reveal the biggest news stories on Earth in 2017

DON'T MISS: Watch Southern California's wildfire disaster evolve in stunning photos taken from space

The "rotten egg" nebula forecasts the sun's death

Some 5,000 light-years from Earth, the Calabash Nebula — also called OH 231.8+04.2, or the "rotten egg" nebula (since it contains a lot of sulphur) — shows what happens after a star like the sun dies. The yellow-colored gas is moving at more than 620,000 miles per hour.

This Hubble Space Telescope photo, taken this year, shows what our sun could look like in about 5 billion years, when it can no longer efficiently fuse fue. At that point, it will partly collapse, blow its outer shells of plasmatic gas into space, turn into a white dwarf, and begin to form a planetary nebula in its surroundings. 

The most detailed view of Earth ever taken

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration launched the GOES-16 satellite in November 2016, parking it in an orbit that helps it look down on the same face of Earth, day-in and day-out.

Before it was put to use helping scientists log and predict weather patterns on our planet, it had to undergo nearly a year of rigorous testing and verification.

This test shot of a full view of Earth, taken by the satellite in January, is arguably one of the most detailed whole views of the whole planet. GOES-16 recently passed all of its tests, and NOAA now calls it GOES-East and constantly uploads its images to the internet.

The space station was captured as it flew in front of the 2017 total solar eclipse

The International Space Station (ISS) is an ultimate target for adventurous photographers, since it orbits 250 miles above Earth while moving at 17,500 miles per hour. But with some very careful planning, the football-field-size laboratory can be caught on camera from the ground.

Months before the August 2017 total solar eclipse, a NASA photographer managed to put himself in the right place (which happened to be Banner, Wyoming) at the right time to capture the ISS zooming in front of the astronomical event.

Back in 2015, I decided to send my spit to 23andMe, the personal genetics company that sells direct-to-consumer tests.

The test gave me information on everything from how much DNA I share with our Neanderthal ancestors, to how much caffeine I likely consume, to whether or not I might have a unibrow. It also let me know if I'm carrying certain genetic variations related to diseases that could be passed on to kids.

In April, the FDA told 23andMe it could start providing genetic health risk reports, which reveal whether you have an increased risk of developing certain diseases, including Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. That version of the test is $199, while the ancestry test alone is $99. 

Here's what the new version is like:

SEE ALSO: Patient groups have a message for anyone thinking of taking 23andMe's new test

NEXT: I shipped my spit to a genetics company to have it tested, 23andMe style — here's what I found out

I first received my 23andMe test in 2015. Because I had already submitted my sample, I didn't have to repeat the process to get my genetic health risks reports in April 2017.

That meant I didn't have to re-submit a sample of my saliva, which was convenient. Spitting into the tube had taken me about 5 minutes the first time around.

Before I shipped my spit, I registered online. I also got to decide if I wanted to have my DNA used to research treatments for diseases. In the spirit of science, I decided to consent and sign the form.

• Narcissists make stellar first impressions on potential romantic partners.
• But as time goes on, the relationship may get harder to maintain. 
• The saddest parts of dating a narcissist are below, including that they're self-absorbed, impatient, and think in black-and-white terms.

Narcissists are notorious for making stellar first impressions. They may sweep you off your feet, make you laugh, convince you that you're soul mates.

At some point though, the relationship may come to a screeching halt as their self-centeredness, impatience, and black-and-white thinking seep through their charming veneer.

Below, we've highlighted some of the saddest parts of dating someone who's more into themselves than they're into you.

SEE ALSO: 5 ways narcissism makes people stronger, smarter, and more successful

DON'T MISS: How to know if you're dating a narcissist

They make you feel incredibly special — then you inevitably disappoint them

Business Insider's Lindsay Dodgson highlights one key way to know you're dating a narcissist: First they suck you in; then they abandon you.

As psychologist Neil J. Lavender writes in a blog post for Psychology Today, narcissists often put their partners on pedestals, then subsequently decide they're worthless and cut off all contact. Psychologists call this process "splitting."

As Lavender writes: "It means experiencing life in black and white with no in between. So they either love you or hate you."

They're always thinking about other people they could be with instead

A 2002 paper published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology looked at narcissists' "game-playing" tendency in romantic relationships, meaning they get what they want and avoid what they don't want from the relationship.

One potential outcome of the game-playing approach is that narcissists believe they have alternatives to their current partner and may even actively pursue those alternatives. And as Business Insider has previously reported, thinking seriously about other people you could be dating doesn't bode well for the strength of your partnership.

They try to make you the center of attention, until they're more interested in assuming the spotlight themselves

In his 2015 book, "Rethinking Narcissism," Harvard Medical School psychologist Craig Malkin highlights research that suggests one key to a successful relationship is holding positive illusions. That means you see your partner as smarter, more attractive, and generally more appealing than they really are, by objective standards.

Moderate narcissism encourages people to hold these positive illusions about their partner. But Malkin writes (emphasis added):

"When people grow dependent on feeling special, they become grandiose or arrogant. They stop thinking that their partners are the best or most important people in the room because they need to claim that distinction for themselves."

ESPN released its ranking of the most popular athletes in the world back in May, and once again, Cristiano Ronaldo was at the top of the list.

The list was compiled by Ben Alamar, ESPN's director of analytics. He devised a formula that weighs factors like endorsements, social media following, and internet search popularity to sift through thousands of athletes, and the result was a rundown of the biggest international superstars in sports.

Below, take a look at the top 25 best-known athletes. The list includes six tennis players, five soccer players, four basketball players, four golfers, two fighters, two cricket players, a quarterback, and a track star.

25. Conor McGregor

Sport: MMA/Boxing

Country: Ireland

Salary: $70 million (estimate)

Endorsements: $4 million

Facebook likes: 7.6 million

Twitter followers: 6.8 million

Instagram followers: 21.7 million

24. Dwyane Wade

Sport: Basketball

Country: USA

Salary: $2.3 million

Endorsements: $13 million

Facebook likes: 11.2 million

Twitter followers: 7.5 million

Instagram followers: 10.2 million

23. Maria Sharapova

Sport: Tennis

Country: Russia

Salary: $554,990

Endorsements: $15 million

Facebook likes: 15.3 million

Twitter followers: 8.1 million

Instagram followers: 2.9 million

• The following is an adaptation from Tim Ferriss' book, "Tribe of Mentors."
• He asked the world's top minds in business and the arts which book they've given most frequently as a gift — or which books have most influenced their lives. 
• Below are just a few of the many books that came up most frequently.

"What's your favorite book?" seems like a good question. So innocent, so simple. In practice, it's terrible. I interviewed more than 100 of the most successful entrepreneurs, athletes, actors, writers, and other experts for my book, "Tribe of Mentors." These are people who have often read hundreds or thousands of books, so it's a labor-intensive question for them, and they rightly worry about picking a "favorite," which then gets quoted and put in articles, Wikipedia, etc.

To navigate around the problem of asking hundreds of the world's top performers about their favorite books, I devised a slightly different question: What is the book (or books) you've given most as a gift, and why? Or what are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life?

"Most gifted" is lower risk, an easier search query (easier to recall), and implies benefits for a broader spectrum of people, which the idiosyncratic "favorite" does not.

The answers I got opened my eyes to many new books I'd not heard of and reinforced how strongly I felt about some other titles. A few folks were even gracious enough to gift my books to their friends on a regular basis. But I was most interested in was the frequency with which some books were mentioned.

Here are a few books (of many) that came up a lot:

SEE ALSO: I asked 8 brilliant people for their best advice — here's what they told me

'Man's Search for Meaning' by Viktor E. Frankl

When I asked Jimmy Fallon, Emmy Award–and Grammy Award–winning comedian, what book he gives out most often as a gift, he said:

"If I gave one to an adult, it would be Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. I read it while spending ten days in the ICU of Bellevue hospital trying to re-attach my finger from a ring avulsion accident in my kitchen. It talks about the meaning of life, and I believe you come out a better person from reading it. The lines I took from it are: 'There is no exact answer to the question ‘what is the meaning of life.' It's like asking a chess master ‘what is the best move in the world?' It all depends on what situation you are in.' It also reinforced the belief, that which does not kill me makes me stronger. If you read it, you'll get more from it."

Actor and former NFL player Terry Crews said about Man's Search for Meaning, "[It's] absolutely essential to me in order to keep my perspectives correct in a changing world."Dr. Michael Gervais, a high-performance psychologist who works with the best athletes on the planet, also revealed that he often gifts Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning because, "He outlines methods to discover deep meaning and purpose in life."

'The Rational Optimist' by Matt Ridley

Naval Ravikant, the co-founder and CEO of AngelList, has refined his way of living in very unique ways, including his reading habits. So when he shared with me that he frequently gifts The Rational Optimist to people, I couldn't wait to share it with my audience. In fact, Naval likes to pass out copies of anything by The Rational Optimist author Matt Ridley. "Matt is a scientist, optimist, and forward thinker. Genome, The Red Queen, The Origins of Virtue, The Rational Optimist— they're all great," Naval told me.

While Naval is considered a top performer in Silicon Valley, John Arnold built his career on Wall Street as founder and  CEO of Centaurus Energy, a multibillion-dollar energy commodity hedge fund. John retired in 2012 and is now a co-chair of the Laura and John Arnold Foundation. Here's what he shared with me when I asked him what book he gives the most as a gift:

"Much of one's attitude toward life depends on their level of optimism. An optimistic person will invest more in him- or herself, as the deferred reward is expected to be higher. A pessimistic person prefers the immediate returns at the expense of the long-term outcomes. However, the news cycle, driven by negative stories of the day, is the proverbial missing the forest for the trees. The reality, best captured in The Rational Optimist by Matt Ridley and The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker, is that the long-term trend in almost every measure is resolutely positive. Optimism is a reflexive trait, with a circular relationship between cause and effect. The more optimistic society is about the future, the better the future is. These books serve as a reminder of the great advances society has made."

'The Better Angels of Our Nature' by Steven Pinker

You probably noticed that John Arnold (above) mentioned this book as one of the two most gifted books he gives out—and he wasn't the only top performer I talked to that had a habit of doing so.

Stewart Brand, the president of the Long Now Foundation, established to creatively foster long-term thinking and responsibility in the framework of the next 10,000 years, described The Better Angels of Our Nature as one of the books he considers as a, "fundamental guidebooks for understanding and helping civilization":

"[The Idea of Decline in Western History by Arthur Herman] shows the consequences of believing romantic, tragic narratives of societies becoming degraded, while The Better Angels of Our Nature chronicles how humanity has in fact become less violent, less cruel, and more just with every passing millennium, century, and decade."

In a slice of San Francisco known as the Gold Coast, a residential enclave that has long housed the city's old-money families, blue bloods and tech oligarchs now live as neighbors.

Members of the high-tech elite, including Oracle's Larry Ellison, Apple's Jony Ives, and Zynga's Mark Pincus, have left Silicon Valley for the tony mansions, sweeping views, and exclusivity of the Pacific Heights neighborhood. The area boasts a median home sale price of $2.09 million.

We spent an afternoon in Pacific Heights to see why it attracts the technorati, and how it's changed over time.

Robert Johnson and Madeline Stone contributed reporting to this article.

SEE ALSO: Inside the most expensive zip code in America, where tech moguls like Eric Schmidt and Paul Allen have their mansions

I started my journey with a hearty breakfast at an unpretentious-looking restaurant called Sweet Maple in Lower Pacific Heights. The menu cannot claim the same modesty.

The restaurant is known for its "millionaire's bacon," a thick-cut, sweet-and-spicy version of the breakfast staple that costs $4 a slice. Its decadence at least made me feel rich.

Learn more about the breakfast craze sweeping San Francisco »

After breakfast, I headed north on Fillmore Street into the den of luxury.

• Instagram released their Year in Review for 2017.
• It summarizes all the most popular trends on the photo-sharing app this year.
• From Selena Gomez to #fashion to Central Park, it was a very diverse group.

Instagram was one of this year's most used apps.

Recently, Instagram released their Year in Review, which is a round-up of the most-liked photos, most-followed people, and most-used hashtags, among other things.

Keep scrolling to see this year's most popular pets, places, and people.

MOST-LIKED POSTS: 1. Beyoncé announces her pregnancy.

Source: Billboard.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo shares a post-labor selfie with his girlfriend and son.

Source: USA Today.

3. Selena Gomez tells her fans she underwent a kidney transplant this summer.

Source: Today.

• Stanford administrators have the "Three Books" program each summer.
• It includes three suggested books to read over the summer to think about complex issues.
• The book suggestions are for new students and the larger Stanford community overall.

Fresh off the excitement of gaining acceptance into the most competitive university in America, Stanford University incoming freshmen will likely want to take the summer to relax a bit.

Administrators at Stanford want them to continue thinking critically about complex issues, and release The Three Books program every summer to suggest books that the entire community should read and discuss.

"The Three Books program is designed to introduce you to the experience of reading, thinking, and talking about challenging subjects as a member of Stanford's intellectual community," professor Noah Diffenbaugh wrote to the class of 2021.

Diffenbaugh, the faculty moderator of the program and a professor of earth system science, said this year's theme was on sustainability and equity.

"All three of these books have had a deep impact on me and my thinking," he wrote. "And, just as each of these books offers a sense of hope and optimism amid extremely challenging circumstances, I am optimistic that in discussing these challenges we can help each other find a sense of hope for the future!" he continued.

Read on to see the three books Stanford wants incoming freshmen to read this summer.

SEE ALSO: What America's most prestigious private schools are making students read this summer

'Homegoing,' by Yaa Gyasi

From Stanford:

"Homegoing follows the parallel paths of these sisters and their descendants through eight generations: from the Gold Coast to the plantations of Mississippi, from the American Civil War to Jazz Age Harlem. Yaa Gyasi's extraordinary novel illuminates slavery's troubled legacy both for those who were taken and those who stayed — and shows how the memory of captivity has been inscribed on the soul of our nation."

 Buy it here »

'The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History,' by Elizabeth Kolbert

From Stanford:

"In The Sixth Extinction, Kolbert details the evidence that human activity is causing what scientists call the sixth mass extinction — the loss of as many as half of all living species on Earth. Kolbert traces the intellectual history of how scientists came to understand extinction and woke up to the impact we are having on the planet’s ecosystems."

 Buy it here »

'Salvage the Bones,' by Jesmyn Ward

From Stanford:

"In Salvage the Bones, Ward gives us the Batiste family: Esch, a pregnant fourteen-year-old, her teenage brothers, and their alcoholic father, who are watching Hurricane Katrina brew over the Gulf. Set in the twelve days immediately surrounding the arrival of the hurricane, Salvage the Bones is at its heart the story of four motherless children, trying to protect their home and one another against unimaginable disruption." 

 Buy it here »

• A list from the American Institute for Economic Research ranked top college towns.
• It looked to economic, demographic, and quality-of-life factors.
• Boulder, Colorado was the top-ranked town.

Boulder, Colorado, is the top-ranked college town in the US, according to a list from the American Institute for Economic Research.

The city of roughly 200,000 (for its metro area population) earned the top spot thanks to its accessibility — more than 20% of commuters take public transportation or cycle around Boulder Creek Corridor — and diverse and educated population. Boulder also has an active bar-and-restaurant scene, with plenty of coffee shops and microbreweries.

AIER compiled its list using nine economic, demographic, and quality-of-life factors. It defines college towns as having fewer than 250,000 residents.

Aside from the overall ranking, we included cities' individual scores for noteworthy metrics including rent, earnings, and bars and restaurants. We chose the one metric where the city scored the highest out of the nine.

Scroll through to find out the 20 best college towns.

SEE ALSO: The 11 best colleges for business majors

20. Bellingham, Washington — home of Western Washington University

Metro area population: 208,832

College student population in the metro area: 24,926

No. 4 in arts and entertainment

19. La Crosse, Wisconsin — home of the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse

Metro area population: 136,824

College student population in the metro area: 16,081

No. 1 in youth unemployment

18. Jacksonville, North Carolina — home of the University of Mount Olive

Metro area population: 186,684

College student population in the metro area: 15,297

No. 3 in rent

While the best players in the NBA, NFL, and MLB make incredible sums of money, the NHL is a bit of a straggler when it comes to player salaries.

The league's salary cap prevents teams from paying more than $15 million per year to an individual player. In contrast, 29 out of 30 NBA teams have at least one player making that much money this season.

But even with its relatively restrictive spending limits, the NHL economy is robust, and $100 million contracts are not unheard of. Below, check out our rundown of the NHL players who have the highest total salary on each team, ranked by their 2017-18 salaries. Contract data was obtained from Spotrac.

29 (tie). Evander Kane, Buffalo Sabres — $6 million

Position: Left wing

Contract: 6 years, $31.5 million

One thing to know: Kane was selected by the Atlanta Thrashers with the fourth overall pick in the 2009 draft, signing a six-year extension ahead of the 2012-13 season. He was traded to the Sabres two years later.

29 (tie). Jeff Skinner and Jordan Staal, Carolina Hurricanes — $6 million

Position: Left wing (Skinner) and center (Staal)

Contract: 6 years, $34.4 million (Skinner) and 10 years, $60 million (Staal)

One thing to know: In 2010, Skinner became the youngest player in league history to be named to an All-Star team, and he rode that promise to a six-year extension. Staal, one of four brothers who made it to the NHL, is regarded as one of the best defensive forwards in the game.

29 (tie). Erik Johnson and Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche — $6 million

Position: Defenseman (Johnson) and left wing (Landeskog)

Contract: 7 years, $42 million (Johnson) and 7 years, $39 million (Landeskog)

One thing to know: Johnson, a former first overall pick, was traded from St. Louis to Colorado midway through the 2010-11 season and later agreed to an extension that will bring him to the back end of his career. Landeskog, a native of Sweden, won the Calder Trophy in 2012.

• We took a look at reports released by Whole Foods, The National Restaurant Association, and more to identify the top food trends for 2018.
• Examples include doughnuts with unique fillings, untraditional cuts of meat, fermented vegetables, meat alternatives, ancient grains, soft serve, and edible flowers.
• Cuisines that will be hot include Middle Eastern, Peruvian, and Filipino.

From gigantic soup dumplings to chicken waffle cones, there were plenty of viral foods to try in 2017.

As the year comes to a close, we took a look ahead to see what food trends will shape 2018.

Using reports released from Whole Foods, The National Restaurant Association, and more, we identified the foods you'll be seeing on menus everywhere in the coming year.

Keep scrolling to see what you'll be indulging in throughout 2018.

Doughnuts with unique fillings

Gone are the days of chocolate-glazed doughnuts. Boutique doughnut shops have been popping up all over the world, serving up unique flavors and fillings, like LA-based Cafe Dulce, which stuffs their doughnuts with Snickers bars. Australia's Donut Papi offers treats filled with custard, and NYC-based Du's Donuts come in flavors like banana malt, pear clove, and espresso cardamom.

The National Restaurant Association named doughnuts with non-traditional fillings one of the 10 trends that are heating up for 2018.

Middle Eastern spices and dishes

According to Whole Foods' 2018 trend report, Americans will be indulging in authentic Middle Eastern cuisine in the coming year.

"Things like hummus, pita, and falafel were tasty entry points, but now consumers are ready to explore the deep traditions, regional nuances, and classic ingredients of Middle Eastern cultures, with Persian, Israeli, Moroccan, Syrian, and Lebanese influences rising to the top," Whole Foods said.

Spices and ingredients such as harissa, cardamom, za'atar, pomegranate, eggplant, parsley, and tahini will become more common on restaurant menus across the country. 

Fermented and pickled veggies

According to BBC, the coming year will be all about gut health, which is why there will be a rise in pickled and fermented vegetables. While some veggies have been known to contribute to stomach bloat, veggies that have been fermented or pickled — like in the case of miso, kimchi, and kefir — can actually aid with digestion. 

It may come down to the wire, but with a couple more big releases on the horizon (“Jumanji” and “The Greatest Showman”) and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” now in theaters, the movie industry might cross the $11 billion mark for the end of the year. That would be three straight years the biz has hit that milestone.

Regardless, though, there were some major performers, including three very different kinds of movies crossing the $1 billion worldwide mark — and a Stephen King adaptation performing beyond anyone’s expectations.

Thanks to Marvel hits (“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” “Thor: Ragnarok”) and a live-action “Beauty and the Beast,” Disney passed the $5 billion total ticket sale mark for the third year in a row. Warner Bros. with “Justice League,” “It,” and “Wonder Woman” also hit the mark for the second time in its history.

Below are the 10 biggest worldwide box office earners of 2017.

Note: All figures are from Box Office Mojo. 

SEE ALSO: Matt Damon says we aren't talking enough about all the men in Hollywood who aren't sexual predators

10. “Justice League” — $635.9 million

Domestic: $219.4 million

For all the bashing the movie took from critics and the fans, this latest DC Comics movie was able to crack the top 10 (let’s check in a couple of weeks to see if “The Last Jedi” ruins the party). It’s the worst performer of any of the DC releases to date, but on the bright side, it likely won’t lose $100 million for Warner Bros. 

9. “It” — $697.5 million

Domestic: $327.4 million

WB couldn’t be more happy with how this adaptation of Stephen King’s book, made on a $35 million budget, performed at the box office. And it was a hit internationally, where horrors usually don’t do as strong.

8. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” — $794.8 million

Domestic: $172.5 million

People in the US may have had enough of the “Pirates” franchise, but it’s still working overseas. So expect more.

After 15 weeks of NFL action the end of the season is finally in clear sight. Every team in the league has two games remaining, and within those potential wins and losses are a slew of playoff scenarios that we can finally understand without working through advanced calculus.

With different motivations in play for every NFL team, it's also a great week for gamblers to make a little extra profit to cushion their bankrolls heading into the playoffs.

Last week our picks against the spread went a disappointing 6-8-2. We'll do our best to get things back on track and finish the season strong.

Also, we've made it deep enough into the season that there's no longer any "Thursday Night Football" to suffer through, so take the extra time to look over your betting sheets one more time this weekend so you're ready to take on the sharps on Saturday. And if you're itching for a bet to make, you can find all of our college bowl picks against the spread up through Christmas here.

Take a look below for our best bets of Week 16.

LAST WEEK: 6-8-2
OVERALL: 113-102-9

Indianapolis Colts (+13.5) at Baltimore Ravens (Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET)

The pick: Colts +13.5

The logic: The Ravens have shown a tendency to throttle opponents this season, but this is still too many points. The Colts have played the AFC North tough this year, and getting close to two touchdowns is always a welcome gift when betting on the NFL.

Minnesota Vikings (-9) at Green Bay Packers (Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET)

The pick: Packers +9

The logic: Aaron Rodgers might be done for the season but the Packers aren't a team to roll over against a division rival. Plus the Vikings are the team that took Rodgers down with an injury in the first place, and Green Bay might be looking to exact some revenge with a win in front of the home crowd.

Cleveland Browns (+6.5) at Chicago Bears (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET)

The pick: Bears -6.5

The logic: The Browns have lost by six or more their last seven games. While this is their last real chance for a win on the season with a matchup against the Steelers ahead of them next week, I'm not going to fool myself into betting on the Browns again. I've lost enough money on them this year.

Cole Hamels is one of the best pitchers in baseball, and now he'll also be known as one of the most generous.

According to a news release, Hamels and his wife have donated their Missouri home to Camp Barnabas, a non-profit that operates summer camps and other programs for people with special needs and chronic illnesses.

The home is listed at nearly $9.5 million on Realtor.com. It is the largest gift in the history of Camp Barnabas, per the news release.

Hamels is best known for his tenure with the Philadelphia Phillies, earning World Series MVP honors en route to just the second title in franchise history back in 2008. He is a four-time All-Star.

Below, find out more about Hamels' stunning property, including some of the luxuries the kids of Camp Barnabas will get to enjoy.

The house has 31,143 square feet.

Source: Trulia

And the entire property is appropriately huge: over 104 acres.

Source: Trulia

Inside, there are 10 bedrooms and 13 full bathrooms.

Source: Trulia

This year has been a huge one in the royal calendar — there has been a pregnancy, a proposal, Prince Philip leaving full-time royal duties, Prince William taking them on, and foreign trips and state visits galore.

For people constantly in the public eye, the royals are unsurprisingly great at shaking the right hands, smiling at the right moments, and generally keeping it all together to make sure they get things done.

But every now and again, even watching from a distance, we get a bit more than that. Away from the setpiece events, these are photos of the royals laughing, gawping, eye-rolling, and generally acting like normal folk. Here are the best from 2017.

In January Prince William made a solo venture to Centre Point, a homelessness charity in London. Here he plays a game with a young woman being helped by the charity (he has to guess the name on the note — which says "David Beckham").

It's not all relaxed though — here's all three royals making a run for it at a sports event in east London in February.

Prince William had more fun and games trying to put up a tent blindfolded in Abergevenny, Wales, while launching a children's award scheme.

Wake up. Snooze. Coffee. Rinse, repeat.

Most of our daily routines are so ingrained that we rarely think of changing them. But many of our morning habits aren't helping us to be the most productive, joyful versions of ourselves.

A spate of research on everything from our breakfast to our workout routines is helping to illuminate a handful of opportunities to change things up for the better.

Read on to learn when you should time your coffee to get the most of your buzz, what kinds of workouts to prioritize in the morning, and even whether popping that daily multivitamin is worth the money.

SEE ALSO: What your daily routine should look like, according to science

Skip the shower.

If you showered yesterday, you should probably skip it today. A growing body of evidence suggests that showering too much can mess with your skin and dry out your hair, since it can wash away many of the naturally occurring but beneficial bacteria and oil that keep skin and hair healthy.

"It's paradoxical, but people who wash their hair a lot to get rid of oil are drying out their scalp and producing more oil," Lynne Goldberg, a dermatologist and the director of Boston Medical Center's hair clinic, told Business Insider.

When it comes to setting up your own regimen, consider two things: the average dryness of your skin and scalp, and the texture of your hair. If they are neither very oily nor very dry, you likely only need to bathe once or twice a week. If your hair is curly and thick, you may need to wash it even less frequently, since coarse hair slows down the spread of oil from your roots through the length of your hair.

Brew your coffee — but don't drink it yet.

Many things naturally happen to our bodies when we wake up. We start pumping out the hormone cortisol, a sort of natural caffeine. Most people's cortisol levels peak sometime between 8:00 and 9:00 in the morning.

Instead of hopping aboard this wakefulness train, however, coffee consumed at this time may actually blunt cortisol's natural effects, according to Stephen Miller, a Ph.D. candidate at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. Instead of caffeinating during this window, Miller recommends holding off for an hour after you awaken.

Hit the track.

Research suggests that an early-morning workout on an empty stomach helps speed weight loss and boost energy levels by priming the body for an all-day fat burn. Exercising first thing in the morning may push the body to tap into its fat reserves for fuel instead of simply "burning off" the most recent snack or meal.

Plus, working out early could mean you get more sunlight, which is key to properly setting your body's internal circadian rhythm. In one study, people who basked in bright sunlight within two hours after waking were thinner and better able to manage their weight than those who didn't get any natural light, regardless of what they ate throughout the day. A morning walk or run outside can also help fight the winter blues during dark, cold days.

• Consumer aviation website Skytrax releases an annual list of the best airlines in the world.
• Airlines from Asia dominate that list, taking 12 of the top 20 spots. 
• In fact, Asian airlines have occupied the top spot since 2007.

Every year, consumer aviation website Skytrax releases its list of the best airlines in the world. For 2017, Qatar Airways took home the top prize for the second time in three years and the fourth time in the last seven. Including airlines from the Pacific Rim, South Asia, and the Middle East, carriers from the Asian continent as a whole performed tremendously well in the Skytrax rankings, occupying 12 of the top 20 spots.

In fact, a non-Asian airline hasn't held the top spot since 2006 when British Airways was awarded Airline of the Year.

The Skytrax rankings are based on the impressions of 19.87 million travelers from 105 different countries. The survey, which covered more than 325 airlines, measured 49 parameters ranging from boarding procedures to seat comfort to the quality of service.

Here's a closer look at 12 best airlines from Asia:

SEE ALSO: America is saying goodbye to the Boeing 747 jumbo jet — here's a look at its glorious history

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12. Asiana

Overall rank: 20

Why it's awesome: Once again, South Korea's Asiana earns high marks from Skytrax for its cabin crew, cleanliness, and economy class products. Asiana currently operates a fleet of modern Airbus and Boeing jets.

See additional airline information at Skytrax.

11. Japan Airlines

Overall rank: 16

Why it's awesome: Japan's flag carrier is one of the most respected airlines in the world. Reviewers on Skytrax praised Japan's second largest airline for its attentive service, well-coordinated ground staff, and comfortable cabin.

For 2017, Japan Airlines won the award for Best Economy Class Airline Seat. 

See additional airline information at Skytrax.

10. Thai Airways

Overall rank: 11

Why it's awesome: Thai Airways has long been an industry leader in quality service, so it's no surprise to find the Thai national carrier high up on the list. Though its most heralded products are its business and first-class services, fliers found its economy seats to be of high quality as well.

Economy fliers on Skytrax also noted the crew's friendly demeanor and delectable dining options.

In 2017, Thai Airways took home the award for the World's Best Economy Class, the World's Best Economy Class Onboard Catering, and the World's Best Airline Spa Facilities.

See additional airline information at Skytrax.

2018 is almost here.

However, if you're going to start off on the right foot, you've got to have a good strategy and mindset.

Business Insider spoke with Ryan Kahn, career coach and founder of The Hired Group and creator of the "How To Get Hired" online course, about what not to do come January.

Here are eight mistakes that unsuccessful people make in the New Year — along with some advice on how to turn things around:

SEE ALSO: 7 things unsuccessful people do over holiday breaks

1. They don't reflect on their accomplishments

Many companies have performance reviews around this time, but even if yours doesn't, take the time to think about all that you've accomplished. Don't take your success for granted. "Take the time to think back on the year critically before heading out to holiday," Kahn said.

2. They forget to set goals

Kahn said it's important to think about your long-term goals and short-term steps around the New Year. You're not setting yourself up for success if you fail to sketch out some sort of path forward.

3. They leave loose ends

Unsuccessful people allow work to spill into their free time over the holidays. Try to celebrate the New Year by treating yourself to a much-deserved break. "Spend the extra time now to make sure you can enjoy worry-free time off," Kahn said.

Playing daily fantasy is always a game of highs and lows, but last week our value picks were extreme on both sides of that spectrum.

Nick Foles threw for four touchdowns in one of the best quarterback fantasy performances of the week, outscoring more expensive options, including Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Matt Ryan. In addition, JuJu Smith-Schuster went off for 114 yards on just six receptions. On the other side of the coin, Brent Celek and the Browns' defense scored just one point with their combined efforts.

This week, we're back at it, trying to identify the best, affordable players for your DraftKings lineup. Below we've picked some of our best value plays for daily fantasy. Consider them when trying to find a few extra dollars to upgrade elsewhere in your lineup.

QB: Tyrod Taylor, $5,500

Tyrod Taylor has been a regular entrant in this spot mostly because there are few quarterbacks you can trust who also don't cost a fortune. That said, there's reason to like Taylor here. Although the Bills failed to find the end zone when they played the Patriots earlier in the season, New England has looked susceptible the past two weeks and the Bills have enough offensive talent to cause them trouble.

RB: Dion Lewis, $6,000

Dion Lewis should be the featured back for the Patriots this week with Rex Burkhead out due to injury. Lewis is averaging over five yards a carry and has scored 15 points or more in four of the past six weeks even with Burkhead getting the bulk of the workload.

RB: Bilal Powell, $4,000

With Bryce Petty under center, Bilal Powell became the center of the Jets' offense. This week he faces the Chargers, who currently sport the third worst rushing defense in the league.

Almost no one is bearish. 

This year is poised to be one of the most profitable for the S&P 500 in this bull market, now entering its ninth year, with a double-digit gain. And all the lead strategists at top Wall Street firms expect many of the same catalysts to lift stocks again in 2018, particularly earnings growth and US economic expansion. 

Across the board, the GOP's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is expected to boost the profits of America's largest companies, and possibly reward shareholders through more buybacks.    

But 2018 may not rival 2017 as one of the most peaceful in market history. Some strategists warn that the regular pullbacks that create volatility could resume.   

Here's what strategists forecast for 2018, in ascending order of their year-end targets for the S&P 500:

HSBC: 2,650

"US M&A levels are down 20% year-over-year," said Ben Laidler, HSBC's global equity strategist and head of Americas research, in a Bloomberg TV interview on December 4.

"So I think we’re certainly due for a pickup. We've got a bit of visibility with the tax reform that will allow that to accelerate. US corporates are sitting on a lot of cash. They are sitting on high multiples. I definitely think we're going to see a pickup here.

I also think we'll see something on the capex front, and a little will go a long way given that US capex is the most depressed in the world. But I still think most of it goes on share buybacks."

Citi: 2,675

"Tax cuts could be quite stimulative to S&P 500 EPS," said Tobias Levkovich, Citi's chief US equity strategist, in a November 15 note.

"We suspect that investors may not be willing to accord the same P/E for earnings generated by a lower tax rate versus one for underlying operating performance. Nonetheless, even if we assumed half the market multiple on the incremental tax-related EPS gains, it will still be additive to the S&P 500's upside potential."

Bank of America Merrill Lynch: 2,800

"Optimism was building this year, and we think 2018 could be the year of euphoria," said Savita Subramanian, the head of US equity and quant strategy, in a November 20 note. 

"Of our five target models, only our Fair Value model suggests negative returns. Valuation matters, but is only predictive over multi-year time horizons. We think sentiment will be a more important driver of returns in 2018, and drives the bulk of our market call."