Stephen Orlando is a photographer from Ontario, Canada, who captured the motion of outdoor sports in a unique way.

Using a combination of long-exposure photography and LED lights, Orlando was able to show the tiniest details like the pivot of a kayak paddle's stroke and the sweeping motion of a tennis serve.

"The light trails have not been artificially created in post production and the photos are not composite images," Orlando tells Business Insider. "The photos are achieved with careful timing, proper lighting, and the patient help of good friends."

One thing's for certain: You've never seen sports look quite like this before.

This long-exposure of a kayak shows the unique pattern the double-bladed paddle makes as it cuts through the water.

You'll notice a canoe's light pattern is quite different due to the single paddle.

Here's how the motion of a soccer player running looks as he chases down a ball...

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are reportedly buying the home next door to their new $20 million mansion, according to The Daily Mail.

An outdated ranch-style home with 1.49 acres of land went on sale for $2.92 million right next door to Kim and Kanye’s French country-style home in Hidden Hills. 

It was bought on December 15th by a company called Safari View LLC for $2.92 million and the deed was then transferred to the Noel Roberts Trust. Curbed linked the Noel Roberts Trust to the Bel Air mansion that Kim and Kanye are currently selling, as well as Kanye’s old Hollywood Hills home. 

The pair are most likely looking to extend their property and gain more privacy for themselves and their daughter North. They will probably demolish the current home and do some serious landscaping, bringing their total property acreage to 5.

The Wests already own the $20 million mansion next door with 15,600 square feet. The estate was once owned by Lisa Marie Presley, but her original mansion was razed in 2010 by the then-owner who built the current eight-bedroom spread on the property.

In addition to all their new real estate, Kimye — who were still living in Kim’s mother Kris Jenner’s home until recently — will enjoy two spas, a vineyard, two swimming pools, and more on their new property. 

"I am so ready to be out of my mom's house, you have no idea," Kim told People magazine. "We wanted to be away and have more privacy ... but it will be nice to still be close." 

Kim and Kanye bought this 8,000-square-foot estate in Hidden Hills in August — right down the street from Kim's mom's house, where the couple had previously been staying with baby North.

Now it's been revealed they also picked up the next door property (outlined in yellow). It will add roughly 1.5 acres to Kim and Kanye's 3.5 acre estate (in red).

The couple's new home — which boasts a very grand entrance —was previously owned by Elvis' daughter, Lisa Marie Presley.

As temperatures drop in the US, many are starting to plan their escape to the Caribbean.

And what better way to enjoy a truly stress free holiday than an all-inclusive resort? 

With help from Hotels.com, we've rounded up some of the best all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean based on real travelers ratings. 

From adults-only resorts located on private beaches to family-friendly hotels with special water parks, these are some of the best Caribbean getaways. 

24. Anse Chastanet Resort, St. Lucia

This secluded resort in Soufriere is a popular Caribbean getaway for couples. 

Located on 600 acres of tropical foliage, the Anse Chastanet Resort offers snorkeling and scuba diving with 100 yards of beach, kayaking, jungle mountain biking, hiking, and sunset cruises, deep-sea fishing, and tours of a "drive-in" volcano. 

The resort even has a restaurant in a treehouse. 

Rooms from $504 per night. 

23. Galley Bay Resort & Spa, Antigua

The Galley Bay Resort & Spa is located on 40 acres of land with a private white sand beach, lush tropical gardens, and tons of birds. 

Guests at the adults-only resort can enjoy drinks or a meal at the beach, pool, or in the privacy of their hotel room.

Rooms from $841 a night. 

22. Sandals Grande, Antigua

This couples-only resort has been voted the "World's Leading Honeymoon Resort" by the World Travel Awards four years in a row. 

Located on Dicenson Bay, the all-inclusive resort offers tennis courts, kayaking, sailing, and scuba diving. After, guests can unwind in the sauna, spa, or in a private cabana at the beach. There are 373 rooms spread over seven floors. 

Rooms from $1,541 a night. 

There are two types of travelers in this world: those who put up with the difficulties and occasional indignities of travel and those who are determined to triumph over them.

If you’re in the former camp, take note: with so much new technology available at your fingertips—and so many companies coming up with innovative solutions to travel dilemmas—there’s no reason to suffer in silence any longer.

For the past year, Travel + Leisure’s Trip Doctor news team has been testing and evaluating ways to travel better. Among our finds: a new breed of flexible airfare search tools that are making it easier to find lower-priced tickets that work with your schedule and travel parameters.

We also uncovered some enterprising services that will help you get paid—handsomely—when your flight is delayed or your luggage goes missing. And once you’ve arrived in your destination, we’ve identified simple ways that you can access a gym (a good one), stream your favorite television shows, connect to Wi-Fi for free, keep your business attire looking sharp, and ensure that your essential mobile devices never run out of batteries.

We even looked closely at the real reason some bags don’t make it to their final destination. And we asked Google Maps to analyze its traffic data to help us pinpoint the best (and worst) times to hit the road before a major holiday. 

The result of all this research: your road map for how to travel better in 2015.

Reported by Lisa Cheng, Nikki Ekstein, Amy Farley, Katie James, Brooke Porter Katz, and Tom Samiljan.

Read more on Travel + Leisure: 

• Best Gift Ideas for Travelers 
• Best Apps and Websites for Travelers
• World's Most-Visited Tourist Attractions
• Airplane Cabins of the Future

No. 1 Get Paid for a Flight Delay

If time is money, then air travel collectively owes us all. Tipping the scales in travelers’ favor: Berkshire Hathaway’s new AirCare insurance, which offers generous compensation for a fixed rate of $25. Delays of two or more hours get you $50; if you miss a connection, there’s a $250 payout.

And tarmac delays of more than two hours get you $1,000. (A bag delayed by 12 hours is worth $500.) You can purchase a policy up to 24 hours before departure time and payments are often instantaneous— wired into your bank or PayPal account.

Strict European Union regulations mean that passengers departing from any European airport (or flying a European carrier into the union) are eligible for compensation of up to $750 for a delayed, canceled, or overbooked flight. Here in the United States, travelers who are involuntarily bumped from a flight could be owed up to $1,300. AirHelp will go after your money for you, minus a 25 percent commission.

No. 2 Understand Code Shares

Think you’re getting credit for all your frequent-flier miles by traveling on a partner airline? Not necessarily. Each partnership works differently: some offer full mileage and elite-qualifying credit for tickets on other carriers; others offer reduced (or even no) credit.

And because some domestic loyalty programs calculate miles based on dollars spent (rather than distance flown), you mayeven bank more miles if you buy directly from a partner airline. Check the terms of each code share with your preferred carrier before booking.

No. 3 Beat Holiday Traffic

When hitting the road on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving or the Friday before Christmas—among the busiest days of the year—planning down to the hour can make a difference. With the help of Google Maps, we’ve charted the traffic patterns around four of the country’s biggest cities.

The data from Chicago, D.C., Los Angeles, and New York City reveal that on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, 4 p.m. is the worst time to travel, while 5 p.m. is the worst time to travel on the Friday before Christmas.

Methodology: Google Maps analyzed the total number of cars on the road at a given time, looking at the speed of vehicles with location-services-enabled android smartphones. Traffic is measured for the year 2013.

How many times have you applied for a job and never heard back? 

You tell yourself, “They probably never saw it,” or, “Maybe I just wasn’t a good fit,” and you move on.

But, more likely, your resume just didn’t impress.

Hiring managers receive dozens — sometimes hundreds — of resumes for any given opening. They don’t have the time or resources to review each one closely, so they spend approximately six seconds on their initial “fit/no fit” decision. 

You may be perfect for the job, but if your resume has just one typo, if it’s formatted poorly, or you use the wrong font, it could easily end up in the “no fit” pile.

“Think of the resume as a wedding invitation or other important announcement,” says Tina Nicolai, executive career coach and founder of Resume Writers' Ink. “You wouldn’t send out a wedding invitation with typos or false information, or one that includes too much information. So, why would you send out a resume with any of those things?”

Nicolai and other experts share tips for making sure your resume steers clear of the trash pile.

Get rid of the objective.

If you applied, it's already obvious you want the job.

However, if you're in a unique situation, like you're changing industries completely, it may be useful to include a brief summary. 

Cut out all the irrelevant work experiences.

Yes, you might've been the "king of making milkshakes" at the restaurant you worked for in high school. But, unless you're planning on redeeming that title, it's time to get rid of all that clutter.

Take a pass on the personal stuff.

Don't include your marital status, religious preference, or social security number.

This might've been the standard in the past, but all of this information is now illegal for your employer to ask you, so there's no need to include it.

Our final NFL power rankings of the season look remarkably familiar.

The Seattle Seahawks are on top, like they've been for most the year, with a few perennial contenders lurking.

On the other end of things, some once-promising 2014 teams (Titans, Bears, Falcons) ended up in the NFL's bottom tier.

1. Seattle Seahawks (previously: 1st)

Record: 12-4

Week 17 result: 20-6 win over St. Louis

One thing to know: This is the clear favorite to win the Super Bowl. They're 17-2 at home in the last two seasons, and they have homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.

2. New England Patriots (previously: 2nd)

Record: 12-4

Week 17 result: 17-9 loss to Buffalo

One thing to know: Tom Brady's latest contract reconstruction makes it easier for the team to cut him, which probably doesn't mean much.

3. Green Bay Packers (previously: 3rd)

Record: 12-4

Week 17 result: 30-20 win over Detroit

One thing to know: In all likelihood they'll have to beat Seattle on the road to make the Super Bowl. They were just 4-4 on the road this year.

True story: When I first became interested in "nice" watches I had little interest in Rolex. Looking back, I think I found them a bit ordinary or too conservative looking.

My 20 year-old self perhaps saw them as being "too safe" from a design perspective and not close enough the modern, experimental designs I was attracted to at the time.

That was all true. Rolex watches are design monoliths.

Due to Rolex's impressive marketing over the years, as well as the sheer popularity of their products, they have become the archetype of the "nice watch." And everyone certainly knows about them. My younger self was simply looking for something a bit more fresh. It was not a right time to get my first Rolex.

Over the years my relationship with Rolex evolved. It is now one of admiration, appreciation, and certainly understanding.

I know what Rolex watches are good at, I know what to expect from the brand, and I certainly know how seriously other people take them. And that goes equally for new and vintage Rolex watches that attract very distinct fan.

Why People Want A Rolex

Rolex watches are perhaps the finest mass-produced industrial timepiece on the planet. They may actually be the finest mass-produced anything. And by mass-produced I mean in terms of watch brand production volumes which for watches at the Rolex price point is most always less than one million watches per year.

Eventually, I came to approve of and even greatly desire one, then two, and later more Rolex watch models. What really changed my perception of Rolex was being able to survey the competition. My status as a watch writer and expert affords me the opportunity to handle over 1,000 watches per year. I've reviewed a lot of watches and can say for sure that Rolex does a lot of things the very best.

You also can't deny the communicative power a Rolex watch has when saying something about your status, wealth, and taste. None of it may be true, but years of work have given Rolex wearers a pretty good personality edge. Even people who think buying a Rolex is a too easy way of showing actual or apparent wealth can usually only fault the wearer and not the watch. I've come to find that a Rolex watch is infrequently a bad choice.

People tend to want buy a Rolex for one of the following main reasons: to celebrate an achievement, to own a watch that appears to hold value, to communicate a level of career or life success, to own a luxury watch that is a simple choice, or to wear a timepiece with a lot of history. Most Rolex watch models would satisfy each of these needs. No reason is better or worse, but it is interesting that most people's desire to wear a Rolex falls into one or more of these categories.

The natural next question to ask is whether these are good reasons or whether these are just marketing perpetuated ideas to sell watches. That is a very good question and I think the most simple response is that whether or not these ideas are perpetuated by marketing, they are true. Rolex watches are frequently given or purchased on special occasions. Rolex watches to tend to hold their value very well. And Rolex watches are a well-known luxury brand with a name lots of people have a positive association with. So marketing aside, they are true claims.

People have sometimes asked me if "Rolex watches are the best in the world?" Rolex is probably the most powerful luxury watch name, and their products are very well-made, these are facts. However, Rolex watches are the last timepiece some people will buy, and for others they are just a start.

Rolex tends to make simple mechanical movements and a limited variety of core designs. There is an entire universe of more complicated, more expensive, and more thoroughly designed watches. Having said that, few will claim that a Rolex doesn't belong in a well-rounded watch collection.

When Is The Right Time To Buy A Rolex?

Around the time this article was written, we on aBlogtoWatch were wrapping up a viewer poll on this exact question. Visitors to aBlogtoWatch were asked, in their opinion, what the best time to buy a Rolex watch was.

Four possible response choices were given and the results were remarkably well-distributed. About 21% said that it was best to buy a Rolex as soon as they could afford it. About 24% said the best time to get a Rolex was after sampling watches from many other brands. About 25% said it was Rolex time as soon as you've achieved a certain level of success. The rest weren't interested in Rolex watches at all.

The poll results indicated that 70% of aBlogtoWatch readers felt it was a good idea to buy a Rolex at some point. Clearly, you need to afford one first. As of now, the entry level price for the most basic new Rolex watch is about $5,000, with most pieces people want priced in the $8,000 - $12,000 range. Of course vintage or pre-owned Rolex watches can be less or actually more money.

Assuming the money is in the bank, you need to feel emotionally ready. Sound silly? Well given that people associate so many types of sentimental feelings with Rolex watches, it is actually something to consider. Let me tell you what I personally feel. Like I said earlier, Rolex watches are a monolith. The brand is like a rock-solid force that was here before I was born, and will be here after I have left.

Rolex also does not really add or subtract models with any speed or regularity. In fact, the watch models Rolex sells today, will in some highly recognizable form, be available long into the future. Rolex evolves their product collection versus changing it. That means it is as good a time to buy a new Submariner now, as it will be in 5, 10, or even 20 years. The Submariner will still be around - and it is that type of reassurance that Rolex has worked so hard to foster.

Having said that, I'd love a Rolex right now, but perhaps it would be a foolhardy decision. I am among those people who believe that the time to buy a Rolex is right after you've sampled a lot of watches, and when the right level of life success calls for it. I am just one person however. What we've done for you is collect the thoughts of our most respected fellow watch experts and writers to weigh in on this issue.

What The Experts Say

You know what we have to say on the topic of when to get your first Rolex watch, and below you'll see what other important voices think as well. It is important for you to feel that your new (or new for you) Rolex comes at the right time. Our colleagues and fellow experts offer their advice on the matter of your first Rolex watch below:

Ben Clymer of Hodinkee.com:

"I think that a vintage Rolex in particular is an excellent watch for beginning collectors for a few reasons. In fact, I would say that if one is comfortable with the brand positioning of Rolex, it is arguably the finest "first nice watch" someone can own.

The reason that I would suggest vintage early in the collecting career is A) they can be had for little money comparatively speaking, B) you get a superb, historic, and truly in-house watch from a bluechip brand, and C) it was the 1950s-70s when Rolex was really in its hey-day. In fact, I would argue that Rolex is the most important watch brand of the 20th century - their list of technical firsts is a mile long, and watches such as the 1970s Datejust (ref 1603), which very much like the modern Datejust today, can be purchased in good, original condition for $2500 (+/- depending on condition, etc).

The modern equivalent, which is very much the same watch, retails for double the price and the aging commonly found on the dial and hands give the vintage pieces a nice, elegant glow. The Datejust (or Oyster Perpetual, or Air King, etc) is a superb everyday watch that is universally appreciated and universally acceptable - whether with a t-shirt and jeans or a suit. The cases, bracelets, and movements are of exceptional build quality and I don't think there is a better buy for that kind of money.

I think a modern Rolex is a slightly different story, and the real benefit to buying new is if you want a true sport watch that can handle anything you throw at it. Sure, an old Submariner or GMT can be serviced to be completely water-proof, but they still have plastic crystals and 40 year old parts (here and there). A modern Rolex is built like a tank, and while they may not have some of the charm of some vintage pieces, they are truly exceptionally well-made watches. Though, I think they lack some of the charm of the early tritium and radium dials."

Michael Clerizo from the Wall Street Journal:

"I like the way the Japanese gift watches based around an occasion such as a graduation, a significant birthday, a first job or an important promotion. I think that approach should apply even if you're buying for yourself. A mechanical watch is not like buying a lamp or a computer, it is something very special so you should link purchasing one to a meaningful event in your life. Both the event and the watch will hold more meaning that way.

As mechanical watches require some care you need a sense of responsibility to own one. We all mature at different ages but many people (males and females) have the sense of responsibility by sixteen or by eighteen."

Robert-Jan Broer from the Fratellowatches.com:

"Rolex still has an "image" that it is a watch to commemorate something special. Your first job, your first child, your graduation, your wedding, and so on. I feel, that if you are buying a Rolex to celebrate something, you should always try to go for a brand new Rolex instead of a pre-owned one.

If you aren't buying a Rolex to celebrate a joyful event, but just want to buy that first good watch that will last a lifetime, you might as well take pre-owned Rolex watches into consideration. A pre-owned Rolex will certainly save you a few bucks, unless the Rolex is a sports model that is much sought-after (f.i. Submariner, Sea-Dweller, GMT-Master). Chances are quite good that the price of a pre-owned vintage Rolex equals a new Rolex watch or is even more expensive."

Jake Ehrlich from RolexMagazine.com:

"I believe the best time for someone to purchase their first Rolex is whenever they fall in love with a Rolex watch, and decide they have to have it and can't live without it. It's that simple. This happened to me 30 years ago, when I was 16 years old. There was a Rolex Authorized Dealer (AD) in Mill Valley, California I somehow wandered into when I was 16. At the time, Rolex had recently introduced the first Submariner with a synthetic sapphire crystal, which gave it a really modern look.

I fell madly in love with that watch and used to go visit it at least once a month. I became friendly with the jeweler, who must have thought I was nuts, because I would drop by just to try on the watch and stare at it like it was Sophia Loren.I remember thinking to myself, there was something magical about the Submariner. I was stunned by its super-timelessness and purposeful looking design. I remember thinking there was something very James-Bond-like about it, and I thought, if I could just get one, it would somehow make me invulnerable – like wearing a bracelet with magic powers.

At the time I did not realize that every James Bond actor had worn the Rolex Submariner as their default sport watch, but for some reason, when I would look at it on my wrist, the James Bond theme music track would start playing in my head! You know. the dun-na-na-na, na-nunna, dun-na-nunn-na...

One day, when I was still 16, I went to go visit the Rolex Submariner again, and the jeweler said "Hi Jake! Coming to visit your best friend again?", to which I said "Yes." Then he said, "Why don't you just buy the watch, so you don't have to come in here and stare at it on your wrist?" I remember asking the AD every imaginable question about the Submariner, and I remember being frustrated that I could not just buy it since the watch retailed for just over $1000 at the time, which was a lot of money, particularly for a 16-year-old.

I thanked the AD, and he said "See you soon!", to which I responded "Yes you will. I will be back before you close the store this evening to pickup the watch." He smiled and had this kind of confused look on his face. Somehow, I came up with the $1000, and showed up several minutes before the AD closed and bought the Rolex Submariner.

The AD sized it for my wrist, and I could not stop staring at the watch. I remember I went home and laid in bed for hours staring at the timeless beauty of the design, and when I turned the lights off, I would get way under the covers and completely cover myself in blankets so no ambient light was visible, and I would just stare at the beautiful lumed dial, and I would stare at the second hand as it moved ever so precisely around the dial in big circles. So my answer is, you should buy what you want or in my case had to buy, whenever you can afford it."

Paul Altieri from Bobswatches.com:

"A good time to buy your first Rolex watch is when you have enough discretionary income to where you can afford the model you want. Our average Rolex buyer is 40 to 45 years old but we have recently experienced a 15% increase in younger buyers in their mid to late twenties.

But they all share the same love and appreciation for what it means to own and wear a Rolex. And while some are celebrating a momentous occasion like a college graduation, the vast majority are just buying the watch for themselves because they want it!For those looking to find the best deals: buy soon after a major holiday like Christmas or Fathers Day where it is sometimes possible to find a small percentage discount. But don’t expect to find bargain basement close-outs. Not on a Rolex.

Advantage of buying a pre-owned Rolex? A pre-owned Rolex watch, unlike a new one, will not depreciate in value soon after it is purchased. While buying a new Rolex is akin to buying a new car: they will both depreciate in value substantially after they are purchased. By buying a pre-owned watch you have essentially eliminated this retail markup devaluation making it possible to someday sell your Rolex for more than you paid."

Frank Geelen from Monochrome.nl:

"Buying a first Rolex is something monumental and it makes sense to do this for a memorable occasion. This can be either a celebration (high school diploma, university graduation, promotion at work, wedding) or something for remembrance (using an inheritance for instance)."

James Stacey from aBlogtoWatch:

"7/10 Rolex buyers are buying exclusively for the name and do so whenever they have the cash to afford an 8K+ watch (as Paul said). If you consider yourself a watch nerd type, you may be buying a Rolex (and a specific model at that) for a variety of reasons. Rolex has a sport watch tied to the history of many manly pursuits (Sub = diving, daytona = racing, explorer/II = exploration, GMT Master = pilots, gold date just = dictator/mafioso/cocaine cowboys)."

SEE ALSO: How To Spot A Fake Luxury Watch

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Happy New Year's Eve! Many of us will be celebrating with champagne, dancing, and kissing loved ones when the clock strikes midnight.

But what about the rest of the world?

January 1st may be the de facto beginning of the New Year in the Western hemisphere thanks to the Gregorian calendar, but some cultures believe the New Year takes place at a different time altogether.

The Chinese New Year is in late January or early February. Rosh Hashanah — the Jewish New Year — is in autumn, and some cultures follow the Julian lunar calendar and celebrate in mid-January.

How people start off a brand new year varies regionally from country to country — though most do tend to have the standard fireworks display.

In Spain, they eat 12 grapes for luck.

Spaniards eat a grape with each of the twelve chimes of the midnight countdown while making a wish. The tradition dates back to 1895 when some savvy vine farmers realized they had a surplus of grapes and started the tradition to get more customers.

Many then celebrate with a late-night family dinner before heading out to Spanish nightclubs after midnight until 6 AM.

In Belgium, children write New Year's letters to their parents.

In Belgium, New Year's Eve is called Sint Sylvester Vooranvond. Besides toasting with the customary champagne, Belgian children write New Year's letters to their parents or godparents on New Year's day.

They decorate the cards with fancy paper complete with cherubs, angels, and colored roses and then read them aloud.

In Greece, people hang an onion on their doors.

It's believed that hanging an onion, or "kremmida" on your door on New Year's eve as a symbol of rebirth in the coming year. The following morning, parents traditionally tap their children on the head with the kremmida to wake them up before church.

Greeks also commonly break a pomegranate on their doorstep before entering their houses on New Year's Day, another symbol of prosperity and good luck.

Seattle-based entrepreneur Ian Lurie started online marketing firm Portent, Inc. in 1995, when dial-up was king. Today his firm has led digital strategies for major companies like Lucky Brand and Kate Spade.

Lurie collected the most important lessons he's learned over the past two decades about starting and running a business into a presentation that SlideShare named one of the best of 2014.

Here, we've published Lurie's presentation, "5 Lessons Learned In 20 Years As An Entrepreneur," with his permission.

Operation Enduring Freedom, the US's over-13-year-old campaign in Afghanistan, ended this week.

The next chapter in Afghanistan's modern history — one that's left all but the most remote corners of the country impacted by decades of conflict — is about to begin.

The country remains deeply troubled, with a resurgent Taliban, a highly suspect military, and an economy where the opium industry remains the largest single employer. But before the US invasion, before the Soviet occupation in the 1980s, and before the country's Marxist experiment, Afghanistan used to be a far different place.

An astonishing collection of photos from the country's pre-conflict period in the 1960s came to light in early 2013.

In the 60s, amateur photographer and college professor Dr. William Podlich took a leave of absence from his job at Arizona State University to work with UNESCO in the Afghan capital of Kabul, bringing his wife and daughters with him.

Later, his son-in-law Clayton Esterson found the late doctor's photos and put them on the web. The response was amazing.

Esterson told the Denver Post: “Many Afghans have written comments [on our website] showing their appreciation for the photographs that show what their country was like before 33 years of war. This makes the effort to digitize and restore these photographs worthwhile.”

An earlier version of this article was produced by Geoffrey Ingersoll.

On the left is a picture showing the photographer's daughter in a pleasant park. On the right is that same park 40 years later.

In the 60s, this blonde attracted looks in a still very conservative Afghanistan.

But many people also wore nice western clothes in the 60s, too.

For as long as we know, humanity has looked up at the sky and wondered about our place in this vast universe while marveling at the beauty of the stars.

As Carl Sagan said in Cosmos,"the size and age of the cosmos are beyond ordinary human understanding. Lost somewhere between immensity and eternity is our tiny planetary home."

This year was an especially big year for space observation and exploration.

In 2014 we've seen auroras transform the sky, been dazzled by solar eruptions, cheered as we landed on our first comet, and marveled at images of our fragile planet captured from other worlds.

James Woodend won the 2014 Astronomy Photography of the Year competition with this photo of a vivid green aurora in Iceland’s Vatnajökull National Park.

Source: These 12 Mind-Blowing Space Images Just Won A Photography Competition

NASA's Curiosity rover shared its very first picture of Earth from Mars. The photo was taken about 80 minutes after sunset on Jan. 31, 2014, NASA said. The rover tweeted the photo with the accompanying caption: "Look Back in Wonder... My 1st picture of Earth from the surface of Mars."

Source: Here's A Stunning View Of Earth From 99 Million Miles Away 

On April 21, the Hubble telescope captured what looks like a black hole in Jupiter's Great Red Spot — but really, it's the shadow of the Jovian moon Ganymede.

Source: Hubble Snapped This Picture Of Jupiter With A Creepy 'Hole' In Its Great Red Spot

This was a tumultuous year. From revolution and war in Ukraine, Syria, and Israel to social unrest across the US and the Ebola outbreak in Africa, 2014 was anything but quiet. 

And, as the old adage goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words."

We compiled the most unforgettable images from the past 12 months, captured by photographers from around the world.

Beginning in November 2013, Ukrainians protested the government's decision to distance itself economically from Europe in a movement that became known as EuroMaidan. The protests exploded into violence and burning tires in January after anti-protest laws went into effect. Here, protesters took cover from water sprayed by a fire engine on Jan. 23.

The anti-protest laws banned "face concealments." Protesters, like this one, deliberately disobeyed the law by wearing gas masks.

The Tower of David in Caracas, Venezuela, is the tallest slum in the world. In February, Reuters photographer Jorge Silva went there to capture what life was actually like for those living there. Here, men rested after salvaging metal on the 30th floor.

We're almost through 2014, and for some of us, this is an event worth celebrating. This was an interesting year for movies and movie stars. There was a lot of mud slung from a massive privacy breach. And there were the usual bad choices (and ill fortune) that some of our favorite stars suffered through.

It's amazing what anything as small as a cameo or as large as a sleeve of films can do to a person's career, and 2014 showed us that no one is safe from failure in the business they call show.

Click here to see the actors »

10. Will Smith

9. Chris Pine

What's The Damage: Star Trek alone should be pushing Chris Pine into the stratosphere of modern acting, considering how great he is in the iconic role of Captain Kirk. Unfortunately, this year brought Pine's career out of warp, with Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit performing rather unspectacularly at the box office.

If Stretch had made it to theaters, Pine could have put himself at even money. Alas, the film was buried on VOD. The kicker for Chris Pine's 2014 is, of course, his performance in Into The Woods, which has garnered positive mentions, but has been overshadowed by the under-performance that is known as Horrible Bosses 2. 

Chances For Recovery In 2015: Not Good. Z For Zachariah is the only film Chris Pine has on his slate for 2015, and while that might pull in some teen spending money, it surely isn't going to be anywhere near what other YA adaptations will be bringing in next year. 

8. Dane DeHaan

What's The Damage: Dane DeHaan is still somewhat of a rising star, and 2014 should have been his year to shine – especially considering he scored his first big franchise role on the back of a pretty good 2013.

It didn't help that said franchise was none other than the sinking ship we call The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and it helped even less that the film turned DeHaan into a sneering mutation of a character that looked like he was going somewhere in the first half. Much like anyone else who had more than one film with Sony this year, Dane DeHaan took a 1,2 punch as Life After Beth wasn't anything to write home about either. 

Chances For Recovery In 2015: Good, as he has two films replete with amazing co-stars lined up for 2015: Tulip Fever and Life. 

Demand for better burgers is heating up. 

Shake Shack recently filed for an IPO, while many other chains are aggressively expanding across America.

Research firm Technomic provided data for which chains are taking over. 

We've ranked the restaurants by number of locations.

Kim Bhasin and Aly Weisman contributed to this story.

Bobby's Burger Palace

Number of US restaurants in 2013: 17

% change from previous year: 42%

Celebrity chef Bobby Flay is the mastermind behind this better burger chain. Specialties include a "Crunchburger" topped with potato chips and the "New Mexico" which includes a jalapeno slaw. 

Bobby's Burger Palace locations are primarily on the East Coast. There are also locations in casinos in Ohio and Las Vegas. 

Shake Shack

Number of US restaurants in 2013: 21

% change from previous year: 62%

Shake Shack has been gaining popularity thanks to its antibiotic-free meat and gourmet shakes. 

While the US footprint is still relatively small, the company is planning a massive expansion following its IPO. 

Umami Burger

Number of US restaurants in 2013: 22

% change from previous year: 57%

West Coast chain Umami Burger opened in New York this year after becoming popular on the West Coast. 

"Umami" means "fifth sense," that indescribable taste that adds to every flavor.

The menu has something for everyone, from sweet and savory toppings to vegetarian options.

Business Insider just named the Corvette Stingray as its 2014 Car of the Year.

Quite an achievement for a car that in 2013 celebrated a milestone in the form of its 60th birthday.

A true American legend, the Corvette is the original American warrior on the international sports car battle ground.

The original Corvette was a boulevard cruiser akin to the Ford Thunderbird. It had a small straight six engine and an automatic transmission.

In the first year, 1953, you could have any color combination you wanted, as long as it was white with a red interior.

But as time went on, the car evolved into the world-beating sports car it has become One man that helped that transformation was the legendary engineer Zora Arkus Duntov.

Without Duntov, the Corvette may have stayed a boulevard cruiser. But his introduction of the V8, fuel injection, disc brakes, and a focus on performance helped bring the car to a whole other level.

So how much has the Vette changed over the years?

[An earlier version of this article was written byb Travis Okulski.]

In 1953, the C1 Corvette was introduced. While it looked great, it had an anemic straight six engine and a two speed transmission. Not exactly what we'd call sporty.

In 1955, the first V8 was offered in the Corvette. In 1956, it was slightly restyled and in 1957, a fuel injected engine was added. The Vette finally had the performance to match the looks.

For 1958, a second set of headlights were added. There was still no independent rear suspension available for handling junkies.

Great job everyone: we survived 2014. 

But before we can look forward to another year in the markets, it is time to look back on the craziest things that happened in the past year. 

We're not talking about the boring stuff: the Fed ending quantitative easing, the markets' mini-meltdown October, or the unexpected double-digit full-year gains that almost no one saw coming.

We're talking about the weird stories that we can't forget about. A penny stock saw its market-cap balloon to $5 billion, a company went public and then un-public, and a Chinese footwear company saw all of its money disappear over a weekend. 

And while all of these stories are wild in their own right, we've ranked them from "least crazy" to "most crazy": all rankings are relative.

12. Biotech Company Goes Public Then Un-Public In A Never-Before-Seen IPO Fail

Israeli biotech company Vascular Biogenics made its debut on the Nasdaq on August 1 — but on August 8 it wasn't public anymore. 

The public-and-then-un-public situation was related to what the company called, "an unexpected situation in which a substantial existing US shareholder did not fund payment for share it previously agreed to purchase in the offering."

So close.

11. CEO Mocks Analyst, Refuses To Answer His Question On Public Webcast Because His Stock-Price Target Is Too Low

This was uncomfortable.

On Cliffs Natural's October earnings conference call, its CEO Lourenco Goncalves refused to answer a question from Wells Fargo analyst Sam Dubinsky because Dubinsky had a price target on the stock Goncalves didn't like. 

Goncalves took Dubinsky's question, and then said, "You have a $4 price target and you think we can't sell assets, so I'm going to take the next question, I'm not going to answer you."

Brutal.

10. A Fund With The Ticker 'CUBA' Went Bananas

In December, the White House said it would begin the process of "normalizing" relations with Cuba.

After this announcement, the Herzfield Caribbean Basin Fund, which trades under the ticker 'CUBA,' rose almost 30%. 

The fund's goal is to invest in Caribbean-based opportunities, and while it currently has no holdings directly in Cuba, the fund believes its holdings are positioned to gain from an end to the US embargo against the country.

From the mightiest beasts in the jungle to the tiniest microorganisms swimming in our pond water, Earth is home to some amazing life-forms.

This year, we've observed some incredible wildlife in action all around the world.

In 2014 we saw leopards battling crocodiles, walruses swarming the Alaskan coastline, and ghostly fish lurking in the deepest parts of the ocean.

This nature shot from London's Richmond Park, titled “Stag Deer Bellowing,” by Prashant Meswani, was an honorable mention in National Geographic's 2014 photo contest.

Source: Here Are The Winners Of The 2014 National Geographic Photo Contest

This shot of a Colored Parson's Chameleon at Andasibe-Mantadia National Park in Madagascar was a finalist in the Nature Conservancy's photo contest.

Source: The 20 Best New Pictures Of Nature From Around The World 

This photo, titled "Apex Predators" by Justin Black, was one of the top photos from the BBC photographer of the year competition. Black shot this in the wetlands of the Brazilian Pantanal.

Source: Unbelievable Pictures Of Wildlife From The BBC's Photographer Of The Year Competition 

A West Village townhouse that just underwent a painstaking renovation has sold for $21 million.

That's nearly double what a development company paid for it in 2012, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The landmark house transformed from a 10-unit townhouse into a stunning single-family home.

Now updated with new wood floors, windows, a garden, an elevator, and central air, the 1880s townhouse looks nowhere near its true age.

For its sale, the apartment was staged by Cheryl Eisen of Interior Marketing Group.

Meet 79 Horatio Street, a gorgeous six-level townhouse nestled in the heart of New York City's most desirable neighborhood: the West Village.

The house was restored completely after a developer bought it in 2012 for only $10.45 million. The developer renovated the interior and converted it from 10 apartments back into a single-family home, as it was originally.

The six floors add up to a huge amount of living space with six bedrooms and 7,100 square feet.

When I hauled myself aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Barry, one of the first things I was shown was the ship's 5-inch, 127mm gun.

"This is how the Barry pays its bills," the ensign showing me around said.

What she meant was that even though the Barry carries an array of missiles including Tomahawks, SM-2s, and SM-3s, among others, the 5-inch is the weapon of choice when engaging any surface, air, or shore targets.

Loaded with an assortment of devastating rounds the gun can pound out its 20-projectile magazine in about a minute while maintaining pinpoint accuracy through computerized targeting.

The crew of the USS Barry allowed me to poke around into all aspects of the 5-inch weapon, allowing me to explore deep in the ship's magazine, as well as the firing room.

What goes into making this gun so devastating may surprise you.

This post was originally reported, written, and produced by Robert Johnson

The 5-Inch Light Weight Gun Mount is the Navy's main anti-surface gun.

The 5-inch is more economical than a guided missile and extremely accurate up to about 15 miles away.

In a time of conflict the order to fire the gun comes from here: the bridge of the USS Barry. But getting the weapon to fire and making sure it hits the target requires coordination among people all over the ship.

What makes an app catch your eye?

We think the most beautiful apps of the year use color creatively, simplify otherwise annoying experiences, and spark our imaginations with fantastic game environments. They feature a strong attention to detail, along with a smart overall design that matches the function and feel of the app.

These are the most beautiful apps of 2014.

Waterlogue turns your photos into artistic watercolors.

Waterlogue lets you watch as it paints over your photos to create a beautiful watercolor version. There's 14 different styles, and you can create the perfect picture by tweaking wetness, pen outlines, and colors.

Price: $2.99

Manual gives photography experts full access to all of your camera's settings.

Manual lets you open up the hood of your iPhone's camera, giving you full independent control of advanced settings like shutter, ISO, white balance, focus, and exposure compensation. When you're done editing, all of your photos save directly to your iPhone's Camera Roll.

Price: $1.99 (iOS)

Vesper is an elegant way to record your thoughts.

Vesper is a note-taking app that takes a lot of the hassle out of organizing your thoughts. You can easily tag each entry so you can search for a specific thought by keyword later, and all your notes will be synced to your Vesper account, free of charge. Reorganizing your notes is made simple with a hold-and-drag motion, and if you want to prevent a cluttered collection, a simple swipe archives your entry.

Price: $2.99 (iOS)