On the cover: The growing number of new planets raises the possibilities of finding others who share our universe.

The idea of a universe ripe with other worlds — some similar to our own Earth — has tantalized humans for centuries. Likewise the prospect for some form of intelligent life on a few of those distant planets. The technological advances in astronomy have revealed the existence of new planets at an unprecedented rate in just the past five years, encouraging us to examine our understanding of the forces and conditions that make these planets possible. Even the notion of extraterrestrials has evolved — from popular culture's images of the fantastic and the fanciful to recent serious, scientific inquiry. And, as you'll see from Ben Bova's article, even Kepler is joining the search.

Whether there is other life out there but, in the words of "Star Trek's" Mr. Spock, "not as we know it," it is clear that the accelerated pace of discoveries of new star systems and their planets is an ongoing revelation of just how fascinating a home our universe is to all kinds of celestial neighbors.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Laser

Planetary Provocateur

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