HitchBot, an anthropomorphic robot is shown here thumbing for a ride on Highway 102, just outside of Halifax, Nova Scotia, as it begins a 6,000 kilometer cross-country journey to Victoria, British Columbia. HitchBot’s owners are actually conducting a social experiment to see if drivers will actually stop to pick up the hitchhiking robot and drop off it off at its destination in one piece. (Reuters)

HitchBot, an anthropomorphic robot is shown here thumbing for a ride on Highway 102, just outside of Halifax, Nova Scotia, as it begins a 6,000 kilometer cross-country journey to Victoria, British Columbia. HitchBot’s owners are actually conducting a social experiment to see if drivers will actually stop to pick up the hitchhiking robot and drop off it off at its destination in one piece. (Reuters)

Here’s a shot of the moon crossing between NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and the sun, during a phenomenon called a lunar transit on July 26, 2014. This photo was taken by the SDO itself. NASA says a lunar transit takes place about twice a year, causing a partial solar eclipse that can only be seen from SDO's point of view. (Reuters/NASA/SDO)

Here’s a shot of the moon crossing between NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and the sun, during a phenomenon called a lunar transit on July 26, 2014. This photo was taken by the SDO itself. NASA says a lunar transit takes place about twice a year, causing a partial solar eclipse that can only be seen from SDO’s point of view. (Reuters/NASA/SDO)

In a photo released on July 28, 2014, a Giant Otter is seen here posing in a lagoon at the Manu National Park in Peru's southern Amazon region of Madre de Dios. The 1.8 million hectare reserve is the largest National Park in Peru and has one of the highest levels of biodiversity of any park in the world. (Reuters)

In a photo released on July 28, 2014, a Giant Otter is seen here posing in a lagoon at the Manu National Park in Peru’s southern Amazon region of Madre de Dios. The 1.8 million hectare reserve is the largest National Park in Peru and has one of the highest levels of biodiversity of any park in the world. (Reuters)

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity set a new off-Earth distance record recently. To celebrate the occasion the space agency released this self-portrait of the record setter on July 29, 2014. (Reuters)

NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity set a new off-Earth distance record recently. To celebrate the occasion the space agency released this self-portrait of the record setter on July 29, 2014. (Reuters)

Curious visitors, on July 31, 2014, check out the nose/cockpit area of China’s new C919 airliner that’s currently being built in the Sichuan province. The nose portion of the airliner, that being built by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China is the second significant piece of the C919 to be completed. (Reuters)

Curious visitors, on July 31, 2014, check out the nose/cockpit area of China’s new C919 airliner that’s currently being built in the Sichuan province. The nose portion of the airliner, that being built by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China is the second significant piece of the C919 to be completed. (Reuters)

The 18th NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) came to a successful end with ‘Splashup’ on July 29, 2014. Four astronauts spent nine days living and conducting research nearly 19 meters beneath the surface of the Atlantic Ocean in Florida. (NASA)

The 18th NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) came to a successful end with ‘Splashup’ on July 29, 2014. Four astronauts spent nine days living and conducting research nearly 19 meters beneath the surface of the Atlantic Ocean in Florida. (NASA)

A BMW i3 electric car is parked next to its charger at the Electric Power Research Institute's ‘Plug-In 2014’ conference in San Jose, California on July 28, 2014. Conference attendees were able to check out the latest electric car products and talked about improving both technological and marketing issues facing the rapidly growing plug-in vehicle industry. (Reuters)

A BMW i3 electric car is parked next to its charger at the Electric Power Research Institute’s ‘Plug-In 2014’ conference in San Jose, California on July 28, 2014. Conference attendees were able to check out the latest electric car products and talked about improving both technological and marketing issues facing the rapidly growing plug-in vehicle industry. (Reuters)

The European Space Agency’s last un-manned Automated Transfer Vehicle to deliver supplies to the International Space Station lifts off atop an Ariane 5 launcher from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on July 29, 2014. (© ESA)

The European Space Agency’s last un-manned Automated Transfer Vehicle to deliver supplies to the International Space Station lifts off atop an Ariane 5 launcher from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on July 29, 2014. (© ESA)

Those attending the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention, on July 25, 2014, got a chance to try out Oculus Rift virtual reality headsets as they watched a 3-dimensional video for the "Pacific Rim: Jaeger Pilot" video game. (Reuters)

Those attending the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention, on July 25, 2014, got a chance to try out Oculus Rift virtual reality headsets as they watched a 3-dimensional video for the “Pacific Rim: Jaeger Pilot” video game. (Reuters)