海角大神

Today, our five selected stories cover misperceptions about the impeachment trial, progress versus stewardship of U.S. waters, gender and Democratic leadership, finding trust in an age of misinformation, and the history of creativity among Cairo鈥檚 tent-makers.

Immigration. Impeachment. Contagion. As I struggled to digest today鈥檚 headlines, my eye was drawn to NASA鈥檚 naming contest for the next Mars rover. And I found a loftier perspective.

NASA got 28,000 essay submissions from K-12 students. Last week, the agency chose nine finalists.聽

Now, I鈥檓 aware that NASA is a finely tuned public relations machine intent on boosting the next generation鈥檚 engagement and taxpayer support for its missions. But if you you will be inspired. These kids get it: This contest is not only about naming a 2,300-pound robot going to the red planet in July. They鈥檙e defining the attributes for out-of-this-world success.

Tenacity. Vision. Endurance. Clarity. Perseverance. Promise. Ingenuity. Fortitude. Courage.

As fourth grader Eamon Reilly of York, Pennsylvania, explains, 鈥淪cientists make mistakes ... and then try again. ... If they didn鈥檛 have tenacity, Mars rovers wouldn鈥檛 be a thing.鈥澛�

Every previous Mars rover has carried a moniker that defines us: 鈥淐uriosity. Insight. Spirit. Opportunity,鈥� observes middle schooler Alexander Mather of Springfield, Virginia. He adds 鈥減erseverance鈥� as a North Star: 鈥淲e, not as a nation but as humans, will not give up.鈥�

The Mars rover is 鈥渁 promise,鈥� writes fourth grader Amira Shanshiry of Westwood, Massachusetts; 鈥渁 goal with an intention. A commitment ... a glimmer of hope.鈥澛�

Yes, the Mars rover is a six-wheeled $2 billion research lab. But it鈥檚 also a cosmic ambassador. It represents more than our scientific quest for understanding. It鈥檚 a testament to humanity鈥檚 best qualities.