The basic elements of the modern cosmology - inflation, baryosynthesis
and dark matter imply physics beyond the Standard model of elementary
particles. This physics comes from the extension of the symmetry of
Standard model and can lead to nontrivial cosmological consequences.
Strict particle symmetry priovides the existence of new conserved charges, so
that the lightest particles that possess these charges are stable and
can play the role of dark matter candidates. Particle symmetry breaking

Steve Torchinsky:

To-date, more than 3000 exoplanets have been discovered; now we aim to detect and characterize exoplanets that could potentially harbor life. An exo-Earth orbiting a Sun-like star 10 parsecs from our solar system would have roughly 10^-10 the brightness of its host star, and appear at a maximum angular distance of 0.1 arcsecond from the star. Thus, unprecedented technological advances are needed in high-contrast imaging and starlight suppression. NASA is pursuing technology development in two categories: 1. coronagraphs, and 2. starshades.