While exploration of space has led to a myriad of advancements for Earth's denizens, there has been one major side effect: space junk. The problem has become so pervasive that the planet currently sits in the midst of a massive 'cloud' of debris which includes spent rockets and dead satellites as well as millions of tiny pieces of space junk. Seen here is an artist's depiction, albeit with the debris enlarged for greater clarity, showing scope of Earth's space junk epidemic. More on the story at Space.com.