Singer Janelle Monae finds critical acclaim as two of her movies score Oscar best picture nods

Monae stars in both ‘Hidden Figures’ and ‘Moonlight,’ which will compete for the best picture Oscar prize at the ceremony on Feb. 26. ‘I consider myself not just an actor or a musician or singer, but an artist-storyteller, and my hope is to continue to tell untold, unique, universal stories in unforgettable ways,’ she said. Janelle Monae attends the 8th Annual Essence Black Women in Music at NeueHouse Hollywood on Feb. 9, 2017, in Los Angeles.

‘Passengers’ and the real-life science of deep space travel

From “Aliens” to “Interstellar,” Hollywood has long used suspended animation to overcome the difficulties of deep space travel, but the once-fanciful sci-fi staple is becoming scientific fact. The theory is that a hibernating crew could stay alive over vast cosmic distances, requiring little food, hydration or living space, potentially slashing the costs of interstellar missions and eradicating the boredom of space travel.