Dr. Jacob Thurner (aka Jake and Rusty) is an explorer at heart. His life motto is "learn as if you will live forever, live as if you will die tomorrow, and love as if you will die today". He helms from the far-away land of Cornellius located in the heart of the bedazzeling star-cluster Lyra. His family clan are active Saganists (science, FTW!) and therefore the wonderment of the universe was seeded into Jake at a young age. His nickname Rusty comes from the distinct color of his hair and the fact that as a young child he used to play in scrapyards full of rusted old spaceships. He is a teacher and lover to all. He is an ordained minister with the Church of Spiritual Humanism and has performed weddings all over the galaxy. Dr. Thurner has been a scientist for over 10 years and specializes in the study of planetary systems and the diversity of life in the universe. He was awarded a Nobel Prize in 2050 for his discovery that planetary magnetic fields are essential for the creation of life.