Terms of use.

About this website

DarkScienceDocs.com is the website for The Last Transmission, an independent science-storytelling and education project. It offers articles, documentary material, illustrations, interactive explorations, and free learning resources. By using this website, you agree to these terms as far as permitted by applicable law. If you do not agree, please do not use the website.

Science, storytelling, and educational use

We aim to describe scientific evidence carefully and distinguish established findings from models, approximations, artistic interpretations, and speculation. Illustrations and interactive experiences may simplify complex processes to make them easier to explore; they should not be mistaken for direct observations or precise scientific instruments unless explicitly identified as such. We correct material errors when they come to our attention, but scientific understanding and source material can change.

Content on this site is for general information and education. It is not a substitute for professional scientific, educational, medical, legal, financial, or safety advice, and it does not confer an academic credential or independently certify a learner's work.

Reading, linking, and sharing

You are welcome to read the site, link to its public pages, and share those links with students, teachers, families, and other interested readers. You may use the website's public interactive tools for legitimate personal and educational purposes. Downloading, printing, reproducing, distributing, adapting, or republishing other materials is permitted only where the relevant page, downloadable item, or applicable law expressly allows it. A public page being free to visit does not automatically make all of its text, images, audio, video, branding, or code free to reuse.

Exoplanet Transit Lab classroom permission

The Exoplanet Transit Lab includes a specific educational-use permission for its original learner worksheet, educator notes, worked examples, and chart descriptions. These teaching materials may be downloaded, printed, copied, and shared for noncommercial educational use, including classroom lessons, homeschooling, astronomy clubs, and independent study.

When sharing those materials, please credit The Last Transmission / DarkScienceDocs.com, keep the applicable permission notice and existing attributions, and provide a link to the Exoplanet Transit Lab with digital copies. This is a custom educational-use permission, not a Creative Commons license. Commercial reuse and adaptations require separate permission. The permission does not automatically cover other website content, software, logos, or branding.

The original NASA Kepler observations provided with that lab are public-domain data. These website terms do not impose new restrictions on those original observations. Please follow the data provenance, source credits, and processing notes on the lab page when reusing the curated teaching subset.

Copyright and third-party materials

Unless otherwise indicated, original writing, artwork, interface designs, code, and other original materials are protected by the rights of their respective creators or owners. Third-party research, photographs, datasets, illustrations, video, and other incorporated or linked materials may have separate attribution requirements or usage terms. Nothing here transfers ownership of third-party content or claims an endorsement by NASA, MAST/STScI, or other research organizations.

Please do not remove credits, misrepresent authorship or affiliation, resell materials you are not licensed to resell, or suggest that external organizations have endorsed this project unless they have expressly done so.

Responsible use

Please do not use this website in a way that disrupts its availability, attempts unauthorized access, circumvents security measures, introduces malicious code, or infringes the rights of others. Automated access must respect applicable law, site policies, and reasonable service limits. You are responsible for how you interpret and use information and downloadable resources.

Links, embeds, and other services

This site may link to or embed services run by other organizations, including Substack, YouTube, and scientific archives. Those services are responsible for their own content, availability, and terms. Following a link may take you away from DarkScienceDocs.com. For information about analytics preferences, contact forms, local storage, and third-party requests, read our Privacy notice.

Availability and limitations

We work to keep the site useful, current, and available, but cannot guarantee uninterrupted access, error-free operation, or that every explanation, calculation, download, or external reference will always be complete or up to date. The site and its resources are provided on an “as available” basis, to the extent allowed by law. To the extent permitted by applicable law, we are not responsible for indirect or consequential losses arising from use of the site. Nothing in these terms excludes rights or liabilities that the law does not allow to be excluded.

Updates to these terms

We may revise these terms when our features, resources, or policies change. The date at the top of this page identifies the current version. Please review it periodically. Changes apply prospectively from publication, subject to applicable law.

Questions, permissions, and corrections

For questions about reuse, permission for commercial adaptations, accessibility, or a possible scientific error, contact us at darksciencedocs@gmail.com or use our contact page. Please include the relevant page or resource so we can respond accurately.

Read the privacy notice →   Explore the Exoplanet Transit Lab →