It’s not only talk-show hosts who feed off of politicians’ sex scandals

If a robotic rover soon cavorts on the surface of the moon, you can trace its genesis to a gala fundraiser held at Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., last March.

Hosted by Google co-founder Larry Page, the event raised $2.7 million for the X Prize Foundation. Page is a trustee.

Attendees included Tipper Gore, Sir Richard Branson, Arianna Huffington and Robin Williams. The actor/comedian, whose roles have included a space alien as well as a short-term president-elect of the United States, brought down the house with an impromptu routine.

American adventurer Steve Fossett never did much on a small scale. Now, extraordinary and sophisticated measures are being taken to find the lost aviator, who has been missing for nearly two weeks.

Two of America’s largest companies and tens of thousands of people - literally - are searching for Fossett.

Since Fossett disappeared, the state of Nevada has spent more than $600,000 looking for the expert pilot and world-class yachtsman. Fossett, who made a fortune in commodities trading, was last seen taking off from Barron Hilton’s sprawling Nevada ranch in a Bellanca Super Decathalon fixed wing aircraft.