From the unconventional and awe-inspiring to the cute and cuddly, here's a look at some of the most interesting photos, videos, and stories that have our newsroom talking today.

New Macy's Thanksgiving Parade Balloons Take Flight

Though Hello Kitty, Papa Smurf and the Elf on the Shelf will make their official debut next Thursday at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the three balloons took to the sky near the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, N.J., for a test flight.

Macy's, Inc./AP Photo

Dorothy's Wizard of Oz Dress Fetches $480,000 at Auction

The iconic blue dress worn by Judy Garland in the "Wizard of Oz" sold for a cool $480,000 at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills, Calif. The dress fetched the highest price of any of the items auctioned off over the weekend. Also on the auction block? Pieces of royal wedding cake from Prince William and Kate Middleton's nuptials, which sold for $7,500.

JOE KLAMAR/AFP/Getty Images

Harvard Students Send Burger Into Space

Five Harvard students, mostly science majors, hitched a burger to a weather balloon and sent it skyward, documenting the flight on YouTube. The B.good burger took nearly two hours to reach its peak altitude of 30,000 meters before plummeting back to earth. The YouTube video features clear footage of the space burger, with the curvature of the earth providing the backdrop.

High School Freshman Receives Miracle Liver Transplant

A high school freshman from western Pennsylvania underwent a life-saving liver transplant early Friday, just hours after his family had made a desperate public plea. Adam Snow, 14, was diagnosed with acute liver failure after going to the doctor with flu-like symptoms and was moved to the top of the donor list. Snow underwent surgery at 3 a.m. Friday, and could remain in a hospitalized for three weeks, though doctors expect he will make a full recovery.

ABC News

Skyfall Windfall

With a $87.8 million haul this weekend, "Skyfall," is officially the largest opening ever for a Bond film. The massive sum constituted more than a $20 million increase over the previous record for a Bond film, "Quantum of Solace," in 2008.

Sony Pictures, Francois Duhamel/AP Photo