From the unconventional and awe-inspiring to the hilarious and heartwarming, here's a look at some of the most interesting photos, videos and stories that have our newsroom talking today. What's capturing your attention, filling your inbox and cluttering your Facebook/Twitter feed? Tweet us the stories you're talking about using #InstantIndex or email us at ABC.WorldNews@abc.com and they could appear on World News.

Tonight's Instant Index:

Mars Rover Set for Mountain Hike NASA's "Curiosity" rover is set to undertake its first mountain climb in mid February, when it will scale ancient Mount Sharp in search of the chemical building blocks of life. The entire odyssey is expected to take about nine months as "Curiosity" is expected to make research pit stops along the way.

NASA/JPL-Caltech

Rain of Confetti for New Year's Eve As a million revelers get set to descend on Times Square this New Year's Eve, preparations for the party are in full swing. Among the most important? Prepping the confetti of course … 17 million pieces of which are expected to rain from above as the ball drops.

Mary Altaffer/AP Photo