These Space Scientists Want to Update Earth’s Message to Extraterrestrials
The broadcast builds on the 1974 Arecibo message and portrays information about science, math and human life
The Wonder of Avi Loeb
The physicist thinks we might have glimpsed evidence of an alien civilization. Despite controversy, he’s determined to find more
If Aliens Exist in These 1,700 Solar Systems, They Can Probably See Earth
Hypothetical alien astronomers orbiting these stars could have seen the sun’s light flicker as Earth passed in front of it
Astronomers Discover Mysterious Radio Signal From Proxima Centauri
Scientists searching for aliens are trying to understand the signal’s origins
Massive Arecibo Telescope Collapses in Puerto Rico
The radio telescope was once the largest in the world, and played a key role in many major astronomical discoveries over the last 50 years
A Mysterious Monolith in the Utah Desert Vanished Overnight
Theories regarding the 12-foot-tall metal structure’s origins—and ultimate fate—abound
Why Astronomers Want to Build a SETI Observatory on the Moon
Researchers say the location would offer a quiet spot from which to hear a signal from an intelligent civilization
In Clouds on Venus, New Potential for Microbial Life
Astronomers have detected a chemical in Venus’ atmosphere that signifies life on Earth. Could it mean the same on Venus?
Microbes Living in Deep Sea Rocks Spawn More Hope for Life on Mars
Starved of resources, these hardy bacteria still eke out a living, suggesting life forms could survive in the harsh habitats on other planets
We’re Better Equipped to Find Extraterrestrial Life Now Than Ever Before
Astronomers have more places to look for signs of intelligent life and more advanced tools to find it
If Aliens Existed Elsewhere in the Universe, How Would They Behave?
In a new offering from Smithsonian Books, James Trefil and Michael Summers explore the life forms that might exist on a dizzying array of exoplanets
In the Search for Aliens, We’ve Only Analyzed a Small Pool in the Cosmic Ocean
A new study estimates how much of outer space we’ve scoured for other life and finds we haven’t exactly taken a deep dive
A Message From Stephen Hawking Is On Its Way to a Black Hole
After his ashes were interred at Westminster Abbey, a musical composition and “message of hope” were broadcast toward 1A 0620-00, the nearest black hole
Some of Earth’s Deep Sea Microbes Could Survive on Saturn’s Moon
A methane-producing archaea survived simulations of Enceladus’ extreme conditions, hinting at the possibility of similar extraterrestrial life
Fragments of Famed ‘UFO’ Discovered in Archives of London Museum
Though experts deemed it a hoax, the ‘Silpho Saucer’ created a sensation when it was discovered in the 1950s
How UFO Reports Change With the Technology of the Times
Fears of Zeppelins, rockets and drones have replaced the “celestial wonders” of ancient times
New Clues to the Origins of the Mysterious Fast Radio Bursts From Space
New analysis suggests that the bursts originate near massive black holes or neutron stars
Why We Should Rethink How We Talk About “Alien” Species
In a trend that echoes the U.S.-Mexico border debate, some say that calling non-native animals “foreigners” and “invaders” only worsens the problem
Dust, Not an Alien Megastructure, Likely Causes Strange Winks in Tabby’s Star Brightness
After extensive observations, researchers can now confidently say: It’s not aliens
At 3.5 Billion Years Old, Are These the Oldest Fossils?
A new analysis of this decades-old find suggests that they were indeed once biological life—but not all are convinced
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