Videos
Top picks from the Alien Life staff
Late astronomer Frank Drake discusses alien life in 2019 interview
Late astronomer Frank Drake believed that contact with extraterrestrial life would mark an unprecedented discovery, potentially enriching civilization in unpredictable ways. Famous for the Drake Equation to estimate extraterrestrial intelligence and beaming the first interstellar message from Earth, Drake tirelessly sought signs of life beyond our planet. Before his death, he anticipated that an extraterrestrial signal might provide a universe owner's manual, featuring knowledge from civilizations hundreds or thousands of years ahead. Despite not witnessing his goal fulfilled, his legacy in the field remains unparalleled.
Alien life: are we about to find it?
The quest for extraterrestrial life, theorized since ancient Greek times, is now harnessing advanced technology. The focus is on finding biosignatures, molecules indicative of life, especially on planets in habitable 'Goldilocks zones'. The unexplained 'Wow' signal still intrigues researchers, while new telescopes and probes enhance our exploration capabilities. Despite high costs, funding for such research is at its peak. Many scientists believe if life exists within our galaxy, we'll find evidence this decade.
Why Can't We See Evidence of Alien Life?
The Fermi Paradox, articulated by Enrico Fermi in 1950, asks why, given the vast number of planets in the universe, there is no visible evidence of extraterrestrial life. With the Kepler space observatory identifying numerous planets in our galaxy alone that could support life, the question persists. Hypotheses range from civilizations' self-destruction or invisibility due to advanced technologies to the potential that we're not looking hard enough or in the right ways. Future research, public participation in SETI, and endeavors to create life could shed light on these mysteries.
Gravitas Plus: Is America hiding Alien technology?
Former U.S. intelligence official David Charles Grosh and current U.S. Intel official Jonathan Gray have alleged that the U.S. government is concealing extraterrestrial technology. Grosh, who previously led a team studying alien life, claims that America is in possession of craft of non-human origin, commonly referred to as Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). Gray, who works at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center, also confirmed this, adding that humanity is not alone. These statements follow the 2021 Pentagon report which identified over 140 unexplained instances of Unexplained Anomalous Phenomena (UAP). Grosh's credibility is strengthened by his history as a combat veteran and a member of the UAP Task Force run by the Office of Naval Intelligence. The U.S. House of Representatives is set to hold a hearing investigating these allegations.
NASA Looks Into UFOs And Here's What It Found
NASA's first public meeting on UFOs highlighted the investigation of 800 Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) incidents. Stigma and privacy concerns often limit these probes. While no definitive answers about extraterrestrial life were provided, NASA maintains its commitment to exploring potential life-supporting conditions elsewhere, informed by recent scientific discoveries.
Public Meeting on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (NASA)
The Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Independent Study Team (UAPIST), composed of 16 community experts, was commissioned to examine Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) from a scientific viewpoint. Their goal is to build a roadmap for leveraging scientific tools and data to improve understanding of UAPs. In a public meeting on May 31, 2023, the team planned final discussions prior to releasing a report in summer 2023. The report intends to suggest potential data to be collected, which could illuminate the nature and origin of UAPs, given the currently limited quality observations.