Aliens in the Milky Way?
- By Susan K. Lewis
- Posted 07.01.08
- NOVA scienceNOW
Microbes on Mars might be impressive, but the average Earthling would really be wowed by news of a full-blown, advanced civilization on a planet beyond our own. What's the likelihood that such a civilization exists in our galaxy? Explore the arguments, then take our poll: Do you believe ET is out there, capable of phoning home?
Do you think alien civilizations exist beyond Earth? Explore the arguments, then cast your vote.
Credits
Images
- (alien face)
- © Yegor Tsyba/iStockphoto
- (Earth, Milky Way, meteorite, sci-fi city, sci-fi spaceship, Hubble deep field, radio telescopes)
- © NASA; (Antarctica) © Liesl Clark for WGBH/NOVA;
- (chimpanzee)
- Courtesy of UNWF;
- (octopus)
- Courtesy of NOAA;
- (equation, alien)
- © WGBH/NOVA
Related Links
-
SETI: The Search for ET
Astronomers have their radio telescopes tuned to receive signals from alien worlds. But is anybody out there?
-
The Search for ET: Expert Q&A
Seth Shostak, Senior Astronomer at the SETI Institute and perhaps the funniest man in astrobiology, answers questions.
-
The Drake Equation
Try your hand at calculating how many intelligent, communicating civilizations might be in our galaxy.
-
Will We Ever Find ET?
What are the odds that smart aliens exist in the universe?
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