Mars missions from China and UAE are set to go into orbit – here's what they could discover

If China succeeds, it will be the first country ever to visit and land on Mars on its first try.

Daniel Brown, Lecturer in Astronomy, Nottingham Trent University • conversation
Feb. 5, 2021 • ~7 min

Curious Kids: We have been trying to contact aliens – but do they want to contact us?

Aliens might want to contact us for the same reasons we are looking for them.

Jacco van Loon, Astrophysicist and Director of Keele Observatory, Keele University • conversation
Feb. 3, 2021 • ~5 min

SETI: new signal excites alien hunters – here's how we could find out if it's real

One way forward would be to abandon the traditional approach of using single-dish telescopes for SETI.

Michael Garrett, Sir Bernard Lovell chair of Astrophysics and Director of Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, University of Manchester • conversation
Jan. 4, 2021 • ~7 min

The four most promising worlds for alien life in the solar system

The clouds of Venus may harbour alien life. But where else?

Gareth Dorrian, Post Doctoral Research Fellow in Space Science, University of Birmingham • conversation
Sept. 18, 2020 • ~7 min

Venus: could it really harbour life? New study springs a surprise

Scientists don't claim to have evidence of life on Venus but they have ruled out pretty much everything else.

Monica Grady, Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences, The Open University • conversation
Sept. 14, 2020 • ~7 min

Mars 2020: the hunt for life on the red planet is about to get serious

The Perseverance rover onboard Mars 2020 is our best bet for finding life on the red planet.

Monica Grady, Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences, The Open University • conversation
July 30, 2020 • ~7 min

Life inside Pluto? Hot birth may have created internal ocean on dwarf planet

Pluto began hot inside, study of its surface fractures suggests

David Rothery, Professor of Planetary Geosciences, The Open University • conversation
June 22, 2020 • ~8 min

Dust storms may shed light on life on Mars

The chemical reactions that dust storms on Mars cause indicate that our quest to find life on the red planet may need to go beneath the surface.

Shawn Ballard-Wash. U. in St. Louis • futurity
June 19, 2020 • ~7 min

Evolution: why it seems to have a direction and what to expect next

Evolution seems to lead to increasing complexity of species. But perhaps a dominant, intelligent species like humans will always end up destroying itself.

Matthew Wills, Professor of Evolutionary Palaeobiology at the Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath • conversation
June 2, 2020 • ~8 min

Could alien microbes make their way to Earth?

A new report digs into plans to protect our planet from alien microbes or cross-contamination from other worlds, also known as "planetary quarantine."

Ker Than-Stanford • futurity
May 11, 2020 • ~8 min

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