Indicators of alien life may have been found – astrophysicist explains what the new research means

It’s the best result yet - but the evidence still isn’t strong enough to convince the scientific community.

Ian Whittaker, Senior Lecturer in Physics, Nottingham Trent University • conversation
April 17, 2025 • ~6 min

Could we ever decipher an alien language? Uncovering how AI communicates may be the key

Decoding emergent languages in AI can have many behefits.

Olaf Lipinski, PhD Student in Artificial Intelligence, University of Southampton • conversation
Nov. 7, 2024 • ~7 min

Belief in alien visits to Earth is spiralling out of control – here’s why that’s so dangerous

The belief in aliens is now rising to the extent that politicians, at least in the US, feel they have to respond.

Tony Milligan, Research Fellow in the Philosophy of Ethics, King's College London • conversation
Sept. 2, 2024 • ~8 min

Why do astronomers look for signs of life on other planets based on what life is like on Earth?

It’s hard to look for something you’ve never seen before – and that might not even exist. But you have to start somewhere.

Cole Mathis, Assistant Professor of Complex Adaptive Systems, Arizona State University • conversation
June 3, 2024 • ~9 min

Dyson spheres: astronomers report potential candidates for alien megastructures – here’s what to make of it

An excess of infrared light from seven stars are intriguing astronomers.

Simon Goodwin, Professor of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Sheffield • conversation
May 22, 2024 • ~6 min

AI may be to blame for our failure to make contact with alien civilisations

AI may be destroying civilisations before they get a chance to explore space properly.

Michael Garrett, Sir Bernard Lovell chair of Astrophysics and Director of Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, University of Manchester • conversation
May 8, 2024 • ~7 min

3 Body Problem: is the universe really a ‘dark forest’ full of hostile aliens in hiding?

We have joined a game which has been going on before our arrival, and the strategy that everyone has learned is to hide.

Tony Milligan, Research Fellow in the Philosophy of Ethics, Cosmological Visionaries project, King's College London • conversation
April 3, 2024 • ~7 min

UFOs: how astronomers are searching the sky for alien probes near Earth

Several scientific projects are aiming to investigate UFO sightings.

Beatriz Villarroel, Assistant professor of Physics, Stockholm University • conversation
Dec. 6, 2023 • ~7 min

UFOs: how Nasa plans to get to the bottom of unexplained sightings

The space agency hopes to get to the bottom of the many sightings being reported.

Christopher Pattison, Researcher at the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, University of Portsmouth • conversation
Sept. 19, 2023 • ~6 min

How to prove you've discovered alien life – new research

Alien hunters should learn from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Sean McMahon, Chancellor's Fellow in Astrobiology, The University of Edinburgh • conversation
Sept. 11, 2023 • ~8 min

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