Few questions capture the human imagination as powerfully as the possibility of life beyond Earth. For centuries, people have looked into the night sky and wondered whether other beings might exist among the countless stars. Modern astronomy has only intensified that curiosity. Thousands of planets have already been discovered beyond our solar system, and many more are likely waiting to be found. The question is no longer whether planets exist elsewhere. The question is whether life exists elsewhere. The Scientific Perspective From a scientific perspective, the possibility appears reasonable. The universe contains vast numbers of stars and planets. Some of those…




