Life in Space - Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

NASA's Mars rover Perseverance rover has collected its seventh Red Planet rock sample, seen here in a photo taken on March 7, 2022.

NASA's Mars rover Perseverance snags 7th Red Planet rock sample

By Mike Wall published 8 March 22

Perseverance just socked away another Martian rock sample, the seventh that it has collected since landing on the Red Planet in February 2021.

An artist's depiction of a planet progressing through four stages of intelligence.

Should we be looking for intelligence on a planetary scale?

By Matt Williams published 25 February 22

According to new research led by the University of Rochester, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) should be broadened to look for signs of "planetary intelligence."

An artist's depiction of a rocky, Earth-size exoplanet. We haven't found any planets exactly as habitable as Earth, but some planets might be even better for life than ours: superhabitable worlds.

Superhabitable planets: Alien worlds that may be more habitable than Earth

By Charles Q. Choi published 24 February 22

Two dozen so-called superhabitable alien worlds may be as good as or better than Earth for life as we know it.

Petition calls for US government release of UFO videos

By Leonard David published 23 February 22

A new petition calls for the United States government to release to the public all unclassified videos of unidentified flying objects (UFOS).

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover took this selfie over a rock nicknamed "Rochette" on Sept. 10, 2021.

After a year on Mars, NASA's Perseverance rover is on course for big discoveries

By Mike Wall published 18 February 22

NASA's Perseverance rover has been on Mars for a full year now, but in some ways the robot is just getting started.

Citizen scientist Seán Doran created this mosaic of NASA's Mars rover Perseverance and Ingenuity helicopter, using 62 images captured by Perseverance on April 6, 2021.

12 amazing photos from the Perseverance rover's 1st year on Mars

By Mike Wall published 18 February 22

NASA's Perseverance rover has now been exploring Mars for a full year, and it has captured some amazing photos during that stretch.

NASA's Perseverance rover, which is searching signs of ancient life on Mars.

Celebrate Perseverance rover's 1-year 'Marsiversary' with these events

By Mike Wall published 16 February 22

The Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter are about to celebrate one year on Mars, and NASA wants you to be part of the party.

An artist's depiction of a rocket launching Mars samples off the planet's surface for the journey to Earth.

NASA picks Lockheed Martin to build rocket to carry Mars samples back to Earth

By Mike Wall published 8 February 22

Lockheed Martin will build the Mars Ascent Vehicle, a small rocket that will launch pristine Red Planet samples back toward Earth a decade or so from now.

NASA’s Mars rover Perseverance captured this image of a recently collected sample using its Mastcam-Z camera on Jan. 31, 2022.

Mars rover Perseverance collects new sample after clearing pebble clog

By Mike Wall published 1 February 22

NASA's Mars rover Perseverance has snagged a sample to replace the material that got stuck in its throat.

An unidentified flying object captured on video by a U.S. Navy jet.

2022 could be a turning point in the study of UFOs

By Leonard David published 21 January 22

UAP will get more attention from both the scientific community and the federal government in 2022, experts told Space.com.

Image of the Hubble eXtreme Deep Field, which captures galaxies beyond counting.

Do we live in a simulation? The problem with this mind-bending hypothesis.

By Paul Sutter published 21 January 22

Does the simulation hypothesis offer a compelling argument, or is it just interesting food for thought? Let's find out.

The 10 most Earth-like exoplanets

By Elizabeth Howell, Ailsa Harvey published 20 January 22

Reference Scientists have found nearly 5,000 exoplanets since the first such world was confirmed orbiting a sunlike star in 1995. These ones are most similar to Earth.

Reference

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover used two different cameras to create this selfie in front of a rock outcrop named Mont Mercou, which stands 20 feet (6 meters) tall.

Possible sign of Mars life? Curiosity rover finds 'tantalizing' Red Planet organics

By Mike Wall published 18 January 22

NASA's Curiosity rover has found some interesting organic compounds that may be signs of ancient Mars life, but much more work is needed to vet that hypothesis.

Artist's illustration of potentially habitable exoplanet Proxima b, which orbits the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri.

What really makes a planet habitable? Our assumptions may be wrong

By Paul Sutter published 18 January 22

How common are ice-covered planets like Hoth from "Star Wars," and might they be capable of hosting life? As usual, the answer is, it depends.

Artist's illustration of a Mars with Earth-like surface water.

Chilly, damp Mars may have hosted an ancient ocean

By Charles Q. Choi published 18 January 22

Three billion years ago, the dusty planet we know today was a very different world.

A famous photograph taken by a government employee of an unidentified aerial phenomenon over the Holloman Air Development Center on Oct. 16, 1957. The object may have been secret U.S. technology.

Pentagon launches new UFO office. Not all believers are happy about it.

By Stephanie Pappas published 15 January 22

The U.S. government will officially investigate UFOs with a new office based in the Pentagon.

The Allan Hills 84001 meteorite came from Mars and was found in Antarctica in 1984.

Infamous Mars meteorite contains organic molecules, but they aren't proof of life

By Charles Q. Choi published 13 January 22

Roswell's 'UFO crash site' at the ranch in New Mexico

Roswell Incident: The truth behind the 'flying saucer' crash

By David Crookes, All About Space magazine published 13 January 22

reference Did a UFO really crash land at Roswell, New Mexico in 1947, only to be hushed up by the government?

reference

Mars' Jezero Crater, as photographed by NASA's Perseverance rover on Nov. 28, 2021.

Tour Mars' Jezero Crater with this gorgeous Perseverance rover mosaic (video)

By Mike Wall published 3 January 22

A detailed new image provides a great look at the Perseverance Mars rover's Red Planet home and shows why the mission team is so excited to explore it.

NASA's Perseverance rover acquired this image of the Ingenuity Mars helicopter on the floor of Jezero Crater.

2021 was an epic year for Mars exploration

By Mike Wall published 31 December 21

During this very eventful year, two nations joined the Mars club, a robot plied Red Planet skies for the first time ever and humanity kicked off an ambitious interplanetary sample-return campaign.

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