Life in Space - Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

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

Perseverance rover's Mars samples now won't make it to Earth until 2033 at best

By Mike Wall published 28 March 22

The NASA-ESA campaign to haul Mars samples back to Earth will require two Red Planet landers instead of one. The change will delay the arrival of samples here by two years, to no earlier than 2033.

This circular structure seen in Google Earth images off the coast of Peru is raising cries of "UFO."

Odd circular shape beneath the ocean in Google Earth images is probably not aliens

By Stephanie Pappas published 24 March 22

A circular shape on the seafloor visible on Google Earth is raising cries of "UFO," but chances are … it's not aliens.

This artist's impression shows a close-up view of Proxima d, a planet candidate recently found orbiting the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our solar system. The planet is believed to be rocky and to have a mass about a quarter that of Earth. Two other planets known to orbit Proxima Centauri are visible in the image, too: Proxima b, a planet with about the same mass as Earth that orbits the star every 11 days and is within the habitable zone, and candidate Proxima c, which is on a five-year orbit around the star.

What would an alien 'Earth' look like around the star next door?

By Chelsea Gohd published 16 March 22

In a new study, researchers predict what an alien "Earth" could really look like, and how it could evolve (if one exists).

Perseverance's collection system on Mars, photographed as the rover captured its eighth Red Planet sample in March 2022.

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover nabs 8th rock sample on the Red Planet

By Elizabeth Howell last updated 15 March 22

NASA's top-notch Red Planet geology rover is moving on to explore an ancient river delta now that its eighth rock sample is secured for future analysis.

This artist’s illustration shows what Mars would look like with liquid water.

Could Mars ever have supported life? This NASA challenge wants your help to find out

By Elizabeth Howell published 12 March 22

A new competition with HeroX asks for innovative ways to analyze data gathered on the Red Planet.

Artist’s impression of the white dwarf star WD1054–226 orbited by clouds of planetary debris and a major planet in the habitable zone.

An Earthlike planet may be orbiting in a dead star's 'habitable zone'

By Elizabeth Howell published 9 March 22

Planetary debris, including some objects the size of moons, may hint at a rocky exoplanet within the habitable zone of a dead star, a new study suggests.

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.

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.

Mars as seen from orbit by NASA’s Viking mission. The Red Planet's surface supported liquid water in the ancient past, but scientists still debate how warm and wet it was back then.

Ancient Mars' warm spells probably didn't last long

By Mike Wall last updated 1 February 22

Ancient Mars was warm and wet only intermittently, a new study suggests.

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.

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.

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