In 1976, NASA’s Viking mission successfully landed the first spacecraft on Mars. When the mission began sending images from Mars’ surface back to Earth, scientists noted long, dark streaks on crater walls and cliff sides. To this day, some researchers suggest that the strange geographical features are the result of water flow—but a recent study […]
We Keep Coming Up Empty in the Search for Alien Life. Here’s What That Could Mean—and What Comes Next
Humans have been pondering the existence of life beyond Earth since ancient times. In the 1900s, scientists began actively searching for proof. Needless to say, we still haven’t found any. Although it’s only been a number of decades and technology is advancing every day, what if we continue to come up empty-handed? In a study […]
If Aliens Spot Us First, What Signs of Intelligence Will They See?
Having yet to discover any evidence of extraterrestrial life, it’s difficult to theorize about the kinds of beings that might exist beyond the reaches of our telescopes. Could there be an Earth-like planet with human-like beings and technology searching for us as ardently as we’re searching for them? Although a planet with life and technology […]
This Clever Trick Could Help Us Spot Life on Mars
Rovers sent to Mars have so far failed to detect life, likely because it doesn’t exist on the Red Planet. But we can’t say for certain, so the search must continue, using ever-evolving techniques—including this out-of-the-box idea from a team of scientists. As detailed in a study published today in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space […]