Smithsonian Magazine

Alien Life Could Look Nothing Like What We Expect. Here’s How Microbes Beyond Earth Might Live Without Liquid Water

Like the lead character of “Project Hail Mary,” some scientists are proposing ways that life might exist beyond a star’s ...

We’re Using Giant Freakin’ Lasers To Probe Alien Planets

Alien planets are far away but extreme lasers on Earth are giving scientists a way to investigate what they're like.

The best places to look for alien life: Scientists identify 45 Earth-like worlds to explore for a 'Project Hail Mary'

If we're to find extraterrestrial life in the universe, astronomers have pinpointed the best places to look for it. They have ...

A Study Suggests Aliens Aren’t Little Green Men. They’re Purple People Eaters.

We might have had it wrong this whole time.

‘Project Hail Mary’ explores unique forms of life in space – 5 essential reads on searching for aliens that look nothing like life on Earth

“Project Hail Mary,” the movie adaptation to Andy Weir’s 2021 novel about a science teacher attempting to save the Earth from ...

The 45 planets most likely to host alien life, according to astronomers

Life on Earth is a precious thing, especially given what astronomers know about the visible universe. Although researchers ...

SETI thinks it could have missed calls from aliens. Here's why

New SETI research suggests space weather like solar winds could be interfering with alien radio signals, making them harder to detect.

What Bugonia reveals about the real search for aliens

A warehouse worker, Teddy (played by Jesse Plemons), accuses high-powered CEO Michelle (Emma Stone) of being an ...