For as long as humans have looked to the night sky to divine meaning and a place in the universe, we have let our minds wander to thoughts of distant worlds populated by beings unlike ourselves. The ancient Greeks were the first Western thinkers to consider formally the possibility of an infinite universe housing an infinite number of civilizations.
I am almost certain that there is extraterrestrial life. But what are the chances that they are equally evolved or more evolved than us? Nearly none. Even that WE evolved this far is a miracle. And if we find alien life, would we even know that it is life? Or would it be so far from what we know as life that we would not recognize it as life? (e.g. an interdimensional cloudlike being that does not eat and has no home planet.) I would be very excited if we found intelligent life on another planet, but right now, it seems like wishful thinking.
Stay up to date on the latest news of the future of science and technology from your iPhone with full articles, images and offline viewing
Featuring every article from the magazine and website, plus links from around the Web. Also see our PopSci DIY feed
Share links with friends, comment on stories and more
In our December issue, Popular Science names the 100 best innovations of the year: bombproof wallpaper, self-parking cars, the fastest helicopter, and 97 more. Plus inventor profiles and videos.
Check out the best of what's new here.