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AliensWhile there is no concrete evidence of life beyond Earth, many scientists say the possibility is likely. Researchers continue to search for signs of extraterrestrial life by studying other planets and moons, particularly their atmospheres, in search of conditions that could support life. There's no telling what's out there, and, if aliens exist, they could range from creatures as simple as tiny organisms to other complex beings with technologically advanced civilizations. Explore our findings on aliens, from scientific research on the topic to famous accounts of claimed sightings.Explore Aliens
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If aliens visited Earth, it seems unlikely they'd be evolved biological creatures like usThe writer behind Mindless Algorithm, George McGowan, challenges various assumptions about aliens depicted in science fiction. One of those is that aliens are, like humans, individual entities that live, age, and die. McGowan suggests that the difficulty of intergalactic travel and the aliens' technological advancements make it more likely that they'd be an advanced form of AI or digital copies of biological entities. Mindless AlgorithmNoam Chomsky believed it might be possible to communicate with aliensThe father of modern linguistics argued that there is a genetic component to language, and that the ability to acquire and comprehend language is innate. If aliens existed, he believed they could potentially observe the same "universal grammar" rules as humans. Mental FlossA scientist debunks theories for why aliens might invade EarthWhile TV and films offer common tropes for why aliens would invade Earth, many of those reasons aren't actually feasible. For example, a species with technology advanced enough to allow it to travel between planets likely doesn't need to enslave flawed humans to carry out its labor. Literary HubOne researcher posed a theory that aliens played a significant role in human evolutionResearcher Zecharia Sitchin proposed that Sumerian cuneiform tablets revealed that Sumerian gods were aliens who landed on Earth in Mesopotamia and influenced the creation of modern humans. While his ideas gained cultural interest, they are widely rejected by mainstream scholars. HISTORYDepending on environment, aliens' bodies would have wide-ranging possibilitiesHumans tend to imagine aliens as humanlike, but that's probably unlikely. From small space spiders to metallic carnivores, life on other planets—and how we could interact with it—is difficult to imagine. Kurzgesagt – In a NutshellOne theory for why we haven't discovered aliens is that they haven't been born yetThere's a chance that human civilization arrived before any other life and aliens will soon emerge. If this is the case, there's also a chance for a competition to rule the Universe. Kurzgesagt – In a NutshellPeople have long suspected that aliens and UFOs can be found at Area 51Area 51 is a highly classified US military facility located in Nevada. Because of its remote location and secrecy, many Americans have speculated that the location hosts aliens. However, critics of this theory believe the UFO sightings are actually just military aircraft. Space.comAliens may be closer to Earth than scientists have previously assumedThe hunt for extraterrestrial life is often associated with traveling far into the depths of space for clues. But answers could be closer than we think. Modern space missions have demonstrated our capability of sending probes beyond the solar system, making it plausible that other civilizations could do the same. AeonSee how distant aliens could preemptively strike humanityCould aliens destroy us from light-years away? The team at Kurzgesagt imagines the impact of a highly sophisticated alien civilization setting out to crush humanity and considers the real-world logistics for warfare conducted across the Universe. YouTubeStatistically speaking, aliens likely exist, but we still haven't found any evidence of themThe Fermi paradox addresses this discrepancy between the lack of evidence of alien life despite the high likelihood of its existence. Physicist Brian Cox offers various theories, like the extinguished civilizations hypothesis, for why we have never found any extraterrestrial neighbors. YouTubeAliens have invaded ancient historyAvid fans of archaeology can sometimes fall prey to unsubstantiated claims like "aliens built the pyramids," provocative, dubious theories which fall under the category of pseudo-archaeology. Many of these claims are premised on hidden biases toward non-Western cultural heritages. This professor explores the hidden contours of pseudo-archaeology in this 12-minute TED talk. TED Conferences'The Stranger' remains a popular novel for teenagersCamus' book's themes—alienation, transgression, and existentialism—continue to resonate with adolescent reader. That's also true of other popular teenage touchstones, like Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World," George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four," and Sylvia Plath's "The Bell Jar," which are still widely read—and assigned by high school teachers. (Some users may experience a paywall.) BBCAnalyzing brownfield cleanup to explain why bioremediation aligns with environmental justiceThis designation applies to sites contaminated by industrial or commercial activity and that are either underutilized or abandoned. Common in economically disadvantaged communities of color, brownfields pose risks to human health and can be costly to restore. Bioremediation can be a more affordable solution that creates in-demand employment pathways in environmental science, regenerative agriculture, and ecological restoration for community members. Progressive CityWhy some writers believe there's a new romanticismJournalist and novelist Ross Barkan argues that a crushing political system and alienating technology have led people to become more interested in the offline, analog world and the beauty of nature and emotion. In this essay, he defines this as "the new romanticism," and predicts it will come to define the culture of the 2020s. Political CurrentsHow the US first installed an electronic fence along the southern borderThe US Border Patrol's first automated surveillance system launched in 1970 with 177 ground sensors installed along a single section in California. The sensors had already been used in Vietnam, along the so-called McNamara Line, and were connected by radio transmitters to magnetic-tape computers. They were implemented to target people defined by law and deportable aliens. JSTOR DailyAdams was so involved as first lady that some nicknamed her 'Mrs. President'As first lady, Adams took an active role in her husband's presidency—advising on appointments, critiquing his speeches, and corresponding extensively with politicians. She supported the controversial Alien and Sedition Acts and pressed for war with France during the XYZ Affair. The 45 planets astronomers think are most likely to host alien lifeThe list includes familiar names like Proxima Centauri b (4 light-years away) and four planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system (about 40 light-years away), but even the nearest of those would take humanity roughly 114,000 years to reach at current spacecraft speeds. The list's real near-term value is as a targeting guide for the James Webb and upcoming Nancy Grace Roman space telescopes. Popular ScienceLining up every microbe on Earth would stretch to about 105,000 light-yearsThere are about 10²⁷ such organisms on the planet, many of which are adapted to produce energy through uncommon reactions in unconventional environments, such as within rocks or near volcanoes on the ocean floor. Studies of these organisms have reframed astrobiologists' search for life beyond Earth by broadening the parameters under which life can exist. NOVA PBS OfficialQuantum mechanics-based technology may explain the Fermi paradoxIt describes the discrepancy between the high likelihood of life beyond Earth given the vastness of the universe and the lack of evidence for such life, since extraterrestrial civilizations have not communicated with us. However, quantum communication—a more information-dense and effective method than classical means—requires massive receivers and very narrow signals, which would easily miss Earth, making a lack of signals expected. minutephysicsSome art critics believe that Liminalism, a form of art exploring the uncanny yet familiar, defines our present momentWhile analyzing images of abandoned malls or empty hallways, art historians and critics argue that this style captures the feelings of this moment in time. Liminalism, they propose, expresses prominent themes in our age like anonymity, alienation, and anxiety. HyperallergicAs of 2025, scientific evidence strongly supports 3I/ATLAS being a cometClaims of alien technology would require the celestial object to transmit measurable technological signals, which were not detected by the world's largest fully steerable radio telescope. Previous telescope observations identified that 3I/ATLAS's chemical composition, structure, and orbital characteristics are consistent with those of an interstellar comet. Space.comTidally locked exoplanets experience extreme atmospheric temperaturesOn worlds like WASP 76b, which orbits its host star approximately 3% the Earth-sun distance, temperatures on its day side can vaporize iron. Winds more than 14 times the speed of sound blow this material to its night side, where it condenses and falls as liquid metal. Science ChannelListen to a podcast exploring reported UFO and alien sightingsFrom the most shocking accounts of abductions and UFO sightings to an interview with a Harvard professor about these claims, dive into fascinating stories about run-ins with ETs that have continued to be told for decades. Alien UFO Podcast by Simon BownLimited transparency soon after Chernobyl made it a source of conspiracy theoriesSome rumors about the event became perceived as more reliable than the Soviet mass media, which had omitted key information during the early days of uncertainty. The resulting theories included CIA involvement in the disaster, three-headed birds, aliens, and a weaponized earthquake. The Reactor RoomMany Christians observe a different theme for each week of AdventMany churches structure Advent around weekly themes—often hope, peace, joy, and love—which shape sermons, prayers, Scripture readings, and the lighting of candles on the Advent wreath. The specific themes vary widely across denominations and communities. Harvard UniversitySome attorneys are using true crime fans to their advantageTrue crime fans are notorious for falling down rabbit holes. Now that passionate interest is being exploited by attorneys marshaling influencers to serve as informal public relations representatives, a trend that's blurring the lines between fan theories and reality. Pirate WiresScientists break down the plausibility of the alien world depicted in 'Avatar'The film series created by James Cameron raises several interesting questions about whether certain technological advancements are feasible, and if extraterrestrial life could thrive on a moon orbiting a distant gas giant. While Pandora—the moon that the Na'vi people live on—could, in theory, exist, it's unlikely that its residents would be so humanlike. Yale ScientificMicrosoft's initial successes came from promising products that did not yet existIn discussions with teams responsible for MITS's Altair 8800 and IBM's PC, Bill Gates and Paul Allen claimed to have created ready-to-use software. Code for the former was not completed until Paul Allen's flight to MITS' headquarters, where the software was successfully tested for the first time. ColdFusionEnglish cosmologist Stephen Hawking (1942-2018) jokes about alien sightings"I am discounting the reports of UFOs. Why would they appear to only cranks and weirdos?" A-Z QuotesBallistic experiments show that tardigrades are unlikely to be an alien speciesThose fired from guns at speeds as high as 825 meters per second (1,845 mph) could be resuscitated after impact. Shock pressure from greater speeds tore apart the samples, suggesting they could not survive asteroid impacts if brought to Earth from outer space. Smithsonian Magazine'In my experience, each failure contains the seeds of your next success—if you are willing to learn from it.'- Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen (1953–2018) Good ReadsVincent Van Gogh's 'The Starry Night' accurately depicts turbulent flowAnalysis of the swirling patterns in the painting found an alignment with the mathematics used to describe turbulence, despite Van Gogh's unfamiliarity with the science. The depiction may indicate he possessed an uncanny ability to capture nature's details. CNNExplore a podcast devoted to uncovering different conspiracy theoriesHear stories of controversial events from all around the world and come to your own conclusions about why they happened—and if someone shaped the narrative around them. From art fraud to the death of a Roman emperor, this Spotify podcast covers it all. Conspiracy TheoriesSeven decades of late-night TV's biggest momentsLate-night TV shows have been a staple for seven decades, starting with Steve Allen, the first host of "The Tonight Show." Amid the genre's decline, this list looks back at some of its most controversial moments, from Allen's interviews from inside a teacup to Salvador Dali's appearance with an anteater. The Hollywood ReporterJWST might spot life faster on ocean worlds than Earth-like onesUnlike Earth-like planets, hycean worlds with thick hydrogen atmospheres and deep oceans could allow biosignature gases like methyl halides to accumulate in detectable levels. These gases, linked to microbial life on Earth, are easier for the James Webb Space Telescope to identify than traditional markers like oxygen or methane. Live ScienceUniversal limit to technological development may prevent finding alien civilizationsGiven the vastness of the Universe, detecting alien life may require technological progress beyond the limits of what is sociologically viable and physically possible. Although interstellar civilizations are unlikely, messaging techniques and probes may improve the odds of successful communication with other intelligent life. Space.comEven at the height of his popularity, Spielberg felt like an outsiderBy 1992, Spielberg was already one of the most successful names in Hollywood, but he had trouble kicking the alienation he’d felt as a kid. In this interview from 1992, on the cusp of the biggest year of his career, he talks about that feeling and how it motivated him. POP VaultWhat was the American Arts and Crafts Movement?Although the phrase "arts and crafts" is now often used as a catchall for handmade art making, the term also refers to a 19th century artistic movement in both England and the United States. Its adherents felt alienated by industrialization's mass production and sought to bring noticeably human features back to household objects and design. The Metropolitan Museum of ArtHow do maps get their place names in multilingual areas?In countries with multiple local dialects, cartographers struggle to standardize place names enough to create maps of the region. This process inevitably leads to conflict. Case in point, Switzerland, where in the late 1800s many dialects called the same places by different names, leading one alienated community to demand the return of its local names. Read about this and several other examples of contentious place-naming on maps here. Swiss National MuseumEuropa's deep ocean may hold the conditions needed to support alien lifeBeneath its frozen crust, Europa hides a salty ocean heated by tidal forces from Jupiter. This environment may resemble Earth's deep-sea hydrothermal vents and have allowed for the development of life over billions of years. V101 SPACEVoyager mission's Golden Record captures Earth’s essence for alien discoveryHoused aboard Voyager 1 and 2, each record serves as a time capsule of human culture and a peaceful introduction to any intelligent life. Even if never played, the records can outlast humanity and travel through space for a billion years. United NationsNASA designed the Golden Record using hydrogen to ensure it's universally readableThe Golden Record holds what is essentially a human "time capsule," featuring music, nature sounds, and greetings from around the world. NASA used the radiation period of hydrogen's simplest transition as a baseline to convey timing and structure. The first coded image is included on the cover as a test so aliens can check if they decoded it correctly. Business InsiderBBC Radio 4 tackles the history of StonehengeOn this podcast, host Greg Jenner humorously unpacks Stonehenge’s biggest myths and mysteries—from what a “henge” actually is, to how alien theories emerged, and why the monument was once sold for just £6,000. You're Dead To MeStonehenge has produced wild origin stories Built before the wheel was invented, Stonehenge inspired increasingly fantastical explanations—from a 12th-century tale of Merlin and Nephilim giants to 1960s claims that aliens built it alongside the pyramids. Live ScienceTake a virtual tour inside StonehengePrehistoric visitors approached Stonehenge along a processional route known as the Avenue, where the sunrise of the summer solstice aligns with the sarsen stones. This interactive 3D tour recreates that experience with explainer videos and detailed sidebars. English HeritageHumans have speculated about alien life since ancient timesAround 50 B.C.E., Roman poet and philosopher Lucretius shared the idea that alien life was possible, which was put forth by Greek philosopher Epicurus. The writing is believed to be the first straightforward assertion in Western literature that aliens must exist. Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyNine eyewitness accounts of Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivorsJapan's Hiroshima and Nagasaki became the first cities in history to be hit with nuclear weapons, where tens of thousands of civilians were killed nearly instantly. Hundreds of thousands of people who survived the bombings—referred to as hibakusha—dealt with wounds, radiation poisoning, and alienation from a society unable to process what had happened. This collection of accounts lets nine of those survivors speak, including one of the 165 survivors of both bombings. Smithsonian MagazineIs the sun aligned with Stonehenge right now?Twice a year, during the longest day and night, the sun’s path aligns ever so gently with the ruins of Stonehenge. During the summer solstice, viewers can see the sun’s rise crest the central heel stone. The winter solstice sees the sun set across the site’s altar stone. Use this interactive to tour the historic site and check its current skyscape. Stonehenge SkyscapeThe most mysterious (known) star in the universeSomething massive, with roughly 1,000 times the area of Earth, is blocking the light coming from a distant star known as KIC 8462852. One of astronomers' more intriguing theories: Alien technology. Discovered via NASA's Kepler space telescope and a... YouTubePepsi uses augmented reality to prank people at a bus shelterCommuters at a London bus stop have seen alien invasions, monsters from the sewers grabbing pedestrians and tigers running down the street as part of an elaborate advertising campaign. YouTube
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