Alone in the Universe BY HOWARD A. SMITH

Despite the growing catalog of extrasolar planets, data so far do not alter estimates that we are effectively on our own

HIS ARTICLE FROM ISSUE

JULY-AUGUST 2011

VOLUME 99, NUMBER 4

The first known extrasolar planet (that is, a planet orbiting around a normal star other than our Sun) was 51 Pegasi b, discovered only about 16 years ago. Today, thanks largely to NASA’s orbiting Kepler satellite, there are more than 1,500 known extrasolar planets (or planetary candidates), about 431 with confirmed detections and reasonably well- determined parameters (such as radius, mass and orbital characteristics)

These discoveries are exciting not only to astrophysicists; the public is also keen to learn about Earthlike extrasolar planets and the possibility that some might host life, even intelligent life. Last year the Royal Society of London sponsored a symposium with the dramatic title “The Detection of Extra-terrestrial Life and the Consequences for Science and Society.” Participants observed, “Should it turn out that we are not alone in the universe, it will fundamentally affect how humanity understands itself,” and cited polls suggesting that most people believe we do have cosmic company (half of this group think aliens have already visited). The public wants to believe in aliens (or extraterrestrial intelligence, ETI), some say, because they believe that “ETI comes from ‘utopian societies which are free of war, death, disease or any other … mid-20th century problems’ and could ‘help mankind overcome its problems.’”

Full link : https://www.americanscientist.org/article/alone-in-the-universe