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Aliens

Aliens can refer to everything from little green men in the sci-fi realm to microscopic life forms beyond Earth. For all these possibilities, Live Science has you covered. We break down the latest discoveries that hint at life on other planets and the state of scientific searches for such extraterrestrial life. Sometimes, we may dissect a "little green man" sighting as well.

Related Topics: Planets, Robots, Astronauts, Paranormal

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simulation of the surface of Venus, with the Northern Hemisphere displayed

'Grand claims' of life on Venus lack evidence, skeptics say

By Adam Mann

A roundup of the various pushback and criticisms to the claim that there could be life on Venus

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover sits in the Marias Pass area of lower Mount Sharp.

The four most promising worlds for alien life in the solar system

By Gareth Dorrian

Venus just became a serious contender. But what are the other most promising locations for extra-terrestrial life?

Arecibo Observatory’s main collecting dish, which is among the world’s largest single-dish radio telescopes, was badly damaged when a cable snapped on Monday, Aug. 10.

Alien-hunting telescope suffered 'no damage to electronics' during mysterious midnight disaster

By Brandon Specktor

Mysterious midnight disaster spared critical electronics in iconic alien-hunting telescope called the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.

An artist's depiction of the first identified interstellar object, 'Oumuamua.

Interstellar visitor 'Oumuamua could still be alien technology, new study hints

By Rafi Letzter

The idea that interstellar object 'Oumuamua is a hydrogen iceberg has a flaw.

U.S. Navy videos of alleged UFO sightings were previously available but had not been officially declassified.

What does the Pentagon's new UFO task force mean? Experts weigh in.

By Leonard David

The Pentagon just announced the creation of a task force to analyze and understand the "nature and origins" of UFOs. Here's what the much-hyped news means.

Arecibo Observatory’s main collecting dish, which is among the world’s largest single-dish radio telescopes, was badly damaged when a cable snapped on Monday, Aug. 10.

Famous alien-hunting telescope slashed to pieces in mysterious midnight accident

By Brandon Specktor

Puerto Rico's famous alien-hunting telescope called the Arecibo Observatory took massive damage after a cable snapped in the dead of night.

Is the Pentagon secretly investigating UFOs or not?

Pentagon's secret, defunct UFO-hunting program may still exist

By Mindy Weisberger

A federal program for investigating UFOs was purportedly discontinued in 2012, but the Pentagon's search for UFOs never stopped. Its findings may soon be released to the public.

The shadowy world of government agencies' UFO investigations returns to the History Channel, in the documentary series "Unidentified."

Are UFOs a threat? We need to investigate, says former head of secret US program

By Mindy Weisberger

Ex-military investigators seek answers about where UFOs come from and what their intentions might be, in a History Channel documentary series.

An unidentified flying object (UFO) was seen above Aoba Ward in Sendai, Japan, on the morning of June 17, 2020.

'It's not ours': Government denies knowledge of strange 'UFO' over Japanese city

By Brandon Specktor

A strange balloon-shaped 'UFO' appeared and disappeared over the city of Sendai, Japan on Wednesday (June 17).

Alien spaceships above rocky planet.

Are there really 36 alien civilizations out there? Well, maybe.

By Stephanie Pappas

A new calculation posits that there are 36 intelligent alien civilizations sharing the Milky Way with humanity today, but it relies on some big assumptions.

The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) in southwest China's Guizhou Province.

Ready, SETI, go: Is there a race to contact E.T.?

By Leonard David

Researchers using China's huge new FAST radio telescope are piecing together a technological strategy to carry out a major and sweeping search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI).

Illustration of a gas giant like Jupiter.

This bacteria can survive on pure hydrogen. Could alien life do the same?

By Diane Lincoln

Could aliens that breathe helium and hydrogen live on exoplanets throughout the cosmos?

U.S. Navy videos of alleged UFO sightings were previously available but had not been officially declassified.

'UFO' videos declassified by US Navy

By Mindy Weisberger

Three videos captured by U.S. Navy pilots show unidentified aircraft flying at hypersonic speeds.

White dwarfs are tightly compressed balls of glowing gas left after some stars die.

To find alien life, we should focus on white dwarf stars

By Paul Sutter

As far as we can tell, we're alone. But it could be that we're looking in the wrong places.

The U.K.'s official government investigation of UFOs can be traced to a group formed in 1950: the Flying Saucer Working Party.

British 'X-Files' of UFO sightings is going public

By Mindy Weisberger

The U.K.'s Ministry of Defense announced that it will soon release formerly classified government files about UFO encounters.

alien world artist illustration

To find intelligent alien life, humans may need to start thinking like an extraterrestrial

By Adam Mann

Anthropologist reveals a potentially big flaw in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI).

Aidan Gillen returns in the second season of "Project Blue Book," as UFO investigator Dr. J. Allen Hynek.

Were alien secrets hidden in Roswell and Area 51? 'Project Blue Book' UFO hunters investigate.

By Mindy Weisberger

A search for the truth behind UFO sightings leads to the discovery of government cover-ups.

Close encounters with our future selves?

UFOs May Be Piloted by Time-Traveling Humans, Book Argues

By Leonard David

The great distances covered by visiting "aliens" may be ones of time rather than space, a recent book argues.

Alien spaceships in warped space.

Could Invisible Aliens Really Exist Among Us?

By Samantha Rolfe

An astrobiologist explains how alien life could exist and we wouldn't notice it.

In 2017, a video of the Nimitz UFO encounter was publicly released.

Top-Secret UFO Files Could 'Gravely Damage' US National Security if Released, Navy Says

By Brandon Specktor

The US Navy confirmed they have secret, classified documents regarding a 2004 UFO encounter, but releasing them could 'gravely damage' national security.