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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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conceptual drawing of a spaceship on alien world

Scientists Are Building a Real-Life Version of the Starship Enterprise's Life Scanner

By Adam Mann

A novel method relying on biochemistry could provide an unambiguous signal of life on other worlds.

A green planet and moon.

We Could Detect Extraterrestrials Because They May Glow, Scientists Say

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

Whole planets may be covered with glowing red, blue and green life-forms.

U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, shown here at a press conference in June 2019, has pledged to share any details about UFOs if he wins the 2020 election.

Bernie Sanders Pledges to Release Any Info About Aliens If He's Elected in 2020

By Elizabeth Howell

Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders (D-VT) says he's prepared to disclose government information about UFOs if he wins in 2020.

Alien spaceship in night sky clouds.

No E.T. Life Yet? Here's Why That's Important.

By Kelsey Johnson

The search for intelligent aliens has time and again come up empty. Perhaps that means they aren't out there.

Planet Earth with sunrise and flare glint in background.

If Aliens Are Flashing Laser Beams at Us, We Now Have a Way to Detect Them

By Tim Childers

Are aliens using super powerful flashlights to get our attention? Astronomers think there's a chance they are.

An illustration of the super-Earth GJ357 orbiting its dwarf sun.

Alien Planet Twice the Size of Earth May Be Able to Support Life

By Passant Rabie

GJ 357d could have water on its surface.

The top-secret military base, Area 51, is located near a route named Extraterrestrial Highway in 1996.

Alien Hunter Explains Why He Won't Be Going to Area 51 to Look for 'Little Green Men'

By Jason Wright

What started as an internet joke has generated a stern military warning after more than a million people "signed up" to "raid" Area 51.

Apollo 11 Moon Landing Showed That Aliens Might Be More Than Science Fiction

By Brandon Specktor

The moon may be dead, but the Apollo 11 astronauts still managed to bring extraterrestrial life back to Earth. Astronomer/alien hunter Seth Shostak explains.

Area 51

Nearly 200K People Have Signed Up to Steal Alien Secrets from Area 51 in Late-Summer Raid

By Brandon Specktor

More than 200,000 Facebook users say they're interested in joining a raid on Nevada's infamous Area 51 air base this summer.

Dyson swarm of satellites, indicating an alien civilization.

'What Would You Do If We Found Aliens?' Survey Asks

By Jeanna Bryner

If you find out we are not alone in the universe, how would you respond?

Saturn's moon Enceladus

The 'Lost City' of Atlantis Massif Could Reveal How Life Survives on Dark, Alien Water Worlds

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

Simple chemical reactions on hydrothermal vents could power life on dark worlds like Saturn’s world, Enceladus.

UFOs Remain Elusive Despite Decades of Study

By Leonard David

The UFO-investigating group MUFON turns 50 next month. What have we learned over the past five decades?

With its global ocean, unique chemistry and internal heat, Enceladus has become a promising lead in our search for worlds where life could exist.

Life on Icy Alien Worlds May Resemble Creatures Under Submerged Hawaiian Volcano

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

Certain conditions that nurture life deep underwater may also be found elsewhere in the solar system.

alien exoplanet in a faraway galaxy.

On Alien Worlds, Extraterrestrials Could Be Spewing a Toxic, Smelly Gas. That's How We Could Find Them.

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

E.T. may use the gas for cellular communication.

NASA's Curiosity rover has found a sky-high amount of methane while sampling in Mars' Gale Crater (shown here).

Mars Rover Detects Primordial Signs of Life Under the Red Planet's Surface

By Isobel Whitcomb

Don't get too excited just yet.

The radio telescope at Parkes Observatory in Australia revolves at night during routine maintenance.

No Signs of Aliens in the Closest 1,300 Stars, Hunt Funded by Russian Billionaire Reveals

By Adam Mann

E.T. is still not phoning Earth.

Supermassive black holes lurk in the hearts of most galaxies.

Voracious Black Holes Could Feed Alien Life on Rogue Worlds

By Mara Johnson-Groh

Black holes are engines of destruction on a cosmic scale, but they may also be the bringers of life.

An artist's depiction of a sunflower-shaped starshade that could help space telescopes find and characterize alien planets.

NASA Wants to Build a 'Starshade' to Hunt Alien Planets

By Mike Wall

Such a mission would have to keep two spacecraft, separated by thousands of miles, aligned within 3 feet of each other.

A new planet-hunting instrument has begun studying our bright neighboring star system, Alpha Centauri.

The Search for Habitable Alien Worlds in Earth's Backyard Heats Up

By Mike Wall

A new instrument designed to find potentially habitable alien worlds in the nearest star system to our own sun just revved up.

TRAPPIST-1

Alien Life Could Be Hiding Out on Far Fewer Planets Than We Thought

By Laura Geggel