The possibilities that life might exist elsewhere in the Universe are larger than what was thought. Astronomers from the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute (SETI) assured that humanity might only have to wait 20 years to contact them.
During a conference with members of the United States House Science and Technology Committee, scientists made a call to promote the research of life beyond Earth, assuring that alien life could be proven through three different methods which are the hope to fiend extraterrestrial life in two decades.
Seth Shostak, a SETI astronomer, said that one of these methods includes the search for microbial life or the remains of intelligent life from beyond the Solar System, limiting research to Mars; however, the project considers other areas of the Universe.
"At least half a dozen other planets (besides Earth) which might have life are in our solar system. The possibilities of finding it, I believe, are good and if it happens, it will happen in the next 20 years, depending on financing," assured Seth Shostak, reported Discovery.com.
The second technique presented by researchers refers to the use of a scanner to locate any sign of oxygen or methane in the atmospheres beyond the Earth, gasses which are commonly associated mainly with the creation of life.
The third project focuses on searching for alien life technologically through radio and other signals directed at space. The idea from the SETI experts is to spy on the signals formed accidentally or deliberately in the Universe and which then leak onto other planets.
For Shostak, this method makes sense because 100 years later after the invention of the radio, humanity currently has the technology which allows it to send bits of information lightyears away.
For the scientists, the fact that nothing has been found so far means nothing. "We have barely begun searching," said Shostak.