Despite the fact that no life beyond our planet Earth has been found in the solar system, scientists at the SETI Institute in Califronia say that within 20 years, the existence of alien life should be confirmed. Seth Shostak, a senior astronomer at SETI, told the House Science and Technology committee that there is an on-going three-way race to learn whether or not life exists in this solar system or beyond.
Up until now, most funding and efforts for finding life on other planets has focused within the solar system on Mars and outside the system on moons that may harbor life. Exomoons is one area that astronomers would like to have more of a chance to study.
The most habitable planet found to do date is Kepler-186fk. It's one of five small exoplanets orbiting a faint, small red dwarf star in the constellation Cygnus about 500 light years away.
The exoplanet is located in an area known as "Goldilocks zone", which is considered to have high potential for the existence of alient life on the planet.
Another part of the search for alien life on other planets focuses its attention on distance planets. Atmospheres are scanned to find the telltale signs of life, methane and oxygen. These gases are tied to the existence of life on Earth, an Shostack says that thse searchers could yield the desired result within just twenty years.
The third part of the search involves capturing radio signal that are sent out from elsewhere in outer space. It is hoed that SETI will detect these people messages from other intelligent life.
Scientists hope that SETI will detect these possible alien messages Shostack concluded by stating:
"We have only just begun to search."
SETI celebrates its 30th birthday on November 20.
Source : http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/22722
