Seth Shostak Astronomer, SETI project participant. Date of Birth: 20.07.1943 Country: USA

1. Astronomer and SETI Project Participant
2. The Search for Life in the Universe
3. The Discovery of Exoplanets
4. The Habitable Zone
5. The Possibility of Intelligent Life

Astronomer and SETI Project Participant

Seth Shostak is an astronomer and a participant in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) project. For a long time, the dream of meeting intelligent life from other worlds has occupied the minds of humans. However, extraterrestrial beings have yet to make contact with Earth. Nevertheless, leading astronomers today have little doubt that life exists in the universe and are confident that we will discover this life within the next 20 years.

The Search for Life in the Universe

In a recent presentation titled "Astrobiology and the Search for Life in the Universe" to the representatives of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology in Washington DC, Seth Shostak and Dan Wethimer, two prominent astronomers from the SETI project, shared their thoughts on the possibility of humanity being the only intelligent civilization in the universe. Both Shostak and Wethimer firmly believe that there is other life in space and hope to encounter it within the next two decades.

The Discovery of Exoplanets

Over the past 20 years, astronomers have actively discovered exoplanets, planets outside our solar system. Currently, there are approximately 2000 known exoplanets, with the number expected to increase in the future. The analysis of data obtained from the highly successful Kepler space telescope has greatly aided in the discovery of new planets. Preliminary estimates suggest that 70% of observed stars have planets, and considering that planets do not always exist alone (as seen in our own Solar System), the total number of planets in just our galaxy could be around a trillion. When considering that the Milky Way is just one of the 150 billion observable galaxies, it becomes clear that there is no shortage of planets in the universe.

The Habitable Zone

One of the primary goals of the Kepler telescope is to identify planets within the habitable zone. While we cannot know the exact conditions suitable for other forms of life, scientists can at least make judgments based on our own planet. Traditionally, habitable planets are those where liquid water can exist on the surface. However, many worlds fail to meet this criterion due to extreme temperatures or the absence of a solid surface. On average, Kepler predicts that approximately 1 in 5 stars have a planet that is theoretically habitable and similar in size to Earth. While this estimate may be overly optimistic, even reducing the result by 2-3 times would still leave us with around 10-80 billion "relatives" of our planet.

The Possibility of Intelligent Life

The idea that there is no other life in the universe seems mathematically absurd. Shostak and Wethimer do not believe in the classic tales of extraterrestrials secretly visiting Earth or "Men in Black" scenarios. The life they expect to find may not necessarily be intelligent. However, even the discovery of bacteria on other planets would be an extraordinary finding. It is also not advisable to completely dismiss the possibility of intelligent life existing beyond Earth. Interestingly, the statements made by these scientists somewhat contradict the content of the book "Archaeology, Anthropology, and Interstellar Communication" published by NASA. The author, Douglas Vakoch, along with other experts, examines numerous accounts of alien visits to Earth without drawing any specific conclusions but also not denying the possibility of such visits.