Uploaded January 2013 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Since the earliest days, humans have looked up to the skies and thought they saw life. It may have been in the form of gods and angels, djinns and flying saucers, but virtually all societies have projected life onto the heavens.
Those understandings were grounded in belief, but now science is taking the search for extraterrestrial life to a new level. The science of astrobiology is booming, and scientists from disciplines ranging from microbiology to chemistry, astronomy to cosmology are involved in what some have called the biggest scientific prize (and challenge) of the century.
Marc Kaufman, a science writer for The Washington Post, will explore the many ways that researchers are trying to understand what life beyond Earth might be like, where it might be found, how it might be found, and whether intelligent life is even possible (likely?).
Kaufman is currently researching his upcoming National Geographic book, covering the first year and a half of the travels of the Mars rover Curiosity. His most recent book is "First Contact: Scientific Breakthroughs in the Hunt for Life Beyond Earth."
Views expressed are those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views
of the National Capital Area Skeptics.
Since the earliest days, humans have looked up to the skies and thought they saw life. It may have been in the form of gods and angels, djinns and flying saucers, but virtually all societies have projected life onto the heavens.
Those understandings were grounded in belief, but now science is taking the search for extraterrestrial life to a new level. The science of astrobiology is booming, and scientists from disciplines ranging from microbiology to chemistry, astronomy to cosmology are involved in what some have called the biggest scientific prize (and challenge) of the century.
Marc Kaufman, a science writer for The Washington Post, will explore the many ways that researchers are trying to understand what life beyond Earth might be like, where it might be found, how it might be found, and whether intelligent life is even possible (likely?).
Kaufman is currently researching his upcoming National Geographic book, covering the first year and a half of the travels of the Mars rover Curiosity. His most recent book is "First Contact: Scientific Breakthroughs in the Hunt for Life Beyond Earth."
Views expressed are those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views
of the National Capital Area Skeptics.
