The existence of aliens has piqued human curiosity since the dawn of the universe. Organizations have been established in Silicon Valley, committed to detecting evidence of extraterrestrial life. However, the question arises–are aliens actually real?
The answer isn’t straightforward. The topic inevitably leads to discussions about unidentified flying objects (UFOs), considered the identifiable mode of transportation of these assumed beings. Despite over six decades of continuous surveillance and research in electromagnetic radiation by the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), no signal suggesting extraterrestrial life has been found. Despite this, NASA maintains that the absence of discovery does not equate to non-existence.
The shape, form, or existence of aliens can vary significantly depending on who you ask. People’s definitions have been influenced by books, movies, and ultimate hypotheses ranging from them having a humanoid appearance to being simple microscopic organisms or even unspecified forms of matter.
The places where they could exist are also equally uncertain. Mars might appear as a plausible location, but so far, no direct signs of life have been found on the planet, despite the presence of water and ice caps. The Fermi Paradox brings up the question of why we lack contact with any potential extraterrestrial civilizations in our expansive universe, deepening the mystery.
Proof of aliens, to some extent, has been debated over time. Various individuals and institutions have released photographs and video footage of unusual “movements” in the sky, purporting them as evidence of alien life. One notable example is Wendelle C. Stevens, a former U.S. Air Force pilot, who allegedly owns the world’s largest personal collection of UFO photographs.
Congressional hearings held in the U.S. in 2022 regarding UFOs rekindled the public’s fascination with aliens. It was the first session of its kind in the U.S. in over five decades, with testimonies given by high-ranking Pentagon officials.
NASA’s search for extraterrestrial life is vast and has spanned leaps of technological development. They use an array of tools that includes the Deep Space Network (DSN) set up in 1972, to track mysterious spacecrafts and send signals towards them. In partnership with SETI, a steerable telescope is used in the hopes of identifying civilizations beyond Earth. However, as stated in NASA’s UFO report in 2023, no life beyond Earth has ever been found and there is no evidence that alien life has ever visited our planet. Even so, the search for aliens continues, fueled by the collective fascination and curiosity of humankind.
