VIEWED from the Moon, Earth hangs delicately in the sky, an oasis of life in the black emptiness of space. Nothing could be more beautiful-or more lonely.
But are we really alone? Though this question has long been asked, only now can we hope to answer it. Here, in New 杏吧原创鈥檚 second Millennium Special, we focus on the search for life beyond Earth.
First, where to look? If we find another Earth, will it be just as fecund? There鈥檚 nothing in the known laws of nature that says life is inevitable. But perhaps the life force comes from a new field of science, one that we鈥檙e just beginning to understand (鈥淟ife force鈥�). And if another Earth is what we need, there is a strikingly simple way to find one (鈥淎lien haven鈥�). There could even be a vast ocean teeming with aquatic aliens right on our doorstep (鈥淲补迟别谤飞辞谤濒诲鈥�).
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If we find life, what then? Communicating will be daunting with no knowledge of alien language or culture. Yet there may just be a way (鈥淟et鈥檚 learn Lincos鈥�). And perhaps most important of all, will our alien neighbours be friendly? Will it be cuddly ET or the loathsome creatures that drooled over Sigourney Weaver? Can we eat them? Will they eat us? Alive to the dire possibilities, NASA has appointed a Planetary Protection Officer, who will have our lives in his hands (鈥淒efender of the planet鈥�).
The hunt is on. In the words of Lynn Harper from NASA鈥檚 astrobiology programme: 鈥淚f you鈥檙e interested in life in the Universe, this is the time to be alive.鈥�