Extraterrestrial life

What is extraterrestrial life? Are we alone in the Universe? Would aliens look like the little green men we see in science fiction, or more like single-celled organisms that have somehow survived the harshness of space? We're still no closer to answering the questions that we have all asked at some point, but scientists across the world at organisations like NASA and SETI continue to search for evidence of alien species beyond Earth. The truth is out there!

A moody science fiction concept, of UFO light beams landing in a field coming down from the sky. On a foggy spooky night.

Is looking for aliens worth the risk? Absolutely, says the UK’s leading astronomer

Illustration of 2 aliens

How aliens will actually make first contact with humanity, a scientist explains

Instant Genius

Instant Genius Podcast Life on Mars, with Lewis Dartnell

Why we want to believe in aliens © Getty Images

Everyday science

Why we want to believe in aliens

These 4 signs of alien technology could lead us to extraterrestrial life © Getty Images

These 4 signs of alien technology could lead us to extraterrestrial life

The mission to search for signs of alien technology in our Solar System and beyond © Magic Torch

Project Galileo: The search for alien tech hiding in our Solar System

Star Trek Picard: Will first contact ever happen, or are we alone in the Universe? © Nicole Wilder/Viacom CBS/Amazon Prime

Star Trek Picard: Will first contact ever happen, or are we alone in the Universe?

Cyanide may have played a key role in the origin of life on Earth, and could help us find ET © Getty Images

Cyanide may have played a key role in the origin of life on Earth, and could help us find ET

Plants growing in rain © Getty Images

Does all life need water?

There may still be active volcanoes on Mars, and they may be creating conditions capable of supporting microbial life, study finds © Getty Images

There may still be active volcanoes on Mars

Prof Avi Loeb on what 'Oumuamua tells us about the problem with modern physics © ESO/M Kornmesser

Podcast Prof Avi Loeb on what 'Oumuamua tells us about the problem with modern physics

4 mysterious UFO sightings that are still unexplained © Getty Images

4 mysterious UFO sightings that are still unexplained

Should we be signalling our existence to alien life? © Getty Images

Should we be signalling our existence to alien life?

Inside the December issue with the BBC Science Focus team © Magic Torch

Inside the December issue with the BBC Science Focus team

The BBC Science Focus draw an alien competition

One week left to enter the BBC Science Focus draw an alien competition