NASA: Not Area 51: Scientists reveal the most likely alien hideouts — some inside our Solar System
Obama later wrote on Instagram that the universe is huge. Because it was so large, he said, life could exist elsewhere. But he also said that the stars are very, very far away from each other. So it is unlikely that aliens will travel all the way to Earth. Scientists say the best place to look for alien life is on planets like Earth. Since these planets are neither too hot nor too cold, they can have liquid water. This region is called the “Goldilocks region”.
These planets are often in the “Goldilocks zone” where temperatures allow liquid water. There are so many stars and planets that life could emerge in some of them, Professor Mark Burchell from the University of Kent told the Daily Mail. He also said scientists are mainly looking for planets that contain water, because life generally requires water.
Scientists are looking for planets where they think there might be life
One of the best candidates is TRAPPIST-1e, an Earth-sized planet about 40 light-years away. It’s located in the safe zone of its star, which means liquid water could be there. Studies using the James Webb Space Telescope have revealed that it likely has an atmosphere similar to Earth.
Another strong candidate is K2-18b, a giant oceanic planet 124 light-years away. Scientists have detected chemicals linked to organisms living there. Professor Nikku Madhusudhan said the data best fit a world full of ocean life. But speaking to the Daily Mail, Dr David Armstrong warned the evidence was weak and still debated.
Scientists are also studying the twin planets Kepler-62e and Kepler-62f. Both are within the habitable zone of their respective stars and may contain water. NASA even called Kepler-62f one of the most promising life-friendly planets, NASA noted in a 2015 document.
Possible alien life in our Solar System
Dr David Armstrong explained that scientists say we may not need to look very far as alien life may exist in our own Solar System. Saturn’s moon Enceladus is an important candidate. It shoots clouds of water from the underground ocean into space. NASA’s Cassini collected ice samples containing complex molecules. Scientists say Enceladus now meets almost all the conditions necessary for life. Another strong candidate is Saturn’s moon Titan. New research shows that Titan has watery underground water tunnels. This affects how nutrients and energy can support life, Professor Baptiste Journaux told the Daily Mail. Some pockets of water there may be warm enough for life.
Why do scientists think aliens probably exist?
Scientists use something called the Drake Equation to predict alien civilizations. It studies things like star numbers, planets, and habitable conditions. Research shows that the likelihood of humans being the only intelligent life is extremely low. Data from NASA’s Kepler mission indicates that advanced alien life probably exists somewhere, Daily Mail reports.
FAQ
Q1. Did Barack Obama say aliens were in Area 51?
No, Barack Obama has said that aliens are not hiding in Area 51 and that he has seen no evidence of alien contact during his presidency.
Q2. Where do scientists think aliens might exist?
Scientists believe alien life is most likely on distant water-rich planets or in hidden oceans on moons in our Solar System.
