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An exploration into ten potential ways that we may have already detected alien life in the universe.

Cylinder Eight by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/.…)
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Cylinder Three by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/.…)
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Cylinder Five by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/.…)
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Light Awash by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/.…)

In the scientific realism vs instrumentalism debate, realism is the position that the elements of a scientific theory represent reality. So when general relativity talks about space warping, space really is warping. Instrumentalism, or anti-realism, is the stance that scientific theories are just prediction mechanisms, with no guarantee that they represent reality. Under instrumentalism, general relativity accurately predicts our observations as though space were warping, but whether it actually does or not can’t be determined.

Scientists, by and large, tend to be realists. It’s hard to find motivation to do the often boring and sometimes dangerous work involved in gathering scientific data, to dedicate years of your life to it, unless you see yourself in pursuit of truth. But as I noted in our last discussion on this, scientists tend to be realist about some theories and instrumentalist about others (although which is which depends on the scientist).

The argument in favor of instrumentalism is theory change. Many historical theories have been successful at making predictions, but eventually end up being replaced by a better theory, often with a radically different view of reality. The example I usually cite is Ptolemy’s model of the universe. For centuries it more or less accurately predicted naked eye astronomical observations, but we now know its model of a stationary Earth, with everything else in the universe revolving around it, is wrong. It eventually gave way to a Newtonian view of the universe, which in turn later had to give way to an Einsteinian view.

Water is the essence of life. Every living thing on Earth contains water within it. The Earth is rich with life because it is rich with water.

This fundamental connection between water and life is partly due to water’s extraordinary properties, but part of it is due to the fact that water is one of the most abundant molecules in the Universe.

Made from one part oxygen and two parts hydrogen, its structure is simple and strong. The hydrogen comes from the primordial fire of the Big Bang and is by far the most common element. Oxygen is created in the cores of large stars, along with carbon and nitrogen, as part of the CNO fusion cycle.

Discover how the first stars—Population III stars—shaped the universe by creating water billions of years ago. Learn how these massive stars exploded as supernovae, spreading oxygen that combined with hydrogen to form water molecules. With insights from simulations and observations, we’ll explore how water’s early abundance could mean life-supporting conditions existed far earlier than thought. Don’t miss this fascinating journey into the origins of water in the cosmos!

Paper link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.

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Cosmic voids, which act as bubbles in the cosmic web, help us read the universe better.


Researchers have found a link between a common virus and Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common type of dementia, is a condition that affects the brain, makes changes in it that cause problems with memory, thinking, and behaviour.

In a new study, published in The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, researchers discovered CMV, a type of herpesvirus, which often infects individuals during childhood. While the virus usually remains dormant after the initial infection, it stays in the body for life.

What if a distant planet held the key to finding life beyond Earth? NASA’s discovery has scientists buzzing with curiosity.

This revelation might bring us closer to answering one of humanity’s biggest questions: Are we truly alone in the universe?


Over the years, NASA has had its share of controversies, from concealed data to accusations of manipulating the truth. Yet, amidst the whirlwind of skepticism, the space agency occasionally unveils findings that could potentially reshape our understanding of the cosmos and our place within it. NASA has recently spotlighted a super-Earth larger than our own, with an atmosphere containing a gas typically only associated with life. This discovery invites a torrent of questions and possibilities. What does this mean for our understanding of life beyond Earth?

K2-18 b, an exoplanet that continues to captivate astronomers and scientists alike, is redefining our understanding of the cosmos. Situated 120 light-years away in the constellation Leo, this remarkable planet orbits a cool, red dwarf star named K2-18 within the star’s habitable zone. Its discovery was made possible by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which observed K2-18 b as it transited in front of its host star, allowing scientists to analyze the starlight passing through the exoplanet’s atmosphere.

This Super-Earth is approximately 8.6 times the mass of our planet and 2.6 times its radius, placing it in a class of planets known as sub-Neptunes, which are more massive than Earth but smaller than Neptune. Unlike anything in our solar system, these planets present a unique challenge for study due to their diverse and complex atmospheres.

Humanity’s fascination with the unknown is a timeless impulse, rooted in curiosity and the desire to push boundaries, uncover mysteries, and open doors to new frontiers. What were once represented by voyages and the discovery of new islands and continents are now pursued in the vastness of the Universe. As we seek answers, provoke new questions, and open doors to endless possibilities, this drive continues to inspire. It has shaped countless literary and cinematic works, transforming interstellar exploration from a science fiction concept into a vision increasingly grounded in reality. One such visionary project is Project Hyperion, spearheaded by the Initiative for Interstellar Studies (i4is), which challenges humanity to develop practical solutions for interstellar travel through a design competition. By envisioning generation ships—vast, self-sustaining habitats capable of supporting multigenerational societies on journeys spanning centuries—the project not only pushes the boundaries of technology but also sparks social innovation, stretching the limits of our collective imagination.

The exploration of outer space, which began during the Cold War space race with milestones like the launch of Sputnik in 1957 and the Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969, has driven advances in science, technology, and geopolitics. Since then, continuous efforts such as the International Space Station (ISS), launched in 1998, have provided platforms for microgravity experiments essential to research in biomedicine and physics, as well as preparation for lunar and Martian missions. Simultaneously, spacecraft have evolved from orbital missions to interplanetary exploration and, more recently, space tourism, with vehicles like SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Blue Origin’s New Shepard offering unique experiences in space.

However, the challenge of interstellar exploration—journeys beyond our solar system to distant stars—presents far greater complexity and requires a radical reimagining of space technology. An interstellar spacecraft would not simply be a scaled-up version of today’s spaceships but a structure capable of sustaining journeys lasting centuries, traversing immense distances. To endure such long voyages, these ships must be self-sustaining, with closed-loop life support systems, food production, and resource recycling, creating an environment where people are born, live, and die. Beyond technological challenges, there are also social and psychological hurdles to prolonged space travel. Such a ship must be not only a high-performance machine but also a viable habitat for living, working, and fostering a society across generations. This requires rethinking how we organize coexistence, social relationships, and power dynamics in an isolated and confined environment.

Astronomers have long sought to find the origin of the building blocks of life, and how elements like carbon, which are essential for life, spread across the universe.

Recent findings using data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have unveiled a fascinating process in action.

In the Milky Way, 5,000 light-years away, two massive stars in the Wolf-Rayet 140 system are spewing out massive amounts of carbon-rich dust.