Is NASA About To Announce Alien Life?

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Is NASA About To Announce Alien Life?</h4>

In May 2023, NASA held its first public meeting on UAPs, reflecting the growing seriousness with which the agency approaches mysterious phenomena. While no definitive evidence emerged, this new stance signaled a broader (and seemingly more committed) interest in exploring unexplained events and sightings that could (perhaps) point us toward alien technology. So much so, the 2020s is fast becoming a time filled with exciting potential for NASA to answer the ultimate question: are we alone? And now, we really could be on the brink of something spectacular.

This is Unveiled, and today we’re answering the extraordinary question; is NASA about to announce alien life? 

For eons, we’ve wondered if we are the sole creatures alive to question our place in the universe. We’ve pondered whether life on Earth is the only life there is… or if there’s more, out there hiding somewhere across the stars. 

The good news is that, generally, as our technology advances, so too does our ability to search for answers beyond our planet. Today, NASA is at the forefront of this gallant quest, using sophisticated tools and fronting groundbreaking missions, in a continuous effort to probe the cosmos for life. Recent developments in particular, though, have possibly mind-blowing implications, fueling speculation that we may be on the verge of a monumental discovery. In this video, we’ll explore NASA’s latest efforts, to determine whether or not alien life is really just around the corner.

At the heart of NASA’s search for aliens, is the multi-faceted, cutting edge study of (and search for) biosignatures. These are chemical clues, which we believe are indicative of life on exoplanets. On Earth, there are certain molecules in our atmosphere that are crucial to sustaining the life that we obviously know is here. Oxygen, methane, and ozone are all considered critical markers. With oxygen and methane, for example, while they can be produced via non-living processes, finding them together is a strong indicator of biological activity. To elaborate, methane breaks down quickly in the presence of oxygen, so if both gasses are detected simultaneously, it implies that something is continuously replenishing the methane. On Earth, we know that life (in general) creates a great deal of methane, and we also believe there wasn’t much methane present here before life emerged. Therefore, and using ourselves as a guide, NASA has become increasingly focused on detecting both methane and oxygen together on other planets. Because if (and when) we do, then it’s probable that aliens live there. 

Elsewhere, though, and by most measures there are at least ten broad categories of biosignature that star-gazing, planet-watching scientists might also choose to focus on. Another of the most fascinating are technosignatures. These again are specific markers that might in some way emanate from another world… although this time they’re markers to indicate scientific, physical evidence of alien technology, from either the past or present. Various types of technosignature have been hypothesized. Astronomers might keep their eyes peeled, for instance, for evidence of radiation leaks from Dyson-spheres… which, famously, are unfathomably large (again hypothesized) structures that (if they exist) would surround a star in order to harvest its energy. Dedicated campaigns have hunted for these megastructures and, as of summer 2024, evidence for seven potential Dyson-spheres has reportedly been found. In theory, a Dyson-sphere would absorb and re-radiate its host star's energy… which should then result in atypical wavelengths of light being emitted from that star… and that’s the technosignature that researchers are looking for, as possible proof of alien engineering. Further investigation must be completed to understand the true nature of the seven astrophysical anomalies detected so far. But then, at the same time, many believe that what we’ve seen to date is likely just the tip of the iceberg; and that, ultimately, the universe should be awash with Dyson Spheres, or similar.

The hunt for biosignatures, technosignatures, for aliens in general is certainly a lot more promising now that we have the James Webb Space Telescope in full operation. The Webb has an unprecedented ability to observe distant exoplanets. Its advanced spectrographics instruments are so incredibly fine-tuned that they can identify individual gasses in any one atmosphere from literally hundreds of light-years away. Quite simply, there's nothing else that can see quite so far, quite so clearly. 

But, then again, it’s not as though we should only be looking as far away as possible, either. Much closer to home, relatively speaking, we’ve seen high concentrations of organic molecules on Enceladus, a moon of Saturn. It’s part of the reason why, now, scientists increasingly believe that if there are aliens in the solar system, then Enceladus really could be where they’re based. The moon has the potential to harbor life far below its otherwise icy surface, in deep oceans that are seemingly warmed by geothermal activity. In this case, we haven’t needed the incredible range of James Webb to uncover the potential for aliens. But, ultimately, we are still looking for the same kinds of biosignature clues.

Naturally, though, this isn’t the only field where NASA is making significant strides. In recent years, Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, UAPs, have garnered more and more attention from the public. These were formerly known (inside and outside the official sphere) as UFOs, and they were once largely dismissed as conspiracy fodder… but they’re now the subject of serious scientific inquiry, with NASA leading the way. The well-publicized meetings and high profile publication of documents, beginning in earnest in 2023, reveals how the approach has changed a lot compared to past generations. Whereas the twentieth century was shrouded in mystery  - backdropped (as it was) by the Cold War and other tense, geopolitical situations - the twenty-first appears to be an opening up of the story. 

Nevertheless, one of NASA’s primary goals is still to determine whether or not UAPs are a threat to national security. First and foremost, strange things in the sky are always viewed with suspicion because they’re potentially being piloted or controlled by hostile states on Earth. But it’s not as though the seeming links to alien life have diminished. NASA acknowledges on the record the possibility that some UAPs really could be evidence of highly advanced alien technology. The agency’s role is then to gather and analyze data using its expertise in space science. Over the last couple OF years, it has standardized methods for detecting UAPs, hoping to separate ordinary phenomena from the truly inexplicable. And there’s arguably no other organization in existence that’s better positioned to seriously scrutinize UAP in this way. It’s hoped (by onlookers) that the new found transparency that’s apparently been adopted will lead to clear and definite answers very soon. But, if nothing else, then NASA’s acknowledgment of UAPs has served to shift the stereotype. Alien hunters are no longer automatically branded as conspiracy theorists; the suggestion is that, actually, they might be onto something.

Finally, though, if (and when) NASA does ever go public with proof of aliens, then what might we expect them to have actually found? There are, by now, quite a few candidates as to what alien life will be LIKE… and where it will be based. Several locations, both inside our solar system and beyond, hold promise. But one of the most discussed (and arguably most likely) locales remains Mars, the planet we’ve studied more than any other.

We know so much about it mainly due to its close proximity and abundant evidence of past water. The ancient environment of Mars - millions, even billions of years ago - almost certainly did have the potential for habitability. Today, it’s not quite so… vibrant or energized. Conditions are harsh. It’s cold, dry, and its atmosphere has almost completely vanished, exposing the Martian surface to intense radiation from the Sun. But it’s still a strong contender for microbial life being present there right now. There are variously intriguing underground environments of liquid water, where life might still exist. Bizarrely, support for this idea can be found here, on Earth. There are hundreds of underground lakes in Antarctica where explorers have found wholly unique microbes. It’s thought by some that the same could be happening on Mars.

Meanwhile, and more specifically a spotty rock was discovered on Mars in July 2024, by NASA’s Perseverance rover. The rock had peculiar markings, and bore a remarkable similarity to the look of fossilized microbes found all across our own planet. Scans revealed organic compounds to be present in the rock, too, which again could indicate distant alien life. It isn’t a certainty, as these molecules could still have formed via non-biological methods. But the find goes down as one of the latest to suggest that Mars might not be quite so lifeless as it seems from afar.

Other points of consideration include seasonal fluctuations of methane recorded on Mars, delivering an all important biosignature to potentially indicate life. We also have evidence of organic molecules found in the Martian soil, and studies suggest that there are still the remnants of ancient riverbeds and lakes etched into the dusty ground. All of these things combined again show that life at least could have emerged (and survived) on Mars, a long time ago. For some, the same list of signs is reason enough to believe that living matter is still present. 

Away from Mars, and the gas giant moons Europa, Titan and Enceladus rank as the most promising other ‘other worlds’ where alien life might exist. By many measures, Europa, Titan and Enceladus are actually far better suited than Mars ever has been. But, is NASA about to announce the discovery of alien life on any of them? It’s still very unlikely. Whereas, when it comes to Mars, it can feel as though we’re always edging ever closer to that fateful day when non-Earth somethings are finally (and definitively) found. 

Let us know your thoughts in the comments. Could 2024’s spotty rock prove the final piece of the puzzle? Does life exist on Mars today? Did it ever exist in the past? One thing’s for sure, if NASA does ever get to deliver the monumental news that we are not alone… then life (as we know it) will never be the same again.