Contact with aliens within two decades

Dozens of scholars have analyzed the possibilities of finding California, in the near future, life beyond Earth. We are better positioned than ever to detect life beyond Earth. And also to pick up signals of possible extraterrestrial intelligence, which will probably happen laspróximas over two decades.

These are some of the conclusions of the conference setIcon 2, held in Santa Clara, California, during the past weekend.

For two days, various specialists have gathered in Santa Clara to share ideas and explore possibilities to find, near future, life beyond Earth. Something that, by all accounts of the participants, could be about to happen.

Surprise! Mars is full of water

According to an article just published in the journal Geology, there is strong evidence indicating the existence of vast underground reserves of water on Mars. The finding, which has come as quite a surprise, it reinforces the idea that the Red Planet can, or could at some point, support life. And it increases the chances of establishing human colonies there in the near future.

The issue of "Martian water" has been debated for more than a century. First, the late nineteenth century, were the famous canals of Mars. Later, in full space age, came the discovery of ancient river valleys and sea revealing a past Martian water-rich surface.

A new technique to explore the atmospheres of planets outside our solar system

'Tau Bootis b' was one of the first exoplanets discovered in the 90's. Fifteen years later, remains one of the closest known and given that it already has confirmed the existence of 750 planets outside our solar system, which number about 2,000 applicants to join the list.

'Tau Bootis b' is a big 'hot Jupiter' orbiting close to its host star. Although its host star is easily visible, so far this planet could only be detected by its gravitational effects on the star.