Majority of Humanity Say We Are Not Alone in the Universe

A survey in 24 countries published on the occasion of The Last Jedi Star Wars movie

Since the early days of humanity people are fascinated by the mysteries of the universe and the possibility of life on other planets. Space opera movies such as Star Wars, Star Trek and Avatar are immensely popular and Star Wars is one of the highest grossing films of all time. Early this year NASA announced the discovery of seven Earth-sized worlds orbiting a star in the constellation of Aquarius. These worlds are possibly warm enough for water sustaining life. Now the worldwide Glocalities survey reveals that the majority of people around the world believe in the existence of life on other planets. The survey results are released at the eve of the new Star Wars saga ‘’The Last Jedi’’.

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Nasa's Kepler telescope finds 10 Earth-like planets: 'We are not alone'

Astronomers have added 219 candidates to the growing list of planets beyond our solar system, 10 of which may be about the same size and temperature as Earth, boosting their chances of hosting life.

Scientists found the candidates in a final batch of Nasa’s Kepler

Space Telescope observations of 200,000 sample stars in the constellation Cygnus.

They include 10 newly discovered rocky worlds that are the right distance from their parent stars for water, if it exists there, to pool on the surface. Scientists believe liquid water is a key ingredient for life.

“An important question for us is, ‘Are we alone?’” Kepler program scientist Mario Perez said in a conference call with reporters. “Maybe Kepler today is telling us indirectly ... that we are not alone.”

Nasa launched the Kepler telescope in 2009 to learn if Earth-like planets are common or rare. With the final analysis of Kepler data in hand, scientists said they will now work on answering that question, a key step in assessing the chance that life exists beyond Earth.

During a four-year mission Kepler found 2,335 confirmed planets and another 1,699 candidates, bringing its tally to 4,034. That number includes about 50 worlds that may be about the same size and temperature as Earth.

Including other telescope surveys, scientists have confirmed the existence of nearly 3,500 planets beyond the solar system.

Kepler’s data also provided a new way to assess whether a planet has a solid surface, like Earth, or is made mostly of gas, like Neptune. The distinction will help scientists home in on potential Earth-like planets and better the odds for finding life.

The Kepler team found that planets which are about 1.75 times the size of Earth and smaller tend to be rocky, while those two to 3.5 times the size of Earth become gas-shrouded worlds like Neptune.

“It’s like finding what we thought was a single species of animal is really two different things,” said Benjamin Fulton, a graduate student in astronomy who analysed the Kepler data.

So far, these planets, which scientists refer to as “super-Earths” and “mini-Neptunes”, have not been found in Earth’s solar system, though scientists are on the hunt for a potential ninth planet far beyond Pluto.

“It is interesting that we don’t have what appears to be the most common type of planet in the galaxy,” Fulton said.

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NEVER SAY NEVER

Aliens DO exist and we are not alone in the universe

The Warwick-born ex-spy said it would be "extraordinary" if life only existed on earth and is adamant that we can't be alone.

He was the Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service from 2009 until 2014.

Sir John told the Daily Star: "I think it would be extraordinary if in an infinite solar system that planet Earth was unique.

“I think we should go forward on the assumption that nothing on this planet is unique."

BRITS BELIEVE IN ALIENS

Around 52 per cent of Brits believed intelligent life exists elsewhere in the solar system, according to a YouGov survey in 2015.

We fell below 56 per cent of Germans and 54 per cent Americans.

Brits over the age of 60 were found to be more skeptical of extraterrestrials existence with 45 per cent not sharing the belief.

Whereas a whopping 59 per cent of 18-24-year-olds did.

GOVERNMENT COVER UP

A smaller number of us also think that humans are not technologically advanced enough to communicate with aliens.

Meanwhile a fifth of Brits believe the government have covered up dealings with beings from outer space.

Sawrs claims came just over a month after astronomers discovered a planet where life could have existed.

EARTH-LIKE PLANET FOUND

Water was spotted in the atmosphere of K2-18b, a planet two times the size of earth, scientific journal Nature Astronomy wrote.

It's located within a safe distance of a star and around 111 light years away, or 650 million million miles away, from earth.

K2-18b is too far away to send a probe but in 10 years it's hoped that telescopes will be able to see more of it.

Then they will look for gases that could support an atmosphere for living organisms.

The search for extra-terrestrial life is the most exciting quest in 21st-century science

Professor Stephen Hawking was among believers and before his death in March 2018 backed a new project to track them down.

The Breakthrough Initiative aims to discover if we are alone, if there are other habitable worlds out there and if so, how can we get there.

Earth circles one star among of hundreds of billions in a galaxy that is among hundreds of billions others, in a possibly infinite universe, they wrote.

Prof. Hawking called the search for extraterrestrial life "the most exciting quest in 21st century science".

(DON'T) STORM AREA 51

In June, over 1.2 million people expressed interest in a Facebook event to "Storm Area 51" all with the hope to "see some aliens".

But only 75 people showed up for it in September amid warnings from the US military to stay away.

THE EXIT FILES

Area 51 raid – Only 75 people turned up at military base gates despite thousands flocking to Nevada desert for ‘Storm Area 51’ events

ONLY 75 people bothered to turn up for an 'Area 51 raid', despite over one million expressing their interest.

Thousands have flocked to the remote Nevada desert for the music festivals that have sprung up around it, however.

In June, California college student Matty Roberts posted a joke Facebook invitation exhorting the public at large to run into Area 51 on foot to “see them aliens".

When 1.2m people expressed interest, the US military warned curiosity seekers not to breach the gates at the military base, which it said is still used to test combat aircraft and train personnel and threatened it would use “lethal force” if necessary.

The whole thing though appears to have fallen flat, so far, with just an estimated 75 people actually bothering to make it to the gates of Area 51, which has long been the focus of US conspiracy theories about aliens visiting Earth and secret military technology.

Those that did make it to the main gates were peaceful.

The Nye County Sheriff's Office said in a video news release Friday that the group initially came together outside the Area 51 Alien Center in Amargosa Valley at around 3am.

'HEATED WARNINGS'

Authorities say some of the people then went closer to the gates before they left after "heated warnings" from officers.

Everyone was gone by 5am. They were described as being compliant and peaceful.

Police made two arrests but were at a different gate.

Cyril Soudant, 25, from Lille, France, said he was disappointed at how few people were at the event but said he would wait until Friday night to make his final assessment on the experience.

He said: "If we get together, have some music, have some beers, that would be a success.”

However more people are expected to turn up over the weekend.

An estimated 1,500 revellers have already arrived at the small towns of Rachel and Hiko nearby, which have a combined population of just 175 people.

Lincoln County Emergency Manager Eric Holt has stated that extra personnel and resources are on hand should the number of attendees swell into the weekend.

He said: “We're in co-ordination with several other operators to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors to the area.

“We are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. If we don't get the numbers for what we're prepared for we can send some of the resource home. If we need it we can have it.”

He estimated the area could cope with between 5,000 and 50,000 people.

DJ Paul Oakenfold is set to perform for the crowd at the Storm Area 51 festival.

The two-day event at the Alien Research Centre in Hiko is billed as an event "for both believers and the uninitiated", the event plans to help those "have a place to come together, learn more and celebrate the global cultural movement calling for greater transparency around what many believe to be decades of government secrecy surrounding UFO technology."

FESTIVAL

George Harris, owner of the Alien Research Center souvenir store in Hiko, said Friday and Saturday's "Area 51 Basecamp" will focus on music, movies and talks about extraterrestrial lore.

There is also a music festival dubbed Alienstock taking place in Rachel.

Some have already got in the spirit of the event and turned up with ET-themed outfits as well as wearing tin foil hats.

A beer company has produced alien-themed cans, and a Nevada brothel is offering discounts to "E.T. enthusiasts".

But locals fear that visitors will not be prepared for the harsh desert conditions with inadequate water supplies and improper clothing.

Joerg Arnu, who lives in Rachel, said: “Those that know what to expect camping in the desert are going to have a good time.

UFO AND ALIEN PAGE LINKS