Aliens: A myth or not?

The question of whether aliens are myth or reality has sparked a debate in humanity for centuries. While the idea of extraterrestrial life has long been a subject of folklore, literature, and scientific curiosity, recent advancements in technology and space exploration have sparked serious debate and study. But, even with growing scientific efforts to explore alien life, we remain uncertain. So let's look more into this unresolved question.

Lots of people believe in aliens, and although this belief tends to be based on movies and UFO claims, science provides insights into the likelihood that we’re not alone in the Universe, and can answer some of the biggest questions people might have about what kind of life is most likely to be out there.(Planetary, Howells Kate)

Our Universe contains 2 trillion observable galaxies with the milky way containing 100 billion known stars, hence there is a fine probability of atleast one planet containing life the odds may even favour the moon!

“With billions of trillions of planets and moons in the Universe, it’s also very

unlikely that Earth is the only home to intelligent life.”(Planetary, Howells Kate)

When most people hear the word "alien" they get creeped out imagining small green men who look atleast a little bit like humans. However, astrobiologists—scientists who

investigate the possibility of extraterrestrial life—usually anticipate encountering much smaller aliens.Microscopic life is the most likely type of alien life based on Earth's life history.

Astronomers, astrobiologists, and other researchers employ a range of methods to seek out evidence, from analysing radio signals from space to examining potential microbial life on Mars. Institutions like SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) have been using radio telescopes to scan the skies for signals from intelligent alien civilizations since the 1960s with little success though.

But what about the exciting folklore? How did this myth emerge? and why do people believe this? To answer this let's switch from astronomy to a bit of history dating back to the ancient civilizations. Like Egyptians, the Maya, and the Sumerians left behind intricate carvings, drawings, and writings that some interpret as evidence of alien visitation. The Mayan pyramids, for example, have been said to depict spacecraft-like structures, and certain legends speak of gods descending from the heavens. However,

sceptics argue that these are merely interpretations of human imagination

or spiritual symbolism, not hard evidence of extraterrestrial beings.

So at this point, you may be wondering if there is actual evidence that supports this theory, luckily for you, there were some strange sightings that came in last year when the Pentagon officially released Navy-filmed footage of UFO sightings. The strange objects in the videos move unlike any plane or jet designed on Earth (The Cornell Daily Sun, Matthew Kassorla).

The Fermi Paradox is one of the most puzzling hunts for extraterrestrial life. This dilemma, put forth by physicist Enrico Fermi, asks why we have not yet found any evidence of extraterrestrial civilizations despite the universe's vastness and the likelihood of planets that resemble Earth. Several theories still are trying to explain this silence.

In conclusion, based on no actual proof it is illogical to predict alternative life, and the alien theory is left to be a topic in movies. While they provoke curiosity, fear and excitement within us, the question of aliens may not yet have an answer, but it continues to push humanity to explore, imagine, and seek out knowledge about the cosmos.

Written by: Minahil Malik