Cosmologist Steven Hawking launches enquiry into alien life

By Kate Hassett

Cosmologist Steven Hawking launches enquiry into alien life
Steven Hawking and Yuri Milner have begun the biggest study into extraterrestrial life this world has ever seen.

Cosmologist Steven Hawking and Silicon Valley entrepreneur Yuri Milner have launched the Breakthrough Listen initiative, with the hope of finding out, if the truth really is out there.

the $135 million dollar project will be the most expansive search for extraterrestrial life our world has ever seen and will gather data across a 10 year time frame.

“In an infinite universe, there must be other occurrences of life…Somewhere in the cosmos, perhaps, intelligent life may be watching” Mr Hawking told the Royal Society science academy in London.

The data collected from the project will dwarf previous attempts at researching the limits of space – collecting more data in one day, than has previously been collected in a year.

Utilising the biggest telescope on Earth, the initiative will search for radio spectrum and laser signals from the million closest stars and 100 closest galaxies.

Australia will also play a huge role in the project, with the Parkes Observatory in New South Wales signing a contract with the initiative, to scan radio waves for life in the cosmos.

“It’s time to commit to finding the answer, to search for life beyond Earth. We must know.” said Hawking.

Do you believe there is intelligent life out there?

 

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