🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 92 (from laksa050)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa092.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/scientists-believe-alien-life/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/scientists-believe-alien-life/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/news-science\/scientists-believe-alien-life\/","crawl_time":1775452995,"first_indexed_time":1737033917,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,zmescience!www,\/science\/news-science\/scientists-believe-alien-life\/ s443","src_root_hash":"14543206048787838692","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Are aliens real? Here's what the scientists think","meta_descriptions":["A groundbreaking survey in Nature Astronomy reveals a surprising consensus among scientists: the majority believe that alien life exists."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"We’ve all thought about it. Are we really aliens out there, or are we all alone in the universe? Unsurprisingly, scientists think about it too. Now, a new survey published in\nNature Astronomy\nanalyzed what researchers believe. Turns out, if you ask the average scientist, they think aliens are very real. Most researchers even\nthink intelligent\n, advanced aliens are out there.\nThere are hundreds of billions of galaxies out there, each with countless planets. Image credits: ESA.\nIn 1964, George Gaylord Simpson famously remarked, “[astrobiology] has yet to demonstrate that its subject matter exists.” It’s a strange idea to think that what you’re studying may not even exist and yet, there isn’t any clear signs of\nalien life\n. But then again, we’ve only scraped the surface of our very own\nsolar system\n, let alone the vastness of intergalactic space.\nThat’s why a team led by Peter Vickers from Durham University set out to ask astrobiologists (and other researchers) what they think. Between February and June 2024, they surveyed over 1,700 scientists, asking them to weigh in on the likelihood of alien life. In total, 521 astrobiologists and 534 non-astrobiologists responded.\nRespondents were asked to agree or disagree with the existence of:\nBasic Alien Life:\nSimple life forms, like microorganisms, are likely to exist somewhere in the universe.\nComplex Alien Life:\nLarger, more intricate organisms likely exist.\nIntelligent Alien Life:\nAdvanced beings with\ncognitive abilities\ncomparable to humans are likely.\nWhen it came to basic life, the response was overwhelming. There’s essentially a consensus among researchers that basic alien life exists (both among astrobiologists and those studying different fields). Among astrobiologists, 86.6% agreed that basic\nextraterrestrial life\nis likely, with only 0.4% strongly disagreeing. Similarly, 88.4% of non-astrobiologists agreed, showing little difference between the groups.\nThis challenges a long-held assumption that astrobiologists, by virtue of their field, are more optimistic about extraterrestrial life than their peers. Non-astrobiologists seemed to be just as confident in the existence of life.\n“According to our results, the consensus of relevant experts — broadly construed — that extraterrestrial life (of at least a basic kind) exists, stands at 86.6%, with less than 2% disagreement. The significant proportion of ‘neutral’ votes (11.5%) is, however, revealing, and probably reflective of the lack of direct evidence supporting an agreement or disagreement vote.”\nWhat about complex life?\nAs you’d expect, the agreement dropped when it came to complex life. For organisms beyond the microbial level, agreement dropped to 67.4% among astrobiologists. When asked about intelligent\nextraterrestrial beings\n, only 58.2% of astrobiologists believed in their likelihood. While it’s still a majority, it suggests that researchers are more skeptical about the evolution of intelligence outside Earth.\n×\nWhat was more surprising was how much physicists and biologists agreed. Physicists are often thought to emphasize the vastness of the universe and the statistical probability of life, while biologists focus on the\ncomplexities of life\nas we know it. The results revealed no significant differences between the two groups, dispelling the notion of a disciplinary rift in perspectives on extraterrestrial life.\n“Our results indicate that such generalizations cannot be empirically supported. Responses from physicists and biologists were not significantly different,” the researchers write in the study.\nImage credits: Peter Vickers et al (2025) \/ Nature.\nWhile the survey revealed strong agreement on the likelihood of basic extraterrestrial life, there’s something strange about the survey. Why do so many scientists believe something without any direct evidence? Isn’t everything in science based on evidence? Well, scientists are basing their beliefs on logical inferences, such as the sheer number of potentially habitable planets and the adaptability of life on Earth.\nIn fact, as the\nstudy authors emphasize\n, this is perhaps a\nweak\nconsensus given how many planets (and potentially habitable planets) there are out there.\n“Perhaps it is not, actually, a surprisingly strong consensus. Perhaps it is a surprisingly\nweak\nconsensus. Consider the numbers: there are more than 100 billion galaxies. And we know that habitable environments are everywhere.\n“Let’s say there are 100 billion billion\nhabitable worlds\n(planets or moons) in the universe. Suppose we are such pessimists that we think life’s chances of getting started on any given habitable world is one in a billion billion. In that case, we would still answer “agree” to the statement that it is likely that alien life exists in the universe.”\n“Thus, optimists and pessimists should all have answered “agree” or “strongly agree” to our survey, with only the most radical pessimists about the\norigin of life\ndisagreeing.”\nSo, where do you stand,\nZME Science\nreader? Are there any aliens out there? What about complex life?\nThe study\nwas published\nin Nature.","attrs_markdown":"[![ZME Science](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/zme-logo-small-1.webp)](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/)\n\nNo Result\n\nView All Result\n\n[![ZME Science](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/zme-logo-small-1.webp)](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/)\n\nAre aliens real? Here’s what the scientists think\n\n[Share](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/news-science\/scientists-believe-alien-life\/ \"Share this article\")\n\nShare this article\n\n[Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Fnews-science%2Fscientists-believe-alien-life%2F)\n\n[X](https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Are+aliens+real%3F+Here%E2%80%99s+what+the+scientists+think&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Fnews-science%2Fscientists-believe-alien-life%2F)\n\n[LinkedIn](https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/sharing\/share-offsite\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Fnews-science%2Fscientists-believe-alien-life%2F)\n\n[Reddit](https:\/\/reddit.com\/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Fnews-science%2Fscientists-believe-alien-life%2F&title=Are+aliens+real%3F+Here%E2%80%99s+what+the+scientists+think)\n\n[WhatsApp](https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=Are+aliens+real%3F+Here%E2%80%99s+what+the+scientists+think%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Fnews-science%2Fscientists-believe-alien-life%2F)\n\n[Flipboard](https:\/\/share.flipboard.com\/bookmarklet\/popout?v=2&title=Are+aliens+real%3F+Here%E2%80%99s+what+the+scientists+think&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Fnews-science%2Fscientists-believe-alien-life%2F)\n\n[Bluesky](https:\/\/bsky.app\/intent\/compose?text=Are+aliens+real%3F+Here%E2%80%99s+what+the+scientists+think%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Fnews-science%2Fscientists-believe-alien-life%2F)\n\n[Email](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%3A%20Are%20aliens%20real%3F%20Here%E2%80%99s%20what%20the%20scientists%20think&body=Are%20aliens%20real%3F%20Here%E2%80%99s%20what%20the%20scientists%20think%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Fnews-science%2Fscientists-believe-alien-life%2F)\n\n[Copy Link](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/news-science\/scientists-believe-alien-life\/)\n\n[Comments](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/news-science\/scientists-believe-alien-life\/#comments-anchor)\n\n[![](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/zme-logo-small-1.webp)![ZME Science](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/zme-logo-small-1.webp)](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/)\n\n[Home](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/) → [Science](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/) → [News](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/news-science\/)\n\n# Are aliens real? Here’s what the scientists think\nA groundbreaking survey in Nature Astronomy reveals a surprising consensus among scientists: the majority believe that alien life exists.\n\n![Mihai Andrei](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Andrei-Mihai-1024x1024-1-150x150.png)\n\n![Mihai Andrei](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Andrei-Mihai-1024x1024-1-150x150.png)\n\nby[Mihai Andrei](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/author\/osamik\/)\n\n[January 16, 2025](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/news-science\/scientists-believe-alien-life\/)\n\nin [Alien life](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/space\/alien-life-space\/), [Astronomy](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/space\/astronomy-space\/), [News](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/news-science\/)\n\nA A\n\nA\n\nA\n\nReset\n\nEdited and reviewed by [Tibi Puiu](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/author\/tibipuiu\/)\n\nWe’ve all thought about it. Are we really aliens out there, or are we all alone in the universe? Unsurprisingly, scientists think about it too. Now, a new survey published in *Nature Astronomy* analyzed what researchers believe. Turns out, if you ask the average scientist, they think aliens are very real. Most researchers even [think intelligent](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/medicine\/mind-and-brain\/thinking-without-language\/), advanced aliens are out there.\n\n[![](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Euclid_s_view_of_spiral_galaxy_IC_342_pillars-1024x576.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Euclid_s_view_of_spiral_galaxy_IC_342_pillars.jpg)\n\nThere are hundreds of billions of galaxies out there, each with countless planets. Image credits: ESA.\n\nIn 1964, George Gaylord Simpson famously remarked, “\\[astrobiology\\] has yet to demonstrate that its subject matter exists.” It’s a strange idea to think that what you’re studying may not even exist and yet, there isn’t any clear signs of [alien life](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/news-science\/hydrothermal-vents-discovered-oceans\/). But then again, we’ve only scraped the surface of our very own [solar system](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/astronomy\/ninth-planet-solar-system-21012016\/), let alone the vastness of intergalactic space.\n\nThat’s why a team led by Peter Vickers from Durham University set out to ask astrobiologists (and other researchers) what they think. Between February and June 2024, they surveyed over 1,700 scientists, asking them to weigh in on the likelihood of alien life. In total, 521 astrobiologists and 534 non-astrobiologists responded.\n\nRespondents were asked to agree or disagree with the existence of:\n\n1. **Basic Alien Life:** Simple life forms, like microorganisms, are likely to exist somewhere in the universe.\n2. **Complex Alien Life:** Larger, more intricate organisms likely exist.\n3. **Intelligent Alien Life:** Advanced beings with [cognitive abilities](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/feature-post\/can-you-raise-your-iq-score\/) comparable to humans are likely.\n\nWhen it came to basic life, the response was overwhelming. There’s essentially a consensus among researchers that basic alien life exists (both among astrobiologists and those studying different fields). Among astrobiologists, 86.6% agreed that basic [extraterrestrial life](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/space\/exoplanet-researcher-awarded-for-groundbreaking-work\/) is likely, with only 0.4% strongly disagreeing. Similarly, 88.4% of non-astrobiologists agreed, showing little difference between the groups.\n\nThis challenges a long-held assumption that astrobiologists, by virtue of their field, are more optimistic about extraterrestrial life than their peers. Non-astrobiologists seemed to be just as confident in the existence of life.\n\n“According to our results, the consensus of relevant experts — broadly construed — that extraterrestrial life (of at least a basic kind) exists, stands at 86.6%, with less than 2% disagreement. The significant proportion of ‘neutral’ votes (11.5%) is, however, revealing, and probably reflective of the lack of direct evidence supporting an agreement or disagreement vote.”\n\n## What about complex life?\nAs you’d expect, the agreement dropped when it came to complex life. For organisms beyond the microbial level, agreement dropped to 67.4% among astrobiologists. When asked about intelligent [extraterrestrial beings](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/feature-post\/culture\/books\/the-weirdest-book-in-the-world\/), only 58.2% of astrobiologists believed in their likelihood. While it’s still a majority, it suggests that researchers are more skeptical about the evolution of intelligence outside Earth.\n\n×\n\n## Get smarter every day...\nStay ahead with ZME Science and subscribe.\n\n## Thank you! One more thing...\nPlease check your inbox and confirm your subscription.\n\n### Related**Posts**\n[Massive Super Earths Could Have Powerful Magnetic Shields Thanks to Their Magma (and That’s Good for Life)](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/news-science\/super-earths-magma-magnetic-fields\/)\n\n[Declassified spy satellites discovered hundreds of unknown Roman forts](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/archaeology\/declassified-spy-satellites-discovered-hundreds-of-unknown-roman-forts\/)\n\n[Two Discoveries Hint That the Building Blocks of Life Form in Deep Space Long Before Planets Even Exist](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/space\/astronomy-space\/life-building-blocks-deep-space\/)\n\n[Bad News for Alien Hunters As Study Suggests Europa Is Geologically Quiet](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/space\/europa-seafloor-quiet-study-life\/)\n\nWhat was more surprising was how much physicists and biologists agreed. Physicists are often thought to emphasize the vastness of the universe and the statistical probability of life, while biologists focus on the [complexities of life](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/if-moores-law-applied-to-life-then-it-should-be-10bn-years-old-but-the-earth-is-4-5bn-years-old-hum\/) as we know it. The results revealed no significant differences between the two groups, dispelling the notion of a disciplinary rift in perspectives on extraterrestrial life.\n\n“Our results indicate that such generalizations cannot be empirically supported. Responses from physicists and biologists were not significantly different,” the researchers write in the study.\n\n[![PhysICists and biologists agree on the importance of life sciences in understanding complex and intelligent life forms.](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/do-aliens-exist-1024x725.png) ![PhysICists and biologists agree on the importance of life sciences in understanding complex and intelligent life forms.](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/do-aliens-exist-1024x725.png)](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/do-aliens-exist.png)\n\nImage credits: Peter Vickers et al (2025) \/ Nature.\n\nWhile the survey revealed strong agreement on the likelihood of basic extraterrestrial life, there’s something strange about the survey. Why do so many scientists believe something without any direct evidence? Isn’t everything in science based on evidence? Well, scientists are basing their beliefs on logical inferences, such as the sheer number of potentially habitable planets and the adaptability of life on Earth.\n\nIn fact, as the [study authors emphasize](https:\/\/theconversation.com\/do-aliens-exist-we-studied-what-scientists-really-think-241505), this is perhaps a *weak* consensus given how many planets (and potentially habitable planets) there are out there.\n\n> “Perhaps it is not, actually, a surprisingly strong consensus. Perhaps it is a surprisingly *weak* consensus. Consider the numbers: there are more than 100 billion galaxies. And we know that habitable environments are everywhere.\n> \n> “Let’s say there are 100 billion billion [habitable worlds](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/there-could-be-many-more-planets-with-water-than-we-first-thought-09092022\/) (planets or moons) in the universe. Suppose we are such pessimists that we think life’s chances of getting started on any given habitable world is one in a billion billion. In that case, we would still answer “agree” to the statement that it is likely that alien life exists in the universe.”\n> \n> “Thus, optimists and pessimists should all have answered “agree” or “strongly agree” to our survey, with only the most radical pessimists about the [origin of life](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/peptide-formation-cosmic-dust-264334\/) disagreeing.”\n> \n> So, where do you stand, *ZME Science* reader? Are there any aliens out there? What about complex life?\n> \n> Loading…\n> \n> Loading…\n\nThe study [was published](https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41550-024-02451-0) in Nature.\n\n[![Add ZME Science as a preferred source on Google Search](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Preferred_source_publisher_butto.width-1000.format-webp.webp) ![Add ZME Science as a preferred source on Google Search](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Preferred_source_publisher_butto.width-1000.format-webp.webp)](https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.zmescience.com)\n\n[![Follow ZME Science on Google News](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3128386d62367110cebacf04b3d00b3e1738087212514.png)![Follow ZME Science on Google News](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3128386d62367110cebacf04b3d00b3e1738087212514.png)](https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqKQgKIiNDQklTRkFnTWFoQUtEbnB0WlhOamFXVnVZMlV1WTI5dEtBQVAB?hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US%3Aen)\n\nTags: [aliens](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/tag\/aliens\/)[astrobiology](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/tag\/astrobiology\/)[extraterrestrial life](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/tag\/extraterrestrial-life\/)[intelligent life](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/tag\/intelligent-life\/)[intergalactic life](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/tag\/intergalactic-life\/)[life on other planets](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/tag\/life-on-other-planets\/)[Nature Astronomy](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/tag\/nature-astronomy\/)[Peter Vickers](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/tag\/peter-vickers\/)[science consensus](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/tag\/science-consensus\/)[survey](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/tag\/survey\/)\n\n![Mihai Andrei](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Andrei-Mihai-1024x1024-1-150x150.png)\n\n![Mihai Andrei](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Andrei-Mihai-1024x1024-1-150x150.png)\n\n### [Mihai Andrei](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/author\/osamik\/)\nDr. Andrei Mihai is a geophysicist and founder of ZME Science. He has a Ph.D. in geophysics and archaeology and has completed courses from prestigious universities (with programs ranging from climate and astronomy to chemistry and geology). He is passionate about making research more accessible to everyone and communicating news and features to a broad audience.\n\n### Related **Posts**\n[![Microbial cell attached to a surface, SEM image.](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/19381e47ed2ccd5bc4634ce146f2af75790d9f2f-350x250.jpg) ![Microbial cell attached to a surface, SEM image.](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/19381e47ed2ccd5bc4634ce146f2af75790d9f2f-350x250.jpg)](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/biology\/sperm-get-lost-in-space-and-making-space-babies-isnt-going-to-be-easy\/)\n\n[Biology](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/biology\/)\n\n### [Sperm Get Lost In Space, and Making Space Babies Isn’t Going to be Easy](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/biology\/sperm-get-lost-in-space-and-making-space-babies-isnt-going-to-be-easy\/)\nby[Tudor Tarita](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/author\/tudor\/)\n\n[6 days ago](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/biology\/sperm-get-lost-in-space-and-making-space-babies-isnt-going-to-be-easy\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/162173ryugu2-10-350x250.jpg) ![](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/162173ryugu2-10-350x250.jpg)](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/news-science\/ryugu-asteroid-dna-rna-bases\/)\n\n[Chemistry](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/chemistry\/)\n\n### [Asteroid Ryugu Contains the Fundamental Building Blocks of Life](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/news-science\/ryugu-asteroid-dna-rna-bases\/)\nby[Mihai Andrei](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/author\/osamik\/)\n\n[3 weeks ago](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/news-science\/ryugu-asteroid-dna-rna-bases\/)\n\n[![Fine ground cinnamon spice on white background, healthy food ingredient, culinary use, ZME Science.](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Martian_regolith_simulant_-_pile-350x250.jpg) ![Fine ground cinnamon spice on white background, healthy food ingredient, culinary use, ZME Science.](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Martian_regolith_simulant_-_pile-350x250.jpg)](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/news-science\/mars-infrastructure-regolith-bacteria\/)\n\n[News](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/news-science\/)\n\n### [Scientists Want to Build Martian Homes Using Living Bacteria and Astronaut Urine](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/news-science\/mars-infrastructure-regolith-bacteria\/)\nby[Mihai Andrei](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/author\/osamik\/)\n\n[3 weeks ago](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/news-science\/mars-infrastructure-regolith-bacteria\/)\n\n[![Inside a spacecraft with scientific instruments and equipment for space research.](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/butterfly-chrysalis-tiangong-space-350x250.webp) ![Inside a spacecraft with scientific instruments and equipment for space research.](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/butterfly-chrysalis-tiangong-space-350x250.webp)](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/ecology\/animals-ecology\/butterfly-completes-its-entire-metamorphosis-while-orbiting-earth-on-chinese-experiment\/)\n\n[Animals](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/ecology\/animals-ecology\/)\n\n### [Butterfly Completes Its Entire Metamorphosis While Orbiting Earth on Chinese Experiment](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/ecology\/animals-ecology\/butterfly-completes-its-entire-metamorphosis-while-orbiting-earth-on-chinese-experiment\/)\nby[Tudor Tarita](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/author\/tudor\/)\n\n[2 months ago](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/ecology\/animals-ecology\/butterfly-completes-its-entire-metamorphosis-while-orbiting-earth-on-chinese-experiment\/)\n\n### Recent news\n[![Vape juice bottle with cartoon cat design, emitting vapor, scientific and modern vaping technology.](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/andandand0017_httpss.mj_.run0VhBgzUqwiA_put_this_inside_a_vape_3e917fcd-824a-4ebc-bcb1-da49398a7a77_0-120x86.png) ![Vape juice bottle with cartoon cat design, emitting vapor, scientific and modern vaping technology.](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/andandand0017_httpss.mj_.run0VhBgzUqwiA_put_this_inside_a_vape_3e917fcd-824a-4ebc-bcb1-da49398a7a77_0-120x86.png)](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/news-science\/yes-vaping-can-likely-cause-cancer-heres-the-science-behind-that\/)\n\n### [Yes, Vaping Can Likely Cause Cancer. Here’s the Science Behind That](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/news-science\/yes-vaping-can-likely-cause-cancer-heres-the-science-behind-that\/)\nApril 4, 2026 - Updated on April 5, 2026\n\n[![School of fish swimming underwater in a deep ocean setting.](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/andandand0017_Underwater_scene_off_the_cold_coast_of_Norway_a_75cfc28c-1a19-458d-98e8-877073bea07c_3-120x86.png) ![School of fish swimming underwater in a deep ocean setting.](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/andandand0017_Underwater_scene_off_the_cold_coast_of_Norway_a_75cfc28c-1a19-458d-98e8-877073bea07c_3-120x86.png)](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/news-science\/largest-predation-event-ever-10-million-fish\/)\n\n### [More than 10 million fish devoured in just a few hours. It’s the world’s largest predation event](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/news-science\/largest-predation-event-ever-10-million-fish\/)\nApril 3, 2026\n\n[![](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/japan-osmosis-42343-120x86.jpg) ![](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/japan-osmosis-42343-120x86.jpg)](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/ecology\/japan-first-osmotic-power-plantss\/)\n\n### [Japan Just Switched on Asia’s First Osmotic Power Plant, Which Runs 24\/7 on Nothing But Fresh Water and Seawater](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/ecology\/japan-first-osmotic-power-plantss\/)\nApril 3, 2026\n\n- [About](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/about \"About ZME Science\")\n- [Advertise](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/advertise\/ \"Advertise on ZME Science\")\n- [Editorial Policy](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/editorial-policy\/)\n- [Privacy Policy and Terms of Use](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/privacy-policy\/)\n- [How we review products](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/product-review-policy\/)\n- [Contact](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/contact \"Contact information for ZME Science\")\n\n© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. 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All Rights Reserved.\n\nShare\n\nSHARE THIS ARTICLE\n\n×\n\n[Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Fnews-science%2Fscientists-believe-alien-life%2F)\n\n[X (Twitter)](https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Fnews-science%2Fscientists-believe-alien-life%2F&text=Are%20aliens%20real%3F%20Here%26%238217%3Bs%20what%20the%20scientists%20think)\n\n[LinkedIn](https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/sharing\/share-offsite\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Fnews-science%2Fscientists-believe-alien-life%2F)\n\n[Reddit](https:\/\/reddit.com\/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Fnews-science%2Fscientists-believe-alien-life%2F&title=Are%20aliens%20real%3F%20Here%26%238217%3Bs%20what%20the%20scientists%20think)\n\n[WhatsApp](https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=Are%20aliens%20real%3F%20Here%26%238217%3Bs%20what%20the%20scientists%20think%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Fnews-science%2Fscientists-believe-alien-life%2F)\n\n[Flipboard](https:\/\/share.flipboard.com\/bookmarklet\/popout?v=2&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Fnews-science%2Fscientists-believe-alien-life%2F&title=Are%20aliens%20real%3F%20Here%26%238217%3Bs%20what%20the%20scientists%20think)\n\n[Bluesky](https:\/\/bsky.app\/intent\/compose?text=Are%20aliens%20real%3F%20Here%26%238217%3Bs%20what%20the%20scientists%20think%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Fnews-science%2Fscientists-believe-alien-life%2F)\n\n[Email](mailto:?subject=Are%20aliens%20real%3F%20Here%26%238217%3Bs%20what%20the%20scientists%20think&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Fnews-science%2Fscientists-believe-alien-life%2F)\n\n[Copy Link](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/news-science\/scientists-believe-alien-life\/)\n\n[Comments](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/news-science\/scientists-believe-alien-life\/#comments-anchor)","attrs_readable_markdown":"We’ve all thought about it. Are we really aliens out there, or are we all alone in the universe? Unsurprisingly, scientists think about it too. Now, a new survey published in *Nature Astronomy* analyzed what researchers believe. Turns out, if you ask the average scientist, they think aliens are very real. Most researchers even [think intelligent](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/medicine\/mind-and-brain\/thinking-without-language\/), advanced aliens are out there.\n\n[![](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Euclid_s_view_of_spiral_galaxy_IC_342_pillars-1024x576.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Euclid_s_view_of_spiral_galaxy_IC_342_pillars.jpg)\n\nThere are hundreds of billions of galaxies out there, each with countless planets. Image credits: ESA.\n\nIn 1964, George Gaylord Simpson famously remarked, “\\[astrobiology\\] has yet to demonstrate that its subject matter exists.” It’s a strange idea to think that what you’re studying may not even exist and yet, there isn’t any clear signs of [alien life](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/news-science\/hydrothermal-vents-discovered-oceans\/). But then again, we’ve only scraped the surface of our very own [solar system](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/astronomy\/ninth-planet-solar-system-21012016\/), let alone the vastness of intergalactic space.\n\nThat’s why a team led by Peter Vickers from Durham University set out to ask astrobiologists (and other researchers) what they think. Between February and June 2024, they surveyed over 1,700 scientists, asking them to weigh in on the likelihood of alien life. In total, 521 astrobiologists and 534 non-astrobiologists responded.\n\nRespondents were asked to agree or disagree with the existence of:\n\n1. **Basic Alien Life:** Simple life forms, like microorganisms, are likely to exist somewhere in the universe.\n2. **Complex Alien Life:** Larger, more intricate organisms likely exist.\n3. **Intelligent Alien Life:** Advanced beings with [cognitive abilities](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/feature-post\/can-you-raise-your-iq-score\/) comparable to humans are likely.\n\nWhen it came to basic life, the response was overwhelming. There’s essentially a consensus among researchers that basic alien life exists (both among astrobiologists and those studying different fields). Among astrobiologists, 86.6% agreed that basic [extraterrestrial life](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/space\/exoplanet-researcher-awarded-for-groundbreaking-work\/) is likely, with only 0.4% strongly disagreeing. Similarly, 88.4% of non-astrobiologists agreed, showing little difference between the groups.\n\nThis challenges a long-held assumption that astrobiologists, by virtue of their field, are more optimistic about extraterrestrial life than their peers. Non-astrobiologists seemed to be just as confident in the existence of life.\n\n“According to our results, the consensus of relevant experts — broadly construed — that extraterrestrial life (of at least a basic kind) exists, stands at 86.6%, with less than 2% disagreement. The significant proportion of ‘neutral’ votes (11.5%) is, however, revealing, and probably reflective of the lack of direct evidence supporting an agreement or disagreement vote.”\n\n## What about complex life?\nAs you’d expect, the agreement dropped when it came to complex life. For organisms beyond the microbial level, agreement dropped to 67.4% among astrobiologists. When asked about intelligent [extraterrestrial beings](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/feature-post\/culture\/books\/the-weirdest-book-in-the-world\/), only 58.2% of astrobiologists believed in their likelihood. While it’s still a majority, it suggests that researchers are more skeptical about the evolution of intelligence outside Earth.\n\n×\n\nWhat was more surprising was how much physicists and biologists agreed. Physicists are often thought to emphasize the vastness of the universe and the statistical probability of life, while biologists focus on the [complexities of life](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/if-moores-law-applied-to-life-then-it-should-be-10bn-years-old-but-the-earth-is-4-5bn-years-old-hum\/) as we know it. The results revealed no significant differences between the two groups, dispelling the notion of a disciplinary rift in perspectives on extraterrestrial life.\n\n“Our results indicate that such generalizations cannot be empirically supported. Responses from physicists and biologists were not significantly different,” the researchers write in the study.\n\n[![PhysICists and biologists agree on the importance of life sciences in understanding complex and intelligent life forms.](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/do-aliens-exist-1024x725.png)](https:\/\/cdn.zmescience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/do-aliens-exist.png)\n\nImage credits: Peter Vickers et al (2025) \/ Nature.\n\nWhile the survey revealed strong agreement on the likelihood of basic extraterrestrial life, there’s something strange about the survey. Why do so many scientists believe something without any direct evidence? Isn’t everything in science based on evidence? Well, scientists are basing their beliefs on logical inferences, such as the sheer number of potentially habitable planets and the adaptability of life on Earth.\n\nIn fact, as the [study authors emphasize](https:\/\/theconversation.com\/do-aliens-exist-we-studied-what-scientists-really-think-241505), this is perhaps a *weak* consensus given how many planets (and potentially habitable planets) there are out there.\n\n> “Perhaps it is not, actually, a surprisingly strong consensus. Perhaps it is a surprisingly *weak* consensus. Consider the numbers: there are more than 100 billion galaxies. And we know that habitable environments are everywhere.\n> \n> “Let’s say there are 100 billion billion [habitable worlds](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/there-could-be-many-more-planets-with-water-than-we-first-thought-09092022\/) (planets or moons) in the universe. Suppose we are such pessimists that we think life’s chances of getting started on any given habitable world is one in a billion billion. In that case, we would still answer “agree” to the statement that it is likely that alien life exists in the universe.”\n> \n> “Thus, optimists and pessimists should all have answered “agree” or “strongly agree” to our survey, with only the most radical pessimists about the [origin of life](https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/science\/peptide-formation-cosmic-dust-264334\/) disagreeing.”\n> \n> So, where do you stand, *ZME Science* reader? Are there any aliens out there? What about complex life?\n\nThe study [was published](https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41550-024-02451-0) in Nature.","meta_canonical":null}

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Boilerpipe Text	We’ve all thought about it. Are we really aliens out there, or are we all alone in the universe? Unsurprisingly, scientists think about it too. Now, a new survey published in Nature Astronomy analyzed what researchers believe. Turns out, if you ask the average scientist, they think aliens are very real. Most researchers even think intelligent , advanced aliens are out there. There are hundreds of billions of galaxies out there, each with countless planets. Image credits: ESA. In 1964, George Gaylord Simpson famously remarked, “[astrobiology] has yet to demonstrate that its subject matter exists.” It’s a strange idea to think that what you’re studying may not even exist and yet, there isn’t any clear signs of alien life . But then again, we’ve only scraped the surface of our very own solar system , let alone the vastness of intergalactic space. That’s why a team led by Peter Vickers from Durham University set out to ask astrobiologists (and other researchers) what they think. Between February and June 2024, they surveyed over 1,700 scientists, asking them to weigh in on the likelihood of alien life. In total, 521 astrobiologists and 534 non-astrobiologists responded. Respondents were asked to agree or disagree with the existence of: Basic Alien Life: Simple life forms, like microorganisms, are likely to exist somewhere in the universe. Complex Alien Life: Larger, more intricate organisms likely exist. Intelligent Alien Life: Advanced beings with cognitive abilities comparable to humans are likely. When it came to basic life, the response was overwhelming. There’s essentially a consensus among researchers that basic alien life exists (both among astrobiologists and those studying different fields). Among astrobiologists, 86.6% agreed that basic extraterrestrial life is likely, with only 0.4% strongly disagreeing. Similarly, 88.4% of non-astrobiologists agreed, showing little difference between the groups. This challenges a long-held assumption that astrobiologists, by virtue of their field, are more optimistic about extraterrestrial life than their peers. Non-astrobiologists seemed to be just as confident in the existence of life. “According to our results, the consensus of relevant experts — broadly construed — that extraterrestrial life (of at least a basic kind) exists, stands at 86.6%, with less than 2% disagreement. The significant proportion of ‘neutral’ votes (11.5%) is, however, revealing, and probably reflective of the lack of direct evidence supporting an agreement or disagreement vote.” What about complex life? As you’d expect, the agreement dropped when it came to complex life. For organisms beyond the microbial level, agreement dropped to 67.4% among astrobiologists. When asked about intelligent extraterrestrial beings , only 58.2% of astrobiologists believed in their likelihood. While it’s still a majority, it suggests that researchers are more skeptical about the evolution of intelligence outside Earth. × What was more surprising was how much physicists and biologists agreed. Physicists are often thought to emphasize the vastness of the universe and the statistical probability of life, while biologists focus on the complexities of life as we know it. The results revealed no significant differences between the two groups, dispelling the notion of a disciplinary rift in perspectives on extraterrestrial life. “Our results indicate that such generalizations cannot be empirically supported. Responses from physicists and biologists were not significantly different,” the researchers write in the study. Image credits: Peter Vickers et al (2025) / Nature. While the survey revealed strong agreement on the likelihood of basic extraterrestrial life, there’s something strange about the survey. Why do so many scientists believe something without any direct evidence? Isn’t everything in science based on evidence? Well, scientists are basing their beliefs on logical inferences, such as the sheer number of potentially habitable planets and the adaptability of life on Earth. In fact, as the study authors emphasize , this is perhaps a weak consensus given how many planets (and potentially habitable planets) there are out there. “Perhaps it is not, actually, a surprisingly strong consensus. Perhaps it is a surprisingly weak consensus. Consider the numbers: there are more than 100 billion galaxies. And we know that habitable environments are everywhere. “Let’s say there are 100 billion billion habitable worlds (planets or moons) in the universe. Suppose we are such pessimists that we think life’s chances of getting started on any given habitable world is one in a billion billion. In that case, we would still answer “agree” to the statement that it is likely that alien life exists in the universe.” “Thus, optimists and pessimists should all have answered “agree” or “strongly agree” to our survey, with only the most radical pessimists about the origin of life disagreeing.” So, where do you stand, ZME Science reader? Are there any aliens out there? What about complex life? The study was published in Nature.
Markdown	[![ZME Science](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/zme-logo-small-1.webp)](https://www.zmescience.com/) No Result View All Result [![ZME Science](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/zme-logo-small-1.webp)](https://www.zmescience.com/) Are aliens real? Here’s what the scientists think [Share](https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/scientists-believe-alien-life/ "Share this article") Share this article [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Fnews-science%2Fscientists-believe-alien-life%2F) [X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Are+aliens+real%3F+Here%E2%80%99s+what+the+scientists+think&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Fnews-science%2Fscientists-believe-alien-life%2F) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Fnews-science%2Fscientists-believe-alien-life%2F) [Reddit](https://reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Fnews-science%2Fscientists-believe-alien-life%2F&title=Are+aliens+real%3F+Here%E2%80%99s+what+the+scientists+think) [WhatsApp](https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=Are+aliens+real%3F+Here%E2%80%99s+what+the+scientists+think%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Fnews-science%2Fscientists-believe-alien-life%2F) [Flipboard](https://share.flipboard.com/bookmarklet/popout?v=2&title=Are+aliens+real%3F+Here%E2%80%99s+what+the+scientists+think&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Fnews-science%2Fscientists-believe-alien-life%2F) [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Are+aliens+real%3F+Here%E2%80%99s+what+the+scientists+think%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Fnews-science%2Fscientists-believe-alien-life%2F) [Email](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%3A%20Are%20aliens%20real%3F%20Here%E2%80%99s%20what%20the%20scientists%20think&body=Are%20aliens%20real%3F%20Here%E2%80%99s%20what%20the%20scientists%20think%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.zmescience.com%2Fscience%2Fnews-science%2Fscientists-believe-alien-life%2F) [Copy Link](https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/scientists-believe-alien-life/) [Comments](https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/scientists-believe-alien-life/#comments-anchor) [![](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/zme-logo-small-1.webp)![ZME Science](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/zme-logo-small-1.webp)](https://www.zmescience.com/) [Home](https://www.zmescience.com/) → [Science](https://www.zmescience.com/science/) → [News](https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/) # Are aliens real? Here’s what the scientists think A groundbreaking survey in Nature Astronomy reveals a surprising consensus among scientists: the majority believe that alien life exists. ![Mihai Andrei](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Andrei-Mihai-1024x1024-1-150x150.png) ![Mihai Andrei](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Andrei-Mihai-1024x1024-1-150x150.png) by[Mihai Andrei](https://www.zmescience.com/author/osamik/) [January 16, 2025](https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/scientists-believe-alien-life/) in [Alien life](https://www.zmescience.com/space/alien-life-space/), [Astronomy](https://www.zmescience.com/space/astronomy-space/), [News](https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/) A A A A Reset Edited and reviewed by [Tibi Puiu](https://www.zmescience.com/author/tibipuiu/) We’ve all thought about it. Are we really aliens out there, or are we all alone in the universe? Unsurprisingly, scientists think about it too. Now, a new survey published in Nature Astronomy analyzed what researchers believe. Turns out, if you ask the average scientist, they think aliens are very real. Most researchers even [think intelligent](https://www.zmescience.com/medicine/mind-and-brain/thinking-without-language/), advanced aliens are out there. [![](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Euclid_s_view_of_spiral_galaxy_IC_342_pillars-1024x576.jpg)](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Euclid_s_view_of_spiral_galaxy_IC_342_pillars.jpg) There are hundreds of billions of galaxies out there, each with countless planets. Image credits: ESA. In 1964, George Gaylord Simpson famously remarked, “\[astrobiology\] has yet to demonstrate that its subject matter exists.” It’s a strange idea to think that what you’re studying may not even exist and yet, there isn’t any clear signs of [alien life](https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/hydrothermal-vents-discovered-oceans/). But then again, we’ve only scraped the surface of our very own [solar system](https://www.zmescience.com/science/astronomy/ninth-planet-solar-system-21012016/), let alone the vastness of intergalactic space. That’s why a team led by Peter Vickers from Durham University set out to ask astrobiologists (and other researchers) what they think. Between February and June 2024, they surveyed over 1,700 scientists, asking them to weigh in on the likelihood of alien life. In total, 521 astrobiologists and 534 non-astrobiologists responded. Respondents were asked to agree or disagree with the existence of: 1. Basic Alien Life: Simple life forms, like microorganisms, are likely to exist somewhere in the universe. 2. Complex Alien Life: Larger, more intricate organisms likely exist. 3. Intelligent Alien Life: Advanced beings with [cognitive abilities](https://www.zmescience.com/feature-post/can-you-raise-your-iq-score/) comparable to humans are likely. When it came to basic life, the response was overwhelming. There’s essentially a consensus among researchers that basic alien life exists (both among astrobiologists and those studying different fields). Among astrobiologists, 86.6% agreed that basic [extraterrestrial life](https://www.zmescience.com/space/exoplanet-researcher-awarded-for-groundbreaking-work/) is likely, with only 0.4% strongly disagreeing. Similarly, 88.4% of non-astrobiologists agreed, showing little difference between the groups. This challenges a long-held assumption that astrobiologists, by virtue of their field, are more optimistic about extraterrestrial life than their peers. Non-astrobiologists seemed to be just as confident in the existence of life. “According to our results, the consensus of relevant experts — broadly construed — that extraterrestrial life (of at least a basic kind) exists, stands at 86.6%, with less than 2% disagreement. The significant proportion of ‘neutral’ votes (11.5%) is, however, revealing, and probably reflective of the lack of direct evidence supporting an agreement or disagreement vote.” ## What about complex life? As you’d expect, the agreement dropped when it came to complex life. For organisms beyond the microbial level, agreement dropped to 67.4% among astrobiologists. When asked about intelligent [extraterrestrial beings](https://www.zmescience.com/feature-post/culture/books/the-weirdest-book-in-the-world/), only 58.2% of astrobiologists believed in their likelihood. While it’s still a majority, it suggests that researchers are more skeptical about the evolution of intelligence outside Earth. × ## Get smarter every day... Stay ahead with ZME Science and subscribe. ## Thank you! One more thing... Please check your inbox and confirm your subscription. ### RelatedPosts [Massive Super Earths Could Have Powerful Magnetic Shields Thanks to Their Magma (and That’s Good for Life)](https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/super-earths-magma-magnetic-fields/) [Declassified spy satellites discovered hundreds of unknown Roman forts](https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/declassified-spy-satellites-discovered-hundreds-of-unknown-roman-forts/) [Two Discoveries Hint That the Building Blocks of Life Form in Deep Space Long Before Planets Even Exist](https://www.zmescience.com/space/astronomy-space/life-building-blocks-deep-space/) [Bad News for Alien Hunters As Study Suggests Europa Is Geologically Quiet](https://www.zmescience.com/space/europa-seafloor-quiet-study-life/) What was more surprising was how much physicists and biologists agreed. Physicists are often thought to emphasize the vastness of the universe and the statistical probability of life, while biologists focus on the [complexities of life](https://www.zmescience.com/science/if-moores-law-applied-to-life-then-it-should-be-10bn-years-old-but-the-earth-is-4-5bn-years-old-hum/) as we know it. The results revealed no significant differences between the two groups, dispelling the notion of a disciplinary rift in perspectives on extraterrestrial life. “Our results indicate that such generalizations cannot be empirically supported. Responses from physicists and biologists were not significantly different,” the researchers write in the study. [![PhysICists and biologists agree on the importance of life sciences in understanding complex and intelligent life forms.](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/do-aliens-exist-1024x725.png) ![PhysICists and biologists agree on the importance of life sciences in understanding complex and intelligent life forms.](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/do-aliens-exist-1024x725.png)](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/do-aliens-exist.png) Image credits: Peter Vickers et al (2025) / Nature. While the survey revealed strong agreement on the likelihood of basic extraterrestrial life, there’s something strange about the survey. Why do so many scientists believe something without any direct evidence? Isn’t everything in science based on evidence? Well, scientists are basing their beliefs on logical inferences, such as the sheer number of potentially habitable planets and the adaptability of life on Earth. In fact, as the [study authors emphasize](https://theconversation.com/do-aliens-exist-we-studied-what-scientists-really-think-241505), this is perhaps a weak consensus given how many planets (and potentially habitable planets) there are out there. > “Perhaps it is not, actually, a surprisingly strong consensus. Perhaps it is a surprisingly weak consensus. Consider the numbers: there are more than 100 billion galaxies. And we know that habitable environments are everywhere. > > “Let’s say there are 100 billion billion [habitable worlds](https://www.zmescience.com/science/there-could-be-many-more-planets-with-water-than-we-first-thought-09092022/) (planets or moons) in the universe. Suppose we are such pessimists that we think life’s chances of getting started on any given habitable world is one in a billion billion. In that case, we would still answer “agree” to the statement that it is likely that alien life exists in the universe.” > > “Thus, optimists and pessimists should all have answered “agree” or “strongly agree” to our survey, with only the most radical pessimists about the [origin of life](https://www.zmescience.com/science/peptide-formation-cosmic-dust-264334/) disagreeing.” > > So, where do you stand, ZME Science reader? Are there any aliens out there? What about complex life? > > Loading… > > Loading… The study [was published](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-024-02451-0) in Nature. [![Add ZME Science as a preferred source on Google Search](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Preferred_source_publisher_butto.width-1000.format-webp.webp) ![Add ZME Science as a preferred source on Google Search](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Preferred_source_publisher_butto.width-1000.format-webp.webp)](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=https://www.zmescience.com) [![Follow ZME Science on Google News](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/3128386d62367110cebacf04b3d00b3e1738087212514.png)![Follow ZME Science on Google News](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/3128386d62367110cebacf04b3d00b3e1738087212514.png)](https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqKQgKIiNDQklTRkFnTWFoQUtEbnB0WlhOamFXVnVZMlV1WTI5dEtBQVAB?hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US%3Aen) Tags: [aliens](https://www.zmescience.com/tag/aliens/)[astrobiology](https://www.zmescience.com/tag/astrobiology/)[extraterrestrial life](https://www.zmescience.com/tag/extraterrestrial-life/)[intelligent life](https://www.zmescience.com/tag/intelligent-life/)[intergalactic life](https://www.zmescience.com/tag/intergalactic-life/)[life on other planets](https://www.zmescience.com/tag/life-on-other-planets/)[Nature Astronomy](https://www.zmescience.com/tag/nature-astronomy/)[Peter Vickers](https://www.zmescience.com/tag/peter-vickers/)[science consensus](https://www.zmescience.com/tag/science-consensus/)[survey](https://www.zmescience.com/tag/survey/) ![Mihai Andrei](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Andrei-Mihai-1024x1024-1-150x150.png) ![Mihai Andrei](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Andrei-Mihai-1024x1024-1-150x150.png) ### [Mihai Andrei](https://www.zmescience.com/author/osamik/) Dr. Andrei Mihai is a geophysicist and founder of ZME Science. He has a Ph.D. in geophysics and archaeology and has completed courses from prestigious universities (with programs ranging from climate and astronomy to chemistry and geology). He is passionate about making research more accessible to everyone and communicating news and features to a broad audience. ### Related Posts [![Microbial cell attached to a surface, SEM image.](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/19381e47ed2ccd5bc4634ce146f2af75790d9f2f-350x250.jpg) ![Microbial cell attached to a surface, SEM image.](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/19381e47ed2ccd5bc4634ce146f2af75790d9f2f-350x250.jpg)](https://www.zmescience.com/science/biology/sperm-get-lost-in-space-and-making-space-babies-isnt-going-to-be-easy/) [Biology](https://www.zmescience.com/science/biology/) ### [Sperm Get Lost In Space, and Making Space Babies Isn’t Going to be Easy](https://www.zmescience.com/science/biology/sperm-get-lost-in-space-and-making-space-babies-isnt-going-to-be-easy/) by[Tudor Tarita](https://www.zmescience.com/author/tudor/) [6 days ago](https://www.zmescience.com/science/biology/sperm-get-lost-in-space-and-making-space-babies-isnt-going-to-be-easy/) [![](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/162173ryugu2-10-350x250.jpg) ![](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/162173ryugu2-10-350x250.jpg)](https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/ryugu-asteroid-dna-rna-bases/) [Chemistry](https://www.zmescience.com/science/chemistry/) ### [Asteroid Ryugu Contains the Fundamental Building Blocks of Life](https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/ryugu-asteroid-dna-rna-bases/) by[Mihai Andrei](https://www.zmescience.com/author/osamik/) [3 weeks ago](https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/ryugu-asteroid-dna-rna-bases/) [![Fine ground cinnamon spice on white background, healthy food ingredient, culinary use, ZME Science.](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Martian_regolith_simulant_-_pile-350x250.jpg) ![Fine ground cinnamon spice on white background, healthy food ingredient, culinary use, ZME Science.](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Martian_regolith_simulant_-_pile-350x250.jpg)](https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/mars-infrastructure-regolith-bacteria/) [News](https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/) ### [Scientists Want to Build Martian Homes Using Living Bacteria and Astronaut Urine](https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/mars-infrastructure-regolith-bacteria/) by[Mihai Andrei](https://www.zmescience.com/author/osamik/) [3 weeks ago](https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/mars-infrastructure-regolith-bacteria/) [![Inside a spacecraft with scientific instruments and equipment for space research.](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/butterfly-chrysalis-tiangong-space-350x250.webp) ![Inside a spacecraft with scientific instruments and equipment for space research.](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/butterfly-chrysalis-tiangong-space-350x250.webp)](https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/butterfly-completes-its-entire-metamorphosis-while-orbiting-earth-on-chinese-experiment/) [Animals](https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/) ### [Butterfly Completes Its Entire Metamorphosis While Orbiting Earth on Chinese Experiment](https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/butterfly-completes-its-entire-metamorphosis-while-orbiting-earth-on-chinese-experiment/) by[Tudor Tarita](https://www.zmescience.com/author/tudor/) [2 months ago](https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/butterfly-completes-its-entire-metamorphosis-while-orbiting-earth-on-chinese-experiment/) ### Recent news [![Vape juice bottle with cartoon cat design, emitting vapor, scientific and modern vaping technology.](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/andandand0017_httpss.mj_.run0VhBgzUqwiA_put_this_inside_a_vape_3e917fcd-824a-4ebc-bcb1-da49398a7a77_0-120x86.png) ![Vape juice bottle with cartoon cat design, emitting vapor, scientific and modern vaping technology.](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/andandand0017_httpss.mj_.run0VhBgzUqwiA_put_this_inside_a_vape_3e917fcd-824a-4ebc-bcb1-da49398a7a77_0-120x86.png)](https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/yes-vaping-can-likely-cause-cancer-heres-the-science-behind-that/) ### [Yes, Vaping Can Likely Cause Cancer. 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Readable Markdown	We’ve all thought about it. Are we really aliens out there, or are we all alone in the universe? Unsurprisingly, scientists think about it too. Now, a new survey published in Nature Astronomy analyzed what researchers believe. Turns out, if you ask the average scientist, they think aliens are very real. Most researchers even [think intelligent](https://www.zmescience.com/medicine/mind-and-brain/thinking-without-language/), advanced aliens are out there. [![](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Euclid_s_view_of_spiral_galaxy_IC_342_pillars-1024x576.jpg)](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Euclid_s_view_of_spiral_galaxy_IC_342_pillars.jpg) There are hundreds of billions of galaxies out there, each with countless planets. Image credits: ESA. In 1964, George Gaylord Simpson famously remarked, “\[astrobiology\] has yet to demonstrate that its subject matter exists.” It’s a strange idea to think that what you’re studying may not even exist and yet, there isn’t any clear signs of [alien life](https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/hydrothermal-vents-discovered-oceans/). But then again, we’ve only scraped the surface of our very own [solar system](https://www.zmescience.com/science/astronomy/ninth-planet-solar-system-21012016/), let alone the vastness of intergalactic space. That’s why a team led by Peter Vickers from Durham University set out to ask astrobiologists (and other researchers) what they think. Between February and June 2024, they surveyed over 1,700 scientists, asking them to weigh in on the likelihood of alien life. In total, 521 astrobiologists and 534 non-astrobiologists responded. Respondents were asked to agree or disagree with the existence of: 1. Basic Alien Life: Simple life forms, like microorganisms, are likely to exist somewhere in the universe. 2. Complex Alien Life: Larger, more intricate organisms likely exist. 3. Intelligent Alien Life: Advanced beings with [cognitive abilities](https://www.zmescience.com/feature-post/can-you-raise-your-iq-score/) comparable to humans are likely. When it came to basic life, the response was overwhelming. There’s essentially a consensus among researchers that basic alien life exists (both among astrobiologists and those studying different fields). Among astrobiologists, 86.6% agreed that basic [extraterrestrial life](https://www.zmescience.com/space/exoplanet-researcher-awarded-for-groundbreaking-work/) is likely, with only 0.4% strongly disagreeing. Similarly, 88.4% of non-astrobiologists agreed, showing little difference between the groups. This challenges a long-held assumption that astrobiologists, by virtue of their field, are more optimistic about extraterrestrial life than their peers. Non-astrobiologists seemed to be just as confident in the existence of life. “According to our results, the consensus of relevant experts — broadly construed — that extraterrestrial life (of at least a basic kind) exists, stands at 86.6%, with less than 2% disagreement. The significant proportion of ‘neutral’ votes (11.5%) is, however, revealing, and probably reflective of the lack of direct evidence supporting an agreement or disagreement vote.” ## What about complex life? As you’d expect, the agreement dropped when it came to complex life. For organisms beyond the microbial level, agreement dropped to 67.4% among astrobiologists. When asked about intelligent [extraterrestrial beings](https://www.zmescience.com/feature-post/culture/books/the-weirdest-book-in-the-world/), only 58.2% of astrobiologists believed in their likelihood. While it’s still a majority, it suggests that researchers are more skeptical about the evolution of intelligence outside Earth. × What was more surprising was how much physicists and biologists agreed. Physicists are often thought to emphasize the vastness of the universe and the statistical probability of life, while biologists focus on the [complexities of life](https://www.zmescience.com/science/if-moores-law-applied-to-life-then-it-should-be-10bn-years-old-but-the-earth-is-4-5bn-years-old-hum/) as we know it. The results revealed no significant differences between the two groups, dispelling the notion of a disciplinary rift in perspectives on extraterrestrial life. “Our results indicate that such generalizations cannot be empirically supported. Responses from physicists and biologists were not significantly different,” the researchers write in the study. [![PhysICists and biologists agree on the importance of life sciences in understanding complex and intelligent life forms.](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/do-aliens-exist-1024x725.png)](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/do-aliens-exist.png) Image credits: Peter Vickers et al (2025) / Nature. While the survey revealed strong agreement on the likelihood of basic extraterrestrial life, there’s something strange about the survey. Why do so many scientists believe something without any direct evidence? Isn’t everything in science based on evidence? Well, scientists are basing their beliefs on logical inferences, such as the sheer number of potentially habitable planets and the adaptability of life on Earth. In fact, as the [study authors emphasize](https://theconversation.com/do-aliens-exist-we-studied-what-scientists-really-think-241505), this is perhaps a weak consensus given how many planets (and potentially habitable planets) there are out there. > “Perhaps it is not, actually, a surprisingly strong consensus. Perhaps it is a surprisingly weak consensus. Consider the numbers: there are more than 100 billion galaxies. And we know that habitable environments are everywhere. > > “Let’s say there are 100 billion billion [habitable worlds](https://www.zmescience.com/science/there-could-be-many-more-planets-with-water-than-we-first-thought-09092022/) (planets or moons) in the universe. Suppose we are such pessimists that we think life’s chances of getting started on any given habitable world is one in a billion billion. In that case, we would still answer “agree” to the statement that it is likely that alien life exists in the universe.” > > “Thus, optimists and pessimists should all have answered “agree” or “strongly agree” to our survey, with only the most radical pessimists about the [origin of life](https://www.zmescience.com/science/peptide-formation-cosmic-dust-264334/) disagreeing.” > > So, where do you stand, ZME Science reader? Are there any aliens out there? What about complex life? The study [was published](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-024-02451-0) in Nature.
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