For decades, intense debate has ensued among the general population begging the ultimate question of whether or not aliens truly exist. The concept of the alien, typically depicted as a green, disproportional and reptilian being, has existed in popular media for only slightly less than a century. Through science-fiction books and movies, along with various galactic depictions, people remain extremely familiar with the idea of extraterrestrial life. A key factor to disprove alien existence remains the lack of extraterrestrial contact that has yet to reach Earth. Scientists have theorized numerous potential reasons for the lack of extraterrestrial communication from aliens including the lack of adequate alien technology, overly advanced alien technology, lack of time searching for intelligent life, searching in the wrong places and finally the idea that extraterrestrial intelligent life may not exist.

To fully understand the likelihood of extraterrestrial biotic existence, one needs to define what exactly qualifies an alien. For example, one may consider any terrestrial biotic life as an alien, including plants, bacteria, fungi and other non-conscious life forms. Another may argue that to fall under the umbrella of aliens, the creature must hold intelligence or consciousness.

Numerous people claim that aliens must exist simply because of the vast expanse of space, it seems unlikely that humankind could stand as the sole inhabitants of our universe. Space remains an expansive area and people frequently believe that because of this, aliens ought to exist. Additionally, several alleged sightings, including the Stephenville, Texas sightings and the USS Nimitz Encounter, have occurred which people take as proof of the existence of these extraterrestrial creatures.

“I think the possibility of aliens is highly realistic as Earth makes up such a small part of the universe. Additionally, there are billions of planets far away from our galaxy and scientists have confirmed the existence of water, which is a key component of life, in a planet far away from us. If one planet can have a component of life, other planets could also have components of life. Maybe one planet could have the components of life like Earth does and could support extraterrestrial creatures. Whilst I’m not a raging conspiracy theorist and I don’t believe in the concept of mind-eating sci-fi creatures, I do believe in the concept of aliens because I feel like the universe is too vast to not contain more life than just us,” magnet junior Bryce Nichols said.

However, the fact stands that little to no evidence pointing toward the existence of these creatures. In general, the alleged sightings remain unclear or otherwise explicable. Supposed Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) generally stand as mistaken military drones or various airborne terrestrial devices.

An article by senior lecturer on biology and paleontology Nicholas Longrich argues that based on the premise of evolution, intelligent extraterrestrial life cannot exist. He claims that humans evolving as intelligent life forms able to survive long term stands as such an improbable event that remains extremely difficult to happen anywhere else. 

The possibility of alien life remains uncertain, but the information humans know fails to prove the existence of extraterrestrial companions. Scientists do not truly know beyond a shadow of a doubt that any intelligent life exists. Humans have not received any alien communication, and ultimately not enough proof exists to believe in extraterrestrial creatures.

“Aliens can’t be real because they would have reached out or had a more obvious presence if they existed. If there are other intelligent life forms out there, we would have some sort of proof or concrete evidence to prove their existence. We haven’t received any attempts of communication, which probably means that there are no intelligent life forms to receive communications from,” magnet junior Jacob Allen said.

The universe expanded from a single point in the event called the Big Bang 13.8 billion years ago. From this, the universe drew breath and formed space. Since agreeable living conditions formed on Earth — occupying far below one percent of the universe — the chance of life forms existing elsewhere remains enormous. Thus, entities outside of human life plausibly exist, especially proved through otherworldly planets presenting habitable conditions. 

“Aliens are very real — how are we the only planet in our solar system and other solar systems that have life forms? The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has already discovered many different galaxies of all sorts that we have yet to explore, who’s to say that we aren’t aliens to other people? It’s very ignorant [to think humans are the only life forms]. There’s no way people can think we’re the only beings out here,” junior Taylor Giles said.

Popular culture commonly portrays aliens as green or silver-skinned creatures with comically large, black eyes. In reality, aliens are characterized as biotic life forms from space, possibly including plants, animals and single-celled organisms. To foster life, a planet must bear habitable conditions — water, nutrients and energy — and exist in a habitable zone — an expanse surrounding a star that allows planets to receive heat to keep water in liquid form.

Within the Sun’s solar system, numerous celestial bodies present conceivably habitable conditions. For example, NASA discovered evidence indicating a past warm enough to host liquid surface water. Additionally, Saturn’s moon, “Enceladus” and Jupiter’s moon, “Europa,” possibly host oceans below their icy exteriors. Therefore, within Earth’s own solar system, conditions allow non-human life to theoretically exist.

Encompassing the Sun’s solar system, the Milky Way Galaxy spans 100,000 light years. Furthermore, the observable universe contains over 100 billion galaxies with 10 sextillion stars promoting livable habitats. Compared to the universe, Earth takes up less space than a grain of sand. Inconceivable odds must endure for Earth to exist as the only planet with habitable conditions across an immeasurable distance.

“I think aliens are real because I feel like the universe is so vast, there’s just no way that there isn’t other life out there. If humans were able to evolve [on Earth], why couldn’t other species? There could be a lot of life forms [throughout space]. The universe is infinite and so are the possibilities,” magnet freshman Naeema Kallon said.

Individuals skeptical of alien life may claim that no form of interstellar communication exists. In theory, the probability of other-worldly life becomes diminished by the lack of tangible proof and correspondence between planets. However, the Fermi Paradox, developed by Nobel Prize-winning physicist Enrico Fermi in 1950, stands as a popular scientific question addressing this doubt. During lunch with friends, Fermi asked, “Where is everybody?” addressing non-human life in the universe. No answer prevailed and another question arose: What explains the lack of communication from aliens if they do exist?

From Fermi’s query, several viable solutions emanated. One example included the Great Filter, a theory describing an impenetrable wall of evolution. The Filter exists either in the past, possibly during the evolutionary jump between single and multicelled organisms, or in the future — implying that the wall hit alien life and extinguished them prior to their ability to reach across space. Artificial intelligence (AI), exists as a popular theory defining the Great Filter’s trigger. 

The popular proverb by author George MacDonald states that “seeing is not believing,” accurately captures the spirit of trusting in extraterrestrial existence. Aliens failing to blatantly knock on Earth’s doors does not prove that other-worldly life remains impossible — only that outer space may present challenges against interplanetary connection. In an unfathomably massive universe, aliens accompany humans from unknown distances, beautiful in their mystery.