For decades, scientists have scanned the stars for even the faintest whisper of intelligent life. Now, with fresh government revelations about mysterious skies stirring up fresh excitement, a major

How Radio Astronomy Helps Us See the Invisible Cosmos," astrophysicist Emma Chapman describes the hidden corners of space that only radio waves can reveal — and makes the case for contacting aliens.

The moment of first contact with extraterrestrials is a staple of science fiction. It usually involves a frantic scientist having a Eureka moment, realising in a single dramatic instant that Earth is being visited by creatures from light-years away.

Astronomers who detect a credible signal from aliens after 2026 will be barred from announcing it publicly or sending any kind of reply until it has been painstakingly verified and reviewed through United Nations channels under a newly rewritten global first-contact code.