It’s one of humanity’s biggest fundamental questions: “Is there life elsewhere in the universe?” But despite years of searching, it’s a query that still has no answer. That conundrum also opens up a whole string of other inquiries, from how to best search for signs of life, to whether we’ll be able to make sense of what we’re seeing. The search for life elsewhere can also help us learn about our own existence. How many of what we consider the basic rules of life on earth are really just suggestions, or convenient accidents? Recent discoveries and studies have fueled discussions about the possibility of non-human intelligence both beyond our planet and potentially even here on Earth. The famous Nazca Mummies have been shrouded in controversy since they were first presented to the world back in 2017. Alongside many scientists who specialize in forensics, Latin American journalists Jaime Maussan and Jois Mantilla have remained at the forefront of this case. They are doubling down on what they believe to be one of the most important discoveries in human history. Ancient Mysteries: The Nazca Mummies One of the most debated recent claims about potential extraterrestrial life comes from the discovery of the so-called Nazca mummies in Peru. In 2017, a group of researchers presented what they described as mummified remains with non-human characteristics, discovered near the Nazca Lines, the famous ancient geoglyphs. The mummies, with their elongated skulls and three-fingered hands, were initially met with skepticism by the scientific community. However, proponents argue that DNA analysis and carbon dating suggest these mummies are not human. Dr. Konstantin Korotkov, a professor at the St. Petersburg University in Russia, stated, “Preliminary results from the DNA analysis show that the mummies are not related to any known species on Earth.” Defense attorney and former Colorado prosecutor Joshua McDowell, along with three independent forensic medical examiners from the United States, examined one of these unusual bodies, named “Maria.” They were stunned to find that the fingerprints of these alleged alien corpses featured perfectly straight lines. McDowell remarked, “These were not traditional human fingerprint patterns,” reports wionews.com. “We did not see any loops or whorls on the prints of the fingers or on the toes. I’m a former prosecutor. I’m a criminal defence attorney. I’ve seen lots of fingerprints. And these were not classic fingerprints,” he said. Speaking to The Daily Mail, attorney Joshua McDowell said, “These were not traditional human fingerprint patterns.” Yet, many experts urge caution, noting the need for further verification and peer-reviewed studies. Valleys of Nergal, photographed by Mariner 9 / © NASA New Horizons in Extraterrestrial Research Beyond ancient mummies, the search for alien life has expanded into more scientifically grounded avenues. NASA’s Mars missions, particularly the Perseverance rover, have been at the forefront of this quest. Launched in July 2020, Perseverance is equipped with sophisticated instruments designed to detect signs of past life on the Red Planet. Dr. Jennifer Trosper, Perseverance Project Manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, explained, “Perseverance is exploring the Jezero Crater, which we believe was once a lakebed. If microbial life ever existed on Mars, this is one of the best places to look for its traces.” The rover’s findings, including the discovery of organic molecules and potential biosignatures, could significantly advance our understanding of Martian history and its potential to host life. The search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) has also made strides, utilizing advanced technologies to scan the cosmos for signals from alien civilizations. In 2020, astronomers detected a mysterious signal from Proxima Centauri, the star closest to our solar system. Though the signal, dubbed BLC1, was ultimately deemed unlikely to be of alien origin, it showcased the efforts in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. On 25 October 2021, researchers published two studies concluding that the signal could be human radio interference. Earth Alien Life on Earth? Interestingly, the prospect of alien life isn’t confined to distant planets or stars. Recent studies have proposed that non-human intelligences might already exist on Earth in forms we have yet to recognize. Dr. Avi Loeb, a Harvard University astrophysicist, has been a vocal advocate of this idea. He argues that some unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), commonly known as UFOs, might represent advanced alien technology. Loeb’s controversial views gained attention following the release of a Pentagon report in June 2021, which acknowledged over 140 UAP incidents that remain unexplained. While the report did not confirm extraterrestrial origins, it did not rule them out either. Loeb stated, “We should use the scientific method to investigate these phenomena, just as we would for any other unknown.” In a new paper, a team of scientists from the Harvard Human Flourishing Program and Montana Tech University argue that there might be intelligent crypto-terrestrial creatures living on Earth, hidden from human eyes. They are believed to live underground or in the vicinity of our planet, for example on the Moon. The study’s authors suggest that these intelligent crypto-terrestrial beings may in fact be responsible for many unidentified aerial phenomena typically attributed to intergalactic aliens. Note that the scientists’ work has not yet been peer-reviewed and published as a preprint, Moreover, a 2020 study by the University of Nottingham proposed that there could be at least 36 active communicating intelligent civilizations in our galaxy alone, based on the assumption that life develops in a similar manner to how it did on Earth. This study, led by astrophysicist Christopher Conselice suggests that we might not be as unique as we once thought. Humans are still searching for signs of intelligent alien life on other planets – but how would we react towards it if we ever did make contact? How would humanity respond to the confirmation of extraterrestrial intelligence? When humans do find evidence of alien life, “we will take it rather well,” according to results presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting in Austin, Texas. “Of course, I would also predict that if a hostile armada showed up near Jupiter, we wouldn’t be happy,” study author Michael Varnum of Arizona State University said. Looking at a mix of news headlines and survey responses, Varnum and his colleagues found that people’s reactions to detections of alien life, both hypothetically and to the famously false announcement of microbial fossils from Mars, are generally quite positive. “To be honest, I wasn’t at all sure what we would find,” Varnum tells National Geographic. “It is worth noting that in fiction, often the discovery of extraterrestrial life is portrayed as having negative societal or psychological consequences.” But others are skeptical that the results, published in Frontiers in Psychology, fully reflect reality, citing its overall focus on microbial life as well as a non-representative pool of respondents. “I think the fact that the (slim) majority of folks seem ‘down’ with the idea of microbes on Mars or elsewhere is hardly surprising,” says Seth Shostak of the SETI Institute. “Grey guys are quite different, and the really interesting studies are those that try to gauge the reaction to a SETI detection, or even more dramatic, discovery of alien hardware.” The Journey Continues From the mysterious Nazca mummies to cutting-edge Mars missions and the search for technosignatures, each step brings us closer to answering the age-old question: Are we alone? A proper interpretation of prompt contact with extraterrestrial technologies, Loeb said, could bring about “the most significant advance in our understanding of the reality around us in the entire history of humans.” What is more, Loeb senses, this new understanding could have major consequences for our future aspirations in space. “Our historic migration out of Africa started about 100,000 years ago,” said Loeb, “but our future migration out of Earth may be triggered by a dialogue with a messenger from afar that does not resemble anything we had seen before.” The post Quest for Alien Life: From Ancient Mummies to Modern Studies appeared first on Anomalien.com.