Is there life elsewhere in the universe? Watch The Economist tackle your questions.

The Economist looks at the search for life in the Universe

(Image credit: The Economist/YouTube)

published 10 August 2015

"Is there life on Mars?" David Bowie asked in 1971. The Economist is asking the same question, but has expanded it to also include everywhere else in the universe (except Earth) — and in the video below, it tries to answer the age-old riddle, talking to experts in several fields related to the search for extraterrestrial life. In just over 10 minutes, the magazine discusses the odds that there is life in the universe and, separately, in our solar system, that there is intelligent life out there, and research to re-create the beginning of life on Earth. That's a lot to pack in a 10-minute video, but The Economist does an admirable job. Watch below, and see if you think Earth is a "cosmic fluke" or whether we are not, after all, alone. Peter Weber

The Week

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.