What kind of understanding do we have of our own place in the universe? What are the possibilities for intelligent life elsewhere in the universe?

When will we be capable of space travels faster and further into the solar system and galaxy? What kind of distances do our solar system, our galaxy and the universe offer, really? Are there UFOs out there? 

The existence of extraterrestrial life has been a topic of scientific investigation for a century or more, and we are now routinely exploring other planets and moons in our solar system for signs of primitive life. We also continuously monitor incoming electromagnetic radiation in the form of light, radio waves and so on, as possible signs of intelligent life being broadcast from a distant solar system. So far, we have yet to find any convincing evidence of extraterrestrial life. But we keep looking! Extraterrestrial life has been the source of wonder and fear for centuries and has become part of mythological, philosophical, spiritual, and religious narratives around the world. Variants of “alien” are a natural part of science fiction literature, films, cartoons, and a standard starting point for reflecting on human society and behavior.

Lecture by Uffe Gråe Jørgensen, Professor Niels Bohr Institute, author, and editor

Commentators are:  

- Kari Enqvist, Professor of cosmology at the University of Helsinki, author, and communicator
- Anders Sandberg, Senior Researcher, Future of Humanity Institute

Moderator is Kristin Aalen, journalist, film critic and editor for kulturkritikk.no