Robert Zurbuchen, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) associate administrator for science, denied all allegations regarding alien existence. Read on to find out more.
Contrary to recent reports, CNET clarified that Zurbuchen said that there is "no pending announcement" from NASA about the confirmation of extraterrestrial life. This came after the hacking giant "Anonymous" published a video on YouTube claiming the discovery of life outside the Milky Way.
Per an earlier University Herald report, the hackers said that NASA "on the verge" of announcing the discovery of extraterrestrial existence. Allegedly, NASA officials made the announcement at the last meeting of the US Science, Space and Technology Committee.
Meanwhile, according to News.com.au, the speculations started circulating when NASA's Kepler space observatory found 219 "potential new worlds" in other solar systems. In line with it, ten of the planets are said to be "rocky" like the earth mainly because it falls within the "Goldilocks zone" - an area that is neither too hot nor too cold.
The Kepler space telescope has been searching for planets since it blasted off into orbit in 2009. Its super powerful lens can identify a tiny "drop" in a distant star's brightness. That particular drop indicates that a planet crossed in front of it.
Currently, Kepler has found 2335 planets existing outside Milky Way. However, only 30 were categorized as "Earth-like". Seven "Earth-sized" planets revolving around the star TRAPPIST -1 are also being studied.
Zurbuchen, speaking at the House of Representatives' Committee on Science, Space, and Technology hearing, laid out the progress NASA has been doing in the hunt for more life in the universe. Some of the recent discoveries NASA has made include the determination of hydrogen in the geysers of Saturn's moon Enceladus. The possible detection of water-vapor plumes from the Jovian satellite Europa was also mentioned.
