The search for extraterrestrial life is an age-old quest. But recent breakthroughs make today an era like no other in the history of astronomy. From the exhilarating probing of our own solar system and the Kepler mission’s astounding discovery of thousands of extrasolar planets, to the next-generation telescopes under development, the prospects for finding life beyond Earth have never been stronger. Still, daunting hurdles remain. How can we study anything light years away, let alone a little planet?

Originally released by PBS, 2018. Streaming video file encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on August 29, 2019.

Introduction: Are We Alone? (1:11); --Flickering Discovery (3:03); -- Dimming Data (5:03); -- Hostile Suns (6:58); -- Reading Biosignatures (4:51); -- Sensitive New Technology (2:37); -- Local Microbes (7:50); -- Exploring Under Ice (4:45); -- Searching for Intelligence (3:19); -- Hunting Space (3:53); -- Light Signature Solution (3:25); -- Unique or Common (3:06); -- Credits: Are We Alone? (1:05); .