BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Galaxy has 'billions of Earths'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7891132.stm

... resulting in 2000 civilizations in the galaxy, as plugged into the drake equation.

Recent work at Edinburgh University tried to quantify how many intelligent civilisations might be out there. The research suggested there could be thousands of them.

From the article: "But, based on the limited numbers of planets found so far, Dr Boss has estimated that each Sun-like star has on average one 'Earth-like' planet." Contrast with Nick Bostrom's take on life from other planets.

THE aliens are out there and Earth had better watch out, at least according to Stephen Hawking. He has suggested that extraterrestrials are almost certain to exist — but that instead of seeking them out, humanity should be doing all it that can to avoid any contact.

THE aliens are out there and Earth had better watch out, at least according to Stephen Hawking. He has suggested that extraterrestrials are almost certain to exist — but that instead of seeking them out, humanity should be doing all it that can to avoid any contact. He's a smart man. Take his advice and don't fuck with aliens

"He concludes that trying to make contact with alien races is “a little too risky”. He said: “If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn’t turn out very well for the Native Americans.”"

Our planet may harbour forms of "weird life" unrelated to life as we know it.

When will the BBC get better quality science journos Alien Life my arse - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7893414.stm [from http://twitter.com/AndyBoydnl/statuses/1227806875]

new forms of life on earth, from earth or arrived to it. How to look for them. Definition of life (self sustained and capable of darwinian evolution?). Did life hartch on earth from scratch more than once?