For most people, the idea of alien contact has been shaped less by astronomy than by cinema. Films have taught us to expect intention: visitors who arrive either with open hands, as in E.T., or with ...

Popularized by H.G. Wells' novel, The War of the Worlds, a common trope in science fiction is, of course, the moment of first contact between humans and intelligent extraterrestrial life. The concept ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. For as long as humans have ...