Are We Alone in the Universe? Join the Search with NASA’s Citizen Science Program

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Over the past few months, we’ve explored how anyone can join NASA’s Citizen Science program to classify distant galaxies, track Martian clouds, and discover active asteroids. Now, we turn to one of the most profound questions in science: Are we alone in the universe? Thanks to a partnership between NASA, UCLA SETI, and The Planetary Society, you can help scientists search for signs of intelligent life beyond Earth—right from your laptop.

Are we alone in the Universe? - Image UCLA SETI
Are we alone in the Universe? – Image UCLA SETI

What is “Are We Alone in the Universe?”

This citizen science project invites the public to help search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) by analyzing signals from space. It’s a collaboration between NASA, UCLA SETI, and The Planetary Society—three major players in the search for life beyond Earth.

UCLA SETI is a research initiative at the University of California, Los Angeles, focusing on detecting signals that might originate from intelligent civilizations. They bring academic rigor and advanced data analysis tools to the effort. The Planetary Society, co-founded by Carl Sagan, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing space science and exploration. They help make cutting-edge research like this accessible to the public and advocate for increased space research funding and education.

Through the Zooniverse platform, volunteers examine radio data collected from observatories like the Green Bank Telescope. The goal? To identify patterns or signals that might suggest a non-natural origin—something potentially created by intelligent life.

How Does It Work?

These are four of the twenty common classes of radio signals seen in the Are We Alone in the Universe datasets.
These are four of the twenty common classes of radio signals seen in the Are We Alone in the Universe datasets.

The project uses real radio telescope data that may contain candidate signals of interest. Your task is to review time-frequency plots (known as “waterfall plots”) and flag any anomalies or patterns that stand out. With enough eyes on the data, it becomes easier to separate natural signals, man-made interference, and anything that might defy explanation.

No background in astronomy or signal processing? No problem. The project offers tutorials, examples, and practice tools to help you get started. It’s a great way to contribute to one of the biggest questions in science while learning something new along the way.

Why It Matters

Searching for extraterrestrial life is one of NASA’s key long-term scientific goals. By participating, you’re directly supporting efforts to expand our understanding of the universe and our place in it. Even if we don’t find definitive proof of life out there, every classified signal helps scientists refine their methods and eliminate noise—paving the way for future discoveries.

How to Get Involved

To get started, go to zooniverse.org/projects/ucla-seti/are-we-alone-in-the-universe. Click “Get Started,” and you’ll be guided through a short tutorial on how to read the waterfall plots and what kinds of signals to flag. You’ll need to sign up for a free Zooniverse account to start classifying data, but once you’re in, you can contribute at your own pace—whether you have five minutes or an hour.

Keep Looking Up

As members of the Denver Astronomical Society, many of us spend hours looking at the night sky and wondering who—or what—might be looking back. With this project, you can take that curiosity to the next level. So grab your favorite beverage, fire up your browser, and help us explore the greatest cosmic mystery of all.

Clear skies and happy signal hunting!