<p>There are many reasons why nothing has been detected. We could be too far away, no one is listening, listened at wrong time, and many more. But this does not mean there is no life on other planets. We just haven't discovered them yet.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-06T10:34:59.987Z
But in the 3 billion years that Earth has been around for, there is no evidence that we have ever been visited. Another possible explanation for this, is that perhaps there is life, but not intelligent life, elsewhere in the Universe
Peter U
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-05T23:20:57.810Z
2018-05-05T23:20:57.810Z
Natsfan
<p>In all these years of listening, why hasn't SETI detected anything ? Is there no intelligent life out there or is it too far away to detect ?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-05T20:40:13.027Z
Nobody knows, hence close as specualtion.  However google "fermi paradox"
James K
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-05T21:31:38.123Z
I know that nobody knows but I was interested to hear peoples thoughts and opinions on "fermi paradox" . Seth Shostak has bet everyone a coffee that we will pick up a signal within the next 20 years. I am not so sure, to me it seems that we are the only one in the Universe. I could be wrong but this is just my gut feeling.
Peter U
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-05T21:35:33.577Z
"I was interested to hear peoples thoughts and opinions"  exactly why I voted to close. We prefer questions that can be answered, not just discussed.
James K
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-05T21:37:48.790Z
This isn't a discussion forum, it's a straight Q&A forum.  You might be able to open a [chat](https://chat.stackexchange.com/?tab=site&host=astronomy.stackexchange.com) on it if you want to try that.
StephenG - Help Ukraine
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-05T23:42:45.657Z
Your answer is in https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/8146/how-far-away-could-we-detect-that-earth-has-life though obviously, that it doesn't exist is a possibility.
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-06T21:53:51.573Z
Maybe try those fun loving people at the skeptics board.
userLTK
<universe>
SETI search for extraterrestrial life
Peter U
# SETI search for extraterrestrial life

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-05-05)

In all these years of listening, why hasn't SETI detected anything ? Is there no intelligent life out there or is it too far away to detect ?

**Tags:** universe
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Nobody knows, hence close as specualtion.  However google "fermi paradox"  
> **username_0**: I know that nobody knows but I was interested to hear peoples thoughts and opinions on "fermi paradox" . Seth Shostak has bet everyone a coffee that we will pick up a signal within the next 20 years. I am not so sure, to me it seems that we are the only one in the Universe. I could be wrong but this is just my gut feeling.  
> **username_1**: "I was interested to hear peoples thoughts and opinions"  exactly why I voted to close. We prefer questions that can be answered, not just discussed.  
> **username_2**: This isn't a discussion forum, it's a straight Q&A forum.  You might be able to open a [chat](https://chat.stackexchange.com/?tab=site&host=astronomy.stackexchange.com) on it if you want to try that.  
> **username_3**: Your answer is in https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/8146/how-far-away-could-we-detect-that-earth-has-life though obviously, that it doesn't exist is a possibility.  
> **username_4**: Maybe try those fun loving people at the skeptics board.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2018-05-05. Score: 1

There are many reasons why nothing has been detected. We could be too far away, no one is listening, listened at wrong time, and many more. But this does not mean there is no life on other planets. We just haven't discovered them yet.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: But in the 3 billion years that Earth has been around for, there is no evidence that we have ever been visited. Another possible explanation for this, is that perhaps there is life, but not intelligent life, elsewhere in the Universe  

---

