Imagine yet another morning in your busy life. As always, you are putting together your “to do” list for the day while watching the latest news on TV over your habitual cup of coffee. Suddenly, the newsperson interrupts the usual steady droning, quickly glances at the monitor and, visibly out of balance, says: “Sorry for this interruption, but I have truly incredible breaking news to tell you: astronomers have just announced the discovery of life on a planet orbiting a nearby star...”

Read more...