Imagine this scenario: Scientists have intercepted a transmission from an alien race. It's clear that the message comes from an intelligent being, but everything about it — the syntax, the grammar, ...

For decades, scientists have tried to turn the question of alien life from late-night speculation into something you can actually write down on a whiteboard. The core idea behind “proving” aliens with ...

Playing the Game -- I. Potter Physics -- Harry Potter and the Great Conservation Laws -- Why Hogwarts is So Dark -- Fantastic Beasts and How to Disprove Them -- II. Space Travel -- Why Computers Get ...

As a mathematician—and given the recent buzz over UFO disclosures—I find myself entertained by a specific hypothetical: If a silver saucer crewed by extraterrestrials ever touched down, then what on ...