This summer at Harvard University Summer School, in my course Planets, Moons, and Their Stars: The Search for Life in the Cosmos with Prof. Dr. Alessandro Massarotti, I chose to focus my final research project on one of the most thrilling scientific frontiers:

the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). I was fascinated by how SETI takes the age-old question, are we alone in the universe? and turns it into a scientific investigation. Rather than science fiction, SETI is grounded in real tools like radio astronomy, optical telescopes, and data science. The idea that we might one day detect a signal from another civilization filled me with excitement as I studied the methods and history of this field.

In my project, I reviewed both the beginnings of SETI and the cutting-edge work being done today. I loved learning about Project Ozma, Frank Drake’s early experiment in 1960, and how the Drake Equation became a way to frame the chances of detecting intelligent life. I was amazed by how specific frequency ranges, like the “water hole” near the hydrogen line, were chosen as logical meeting places for civilizations to communicate. Then I moved into modern programs such as Breakthrough Listen, which uses some of the world’s most powerful telescopes, and Optical SETI, which looks for laser pulses across space. I found it so exciting to see how advanced instruments and even artificial intelligence are being used to search the stars for faint but meaningful signals.

What inspired me the most was realizing that SETI is not just about the possibility of hearing from extraterrestrial civilizations but also about the spirit of human curiosity. The challenges are enormou. The interference from Earth signals, the silence of the Fermi Paradox, and the possibility that other civilizations may use technologies we cannot even imagine. But the search itself feels deeply meaningful. Working on this project made me feel connected to the larger scientific community that is daring to ask bold questions about life beyond Earth. Whether or not we ever detect a signal, the process of listening to the cosmos is a reminder of how science, imagination, and hope come together to push the boundaries of what we know.