SETI Institute Team Looks for a New Way to Find Resources in Space
Supported by the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program, the project is testing whether Raman spectroscopy—a technique already used in planetary exploration at close range—could be used from orbit or during fast flybys to identify minerals, water, and other materials.
Look Up: A Lunar Eclipse on August 27
Astronomer, science educator and SETI Institute Board Member Andrew Fraknoi has created a short guide to the eclipse. It covers the best times to watch in each U.S. time zone, what to expect, and tips for enjoying the event.
SETI AIR Newsletter - August 2026
This month, we welcome our new Affiliate Artists Alicia Sometimes and Andrea Rassell, whose documentary project Shape of Nothingness approaches these invisible and elusive phenomena through astronomy, poetry, sound, and experimental visualisation. Their work asks how we might perceive what cannot be seen, and what confronting the unknown might reveal about our own experiences of uncertainty.
SETI Forward Award 2026 Now Open for Applications
The SETI Forward Award recognizes exceptional undergraduates conducting research in astrobiology and SETI technosignatures, with $2,000 awards to support research or conference travel.
Applications are open until 9 September 2026.
The SETI Institute is now accepting submissions for the Wow! Literary Award for Emerging Writers
The annual Wow! Literary Award for emerging writers and poets is a contest for emerging writers of all ages whose work explores questions of interspecies communication, intelligence and consciousness in the universe.
Deadline for all contest entries: Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 11:59 pm PDT.
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What We Do
At the SETI Institute, we explore the origins of life, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and the mysteries of the cosmos. Through cutting-edge research, education programs, and public outreach, we strive to expand humanity's understanding of the universe.
We lead scientific investigations into planetary environments, astrobiology, and the search for life beyond Earth.
Our educational initiatives inspire and train the next generation of scientists, fostering curiosity and innovation.
We engage the public with space science and discovery, making complex scientific ideas accessible and exciting for all.
How SETI Designed A Telescope To Look For Extraterrestrial Civilizations
In 2025, we invited Scott Manley for a tour of the Allen Telescope Array in Hat Creek, CA. Take an in-depth look of the facilities and research happening at the Hat Creek Radio Observatory!
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