Abstract
The main scientific theme of the novel is extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI). Bioastronomy and SETI are, generally speaking, controversial subjects, because the basic issue of both, the existence of extraterrestrial life, is still an unproved statement. Even if there is a substantial difference of opinion, with astronomers and physicists generally for a positive answer and biologists for a more skeptical approach, many think that simple living organisms, comparable in complexity with our bacteria, are widespread in the Universe. More doubts are cast on the existence of extraterrestrial complex life and above all of intelligent extraterrestrials (ETIs).
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Notes
- 1.
In March 2015, the total number of exoplanets already discovered was 1821 (plus several thousands of unconfirmed candidates), in more than 1100 planetary systems.
- 2.
The discussion about whether intelligent living beings must have an aspect similar, in a general sense, to that of humans is usually referred to as the problem of the predominance of the humanoids.
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Genta, G. (2016). Humans and Aliens. In: A Man From Planet Earth. Science and Fiction. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21115-2_2
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