It Is Rocket Science!

Helen Keen explores the mystery of Fermi's Paradox - in a vast universe, potentially teeming with alien life, why has no one even dropped by to say hello? (There is a steadfast refusal to see this as her 17th birthday party all over again.)

This week's programme asks if there are civilisations on other planets and, if so, why do they never call?

Helen examines the Fermi paradox - if the universe is really infinite it should contain infinite life, and there has been no contact from alien civilisations.

It also explores different ideas through the history of what life might be like on other planets, and some of the more surprising suggestions scientists have offered on how to contact alien life - from burning giant parallelograms in the Sahara to sending nude pictures into space.