Nate Berg introduces us to a branch of astrophysicists hoping to utilize new telescope technology to locate potential alien cities on distant planets.
A recent paper authored by "Avi Loeb of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and Edwin Turner of Princeton University suggests that we should be scouring faraway planets for urban metropolises."
They suggest that we would already be able to detect a city the size of Tokyo on the dark side of Pluto and developments in imaging technology could improve this range to include some of the the 1,235 Earth-sized planets NASA's Kepler mission has so far identified.
The development is part of a broader realigning of the search for extraterrestrial life. Other scientists have suggested that we should use our own experience as a guide, and look for planets with rapidly changing atmospheric makeup, otherwise known as global warming, which can be a correlate of industrialized or developed life.
FULL STORY: The Search For Extraterrestrial City Life

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems
SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

How South LA Green Spaces Power Community Health and Hope
Green spaces like South L.A. Wetlands Park are helping South Los Angeles residents promote healthy lifestyles, build community, and advocate for improvements that reflect local needs in historically underserved neighborhoods.

Sacramento Plans ‘Quick-Build’ Road Safety Projects
The city wants to accelerate small-scale safety improvements that use low-cost equipment to make an impact at dangerous intersections.
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