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If civilizations exist around other stars they are likely to be just emerging across our Galaxy right now: like an apple orchard suddenly maturing and ripening in the autumn sun. So concludes Space Telescope Science Institute theorist Mario Livio, in a paper to be published in the Astrophysical Journal. Livio emphasizes that his theoretical work doesn't necessarily mean extraterrestrial civilizations really do exist, but it shows they cannot be dismissed either.

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