Report · AI & Tech

Finding alien life within 50 years seems likely to a slim majority of Americans

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In a Verasight survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted May 22 to 24, 2024, 55% of Americans said humans are at least somewhat likely to discover extraterrestrial life in the next 50 years. Including 26% who said very likely, with another 29% who said somewhat likely.

About a third said this discovery is unlikely (32%), with 19% who said not very likely and another 13% who said not at all likely. Another 13% said they are not sure.

Topline

response scale

Topline scale

55% of Americans expect humans to discover extraterrestrial life within 50 years.

How likely is it that humans will discover extraterrestrial life in the next 50 years?

  • Somewhat likely 28.6%
  • Very likely 26.3%
  • Not very likely 18.6%
  • Not at all likely 13.4%
  • Not sure 13.2%

2024 · base n 1,000 · +/- 3.3%

Verasight AAPOR Omnibus Survey #2024-054

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Methodology

Full methodology
Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
Field dates
2024-05-22 → 2024-05-24
Base (unweighted)
1,000
Margin of error
+/- 3.3%
Module
Verasight AAPOR Omnibus Survey #2024-054

Source

  • 01
    Finding alien life within 50 years seems likely to a slim majority of Americansreports.verasight.io/reports/verasight-aapor-omnibus-survey-2024-054

Citation

Verasight AAPOR Omnibus Survey #2024-054, fielded May 22-24, 2024, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.

https://reports.verasight.io/reports/verasight-aapor-omnibus-survey-2024-054#how-likely-is-it-that-humans-will-discover-extraterrestrial-life-in-the-next-50-years

Verasight survey methodology

How Verasight conducts surveys.

This page describes the Verasight general survey contract, separate from how the Data Library packages it. Each wave's specific field dates, sample sizes, and module breakdown are listed in that wave's report.

Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting.
Population
US adults age 18+.
Sample design
Surveys are run as omnibus or single-topic waves. Omnibus waves are split into modules with their own respondent set, typically around one thousand respondents per module.
Field window
Each wave specifies its own field dates. Most omnibus waves field across roughly two weeks.
Weighting
Per-module weighting to CPS targets including age, race and ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, and metropolitan status.
Partisanship benchmark
Pew Research Center's NPORS benchmarking surveys, three-year running average.
Vote benchmark
2024 presidential vote population benchmarks.
Margin of error
Typically about plus or minus 3.4 to 3.6 percent per module at standard module sizes. Question-level MoE is recomputed when a base shrinks materially below the module baseline.
Reporting
Every wave is published as a standalone report at verasight.io/reports with full instrument and methodology.
Transparency
AAPOR transparency standards.

Wave-specific methodology, full weighting variable lists, and verbatim instrument text live in each report at verasight.io/reports.