This was a project announced two days ago, Stephen Hawking is pouring 100 million into the hunt for life beyond earth. The project is called 'Breakthrough Listen'. They have some sort of telescope like machine that will brown townyze the depths of space for radio waves and beams. This machine also appears to be able to detect electric currents light years away.
What's ironic about this is Stephen himself said he feared the search for new life, because it/they could destroy humanity itself. Think about it, we have a long history of mistreating/massacring ourselves, who's to say aliens wouldn't do the same? Think Columbus.
Here is the full article if you want a quick read, I just thought it was cool that someone is finally taking initiative to understand or find more about space, and not shooting the idea down that there might be something out there.
http://goo.gl/ZRal05
