It's a disturbing question, and one that I seem to get more frequently than before.

"Why are you looking for evidence of extraterrestrials? What's the point?"

While I have always thought that the motivation for looking for E.T. was both self-evident and patently worthy, it's possible that I'm a victim of my own job description. Others don't inevitably agree. Some will opine that there are better ways to spend the money.

"With all the problems we're facing here on Earth -- climate change, environmental degradation, war, poverty and more -- why are we wasting funds looking for space aliens?"

Shostak calls it a "disturbing" question.  I'd call it a really dumb question. To read more, click here.