Astronomers studying data from the Kepler spacecraft now estimate there may be four billion Earth-like planets just in our Milky Way galaxy, Tabitha M. Powledge writes in her science blogs roundup. But how many of those planets have what we would consider intelligent life, and why haven't we heard anything from them? Also, a guest post by Beryl Benderly on a panel discussion on women in science writing at last weekend's ScienceWriters annual meeting.
November 9, 2013