Over three quarters of Americans surveyed believe in life beyond the planet Earth. Seventy eight percent of the population believe that there is life somewhere outside our planet and 64 percent believe it is likely to be intelligent.
For those who believe that there are life forms in the great beyond, 70 percent also believe that one day humans and aliens will encounter each other. Men are slightly more certain of a forthcoming ET moment with 72 percent of those men who believe in non-Earth life-forms, believing that we will one day meet up.
More people believe in intelligent alien life forms than would care to meet up with one. Although 64 percent believe in intelligent life beyond Earth, only 57 percent think it would be a good idea for earthly and non-earthly intelligences to get together.
16-34 year olds are particularly skeptical about encountering other-worldly intelligence. Less than half of this age group think it would be a good thing for earthly and other earthly intelligences to get together. The older responders are much more optimistic, 66 percent of the over the 55s would like humans to meet new intelligences.
