Hi Rob
I been watching a new program on Nat Geo channel. Extreme Universe . They do glits it up but its very interesting.
They talking about a new generation of huge telescopes out in space that they are developing. Telescopes that will be very sensitive and can shut off the stars light as so to measure the light coming from the planets . They said life stinks, and if there is life on those planets around other stars they will find it .
But its a long time off.
They also discussed the Drake Equation and other solutions as to the probable number of civilizations in our galaxy .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drake_equation
They said it is more than 1 lol. but less than 1 million. Taking into consideration of all the world killing objects in our galaxy. Very interesting stuff.