I’ve always been that guy who drags friends out to dark fields on clear nights, pointing at the stars and wondering if someone’s looking back. A few years ago, during a road trip through the deserts of New Mexico, I stopped at a remote spot and lay on the car hood, staring at the Milky Way. The sheer vastness hit me: How many worlds out there could harbor life? It’s a question that’s haunted humans for ages, blending science with a touch of hope. Today, with telescopes like JWST peering deeper than ever, we’re closer to answers. This guide breaks…