The existence of extraterrestrial life is a very old question, but in the last five years new research has appeared that brings us closer to an answer. Astronomers and astrobiologists have obtained scientific results and facts that twenty years ago seemed unachievable. For example, it has been found that many stars (distant suns) have planetary systems like our own solar system, including Earth-like planets with conditions suitable for the evolution of life. In our own solar system we have in recent years for the first time observed signs of liquid water on the planet Mars, and astronomers have found an ocean on Jupiter's moon Europa and lakes of liquid methane and organic molecules on Saturn's moon Titan. In distant solar systems the space telescope Kepler has discovered thousands of planets, several of them similar to the Earth and suitable for life. In new research, recently published in the prestigious International Journal of Astrobiology, and also in Esperanto (2015:9) and Kontakto (2015:5-6), A. Wandel has shown that planets with (at least primitive) life are probably rather abundant and to be found even in relatively nearby solar systems. This IKU lecture will present these recent observations and research for non-experts. The following two AIS lectures will deal in more detail with the prospects of life in our solar system and the search for habitable planets in other solar systems.