The article freely mixes "alien civilization" with "alien life." But these are very different! It would be spectacular to find an alien civilization of intellig

The article freely mixes "alien civilization" with "alien life." But these are very different! It would be spectacular to find an alien civilization of intelligent robots, even though they would not be alive. We are alive so we know life is possible. We don't know what other things are possible. But why should the universe need to repeat itself?