Self-proclaimed alien hunter and astronomer Seth Shostak spoke about his work searching for life on other planets to a crowd of about 100 people Tuesday night on the Tempe campus.

The speech was hosted by ASU’s BEYOND Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science, a group that tackles questions of science and philosophy through research programs, workshops and public outreach.

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Shostak said he searches for signals from outer space daily as a senior astronomer for Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute (SETI) in Mountain View, Calif.

“The universe is truly, incredibly large,” he said.

A galaxy could have a few billion stars and each of those could potentially have a planet, he said, adding that the Milky Way Galaxy alone has about 1 trillion planets.

“We get [radio frequency] signals all the time. Typically we get five or 10 signals every minute,” Shostak said. “The question is — are they really coming from E.T.?”

Scientists at SETI have sent signals into space for almost 70 years, he said.

“It has to be pointed out that although we haven’t found anything, we haven’t looked very much, either,” he said.

In a galaxy of an estimated 300 to 400 billion stars, researchers have only looked at around 750 stars, he said.

“Still, no aliens know of the existence of Homo sapiens, and if we’re being visited, it’s remarkable that it doesn’t seem to make any difference in my life,” Shostak said.

Despite this information, 7 to 8 percent of Americans still believe they’ve been abducted by aliens, he said.

“Every day I get e-mails and phone calls from people having difficulties from aliens in their lives,” Shostak said.

Some people are even convinced that they are aliens, Shostak said, and call him to come and research it.

“A substantial fraction of the public, and presumably a lot of [the audience], still think [searching for aliens] is a waste of time and somebody’s money,” Shostak said.

His book, “Confessions of an Alien Hunter: A Scientist’s Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence,” was published in March by the National Geographic Society.

According to the SETI Web site, the book offers an “entertaining and expert account of the facts, fantasies and future of finding intelligence elsewhere in the universe, and how real science differs from the Hollywood view of extraterrestrial life.”

Shostak also hosts a weekly radio show called “Are We Alone?”

Paul Davies, a professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration and founding director of the BEYOND Center, called Shostak’s speech brilliant and entertaining.

“He really does try to detect messages from alien civilizations,” he said.

Shostak was the center’s first speaker in this year’s alien hunting series.

The speaker series is for the young at heart and helps to bring science fact and fiction together, Davies said.

Communications student Shelly Morgan said she was interested to hear what Shostak had to say despite other people being skeptical.

“We’re here, why should we be the only ones in the entire universe?” she said.

Reach the reporter at paige.soucie@asu.edu.