The speaker reflects on childhood wonder about the universe and now leads an institution focused on answering profound questions about life beyond Earth. The institution explores the prevalence of life and intelligence in the universe, connecting this research to Earth's habitability and sustainability. The Drake Equation is introduced as a framework to estimate the number of technological civilizations in our galaxy, considering factors like star birth rates and habitable planets. Recent discoveries show planets are abundant, with many potentially habitable, suggesting life is robust and widespread. However, the speaker raises concerns about the longevity of technological civilizations, questioning whether advanced technology leads to self-destruction. The speaker highlights the environmental crisis as a significant threat, exacerbated by humanity's short-term focus and inability to grasp long-term planetary impacts. They stress the need for global collaboration to address these challenges, as there is no alternative planet for humanity. The speaker sees hope in the possibility of finding extraterrestrial civilizations that have overcome self-destructive tendencies, suggesting humanity could do the same. The discovery of intelligent life would imply that such civilizations have mastered their longevity, offering a hopeful perspective for humanity's future. The speaker concludes by emphasizing that humanity's future is in its own hands, and the story of its longevity is yet to be written.