India, Japan, and US team up to hunt for alien life with giant telescope

Technology Nov 27, 2025

India, Japan, and the US are collaborating on something huge—the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT)—to help scientists search distant planets for signs of life beyond Earth.
Indian institutes are pitching in on key tech parts, making this a true global science effort.

What makes TMT special?

Set to rise atop Hawaii's Mauna Kea, an internationally renowned site for astronomy, the TMT will use a massive 30-meter mirror made from 500 perfectly aligned pieces.
If all goes as planned, it'll be ready by the mid-2030s and could give us our best look yet at exoplanets and galaxies—especially when it comes to spotting possible signs of life.
This project is also a big win for international teamwork in space science.