So, there are astronomers out there busily seeking out planets that might be similar to Earth.
There was a news report just today that they have found another candidate planet.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-18/us-scientists-discover-earth-like-star/5399014
Oh great. it is just 500 Light -Years away. So, what they are looking at is evidence that is 500 years old.
A lot of good that will do humanity.
If we could travel at light speed, an advance party could get there in 500 years. How great would that be. Then they (or their ancestors could) could report back. That would take another 500 Years.
So, just what is the point of such research? Pretty useless if you ask me.
John