Not long ago, talking about the search for life on other planets garnered mostly rolling eyes and deep sighs.

But recently, there's been some newfound legitimacy seen in the field, as the US tries to get back in the business of astrobiology, after years of cut funding and claims of frivolousness by fiscally conservative lawmakers.

For more on this, KCBS Radio's Margie Shafer and Eric Thomas were joined by Adam Frank, Astrophysics professor at the University of Rochester, and author of the book The Little Book of Aliens.