If we have discovered nothing else as a species it is that we are constantly proven wrong by the universe. We used to assume planets were a rarity; now we know our own neighbourhood is teeming with them let alone other galaxies and the wider universe. It stands to reason planets are incredibly common and life probably more so.

Because the only origin of life we know of is our own it gives us an incredibly narrow spectrum of variables to look for. It may be that life can also take other forms. We are carbon-based but this might only be because there is a lot of carbon on our planet. It’s like a sentient form of Iron assuming there are no other metals out there in the universe because its only form of detection is magnetism, a daft analogy I know.