The discovery of hundreds of planets orbiting other stars raises the very real question of whether any of them support life. Searches for life, particularly intelligent life, outside the solar system have so far been unsuccessful. This lecture will discuss scientific approaches to detecting (unintelligent) life using modern observational techniques. Of particular importance, because they are easier to observe, are the few planets which pass in front their star when observed from earth. I suggest that at least primitive life on one or more such planet will be found within our lifetimes.