I have been in paleontology for a while and come to the conclusion (now that I ain't working as a scientist anymore and not subject to outside fundings), that we can already find life across our Universe, only if we know WHERE to look! So thats my theory below, and my arguments for finding such advance life around us! And from what I believe, I can say that they are huge gang up there waiting for us!!!
How to find Advanced ET life in our Universe: A theory | The Mind Traveler