Astronomers searching for habitable planets in the Universe are beginning to feel more optimistic than they were a few decades ago. Our capabilities to search for distant planets have improved dramatically, and some of the most recent discoveries even look like they might be habitable. At the recent “Search for Life in the Universe” symposium, held at the Space Telescope Sciences Institute, scientists from an array of fields met to discuss recent developments and future prospects in the search for life in the Universe.