SETI search subject (4)

I believe the answer is:

life

(Other definitions for life that I've seen before include "Birth to death" , "Vitality, vigour" , "Baffin oiler (anag) - 7 film" , ""But an empty dream" (Longfellow) - "As tedious as a twice-told tale" (Shakespeare)" , "Maximum stretch?" .)

I've seen this clue in the LA Times.

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