Posted on 03/10/2012 11:59:05 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Got some spare time today? How about putting aside that game of Bejeweled Blitz and instead lend a hand in what could be the most important discovery of all time? It’s no joke — the people behind the Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence (SETI) project have partnered with TED (Technology Entertainment Design) to create a website where anyone can log on and start searching for aliens.
Called SETI Live, the new project reduces the hunt for intelligent life on other planets to a kind of game — sort of a mix between Foursquare and Where’s Waldo. Once you log on and take a brief tutorial, the site flashes snapshots of radio-signal data. Then it’s your job to identify any suspicious patterns you may spot — a straight line among a sea of random streaks could be ET trying to say hello. Do it long enough and you’ll earn special badges.
The SETI program searches the heavens for extraterrestrials via radio telescopes, examining tiny slices of the sky, one at a time, for signals that might have been produced by a civilization elsewhere in the galaxy. This generates mountains of radio-signal data to sift through — too much for the SETI program to handle itself, especially since public funding has been virtually nonexistent for the past 20 years, and securing private investment has been a challenge as well.
You may have heard of SETI@Home — an app that anyone can download that will lend their PC’s processing power to SETI when it’s not being used. Whereas that program is passive, SETI Live is a way for enthusiasts to actively help in the search for the answer to the question, “Are we alone?” It also has the bonus of not requiring any software installation.
SEE ALSO: SETI Resumes Search for Alien Life
SETI Live was conceived as part of the TED Prize program, which gives $100,000 every year to reward a specific vision from the “world’s leading entrepreneurs, innovators and entertainers to change the world.” SETI leader Jill Tarter won the prize in 2009, wishing for a way “to empower Earthlings everywhere to become active participants in the ultimate search for cosmic company.” Zooniverse, which backs several citizen science projects, also helped build SETI Live.
In our brief hands-on, we found the tutorial to be a little vague at times, but thankfully short. We got the hang of spotting patterns pretty quickly, though, and blazed through several data screens in the hunt for aliens. It gets boring mighty fast, though — it would be served better if they could somehow mix up the data or activities, or even simply change the color of some of the screens. Be warned: it doesn’t appear to be compatible with Google Chrome (Firefox had no problems).
Still, it’s a promising project, and we’re sure there are thousands of astronomy enthusiasts who will line up to participate. What do you think of SETI Live? And how could it be improved? Have your say in the comments.
I don’t even have to leave my house. I just click over to DU.
Hey, I’m not saying this is THE answer, it’s just what works for me...maybe it’ll help, ymmv...
Speaking of Jesus, John said;
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. Jhn 1:3
He was in the world, and the world was made by him Jhn 1:10
Paul said Jesus made Worlds;
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the WORLDS Hbr 1:2
Through faith we understand that the WORLDS were framed by the word of God Hbr 11:3
Isaiah states the reason Jesus made the world;
For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I [am] the LORD; and [there is] none else. Isa 45:18
My conclusion?
The WORLDS were not created in vain either, they are inhabited.
We have been told the manner of His return. I believe any perceived or “seeming” contact can be/ might be caused by the enemy to distract. The enemy does have the power;
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men Rev 13:13
And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by [the means of] those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast Rev 13:14
In the immortal words of Stephen Sondheim, don’t bother, they’re here.
Reminds me of a "Simpsons" episode when I think Lisa was doing a school project along that line, and after a few days, looked at the dish with a magnifying glass and saw some little creature nailing a list of protests on a church door. "Oh my!", she declared, "I've created little Lutherans!" I about sprayed the coffee over that one.
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