Posted on 05/31/2013 5:41:01 PM PDT by LibWhacker
I like this approach much better, monitoring radio signals requires making huge assumptions about alien technology. It would only let us know about a civilization on the surface of a planet that uses energy, but that’s a much broader assumption of technological evidence than radio wave transmission.
We still would have no idea if alien dolphins with opposable thumbs are building cities in an ocean.
“We still would have no idea if alien dolphins with opposable thumbs are building cities in an ocean.”
And living in a steam punk society powered by geothermal activity.
Yes, exactly, good point. If it gets built, I’ll also be looking forward to any unexpected discoveries that almost always pop up when they build big new instruments. Who knows what it might be this time? Something jaw-dropping, I’m sure.
The transmission of a radio signel is a function of frequency vs length of the antenna. As the Frequency is very low with power lines at 50 and 60 cycles a second you need very long antennas. The power grid is the largest antenna system in the world. So we transmit a huge radio signal at power line frequencys. If you are looking for low frequencys with your radio telescope, the earth is 50 times brighter than the sun.
Nothing stops that signal. It is so strong that if you touch the end of a osilliscope lead the 60 hz signal your body has picked up will show up as rather large voltage.
We all have a 60Hz buzz...
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