[donh]

Actually SETI knows exactly what it is searching for and what it would portend. They are looking for a narrow band carrier signal, which would indicate an artifical radio signal, or a previously unobserved phenomenon.

SETI stands for Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. I have a tough time thinking there isn't a pre-formed hypothesis about extra-terrestrial intelligence being investigated here.

[js1138]

I have a tough time thinking there isn't a pre-formed hypothesis about extra-terrestrial intelligence being investigated here.

And what would that be? Is it a secret? The instruments are searching for a narrow band transmission. That's all.