[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.

[donh]

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

Um...right, we fund SETI activity, because we hope to find a modulated narrow band transmission, and we have no pre-conceived notion whatsoever about what we hope that might mean if we find it. Did I mention that SETI stands for "Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence"?