Posted on 09/14/2017 9:58:48 AM PDT by RoosterRedux
For the last half-century or so, astronomers around the world have been scanning the cosmos with massive radio telescopes in hopes of finding some sign of intelligent life. This network of alien-hunters comprises the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), but despite all their efforts, the interstellar radio waves have remained quiet. One might even say too quiet.
Depending on who you ask, first contact with an extraterrestrial civilization might happen any day now. Seth Shostak, director of the SETI Institute, has famously predicted that we'll hear from ET within the next two decades. Others, such as the Cornell University astronomer Yervant Terzian are less optimistic -- his probabilistic calculations place first contact in about 1,500 years, assuming there's anyone left on Earth to receive the call.
But many SETI astronomers aren't content with only scanning the airwaves for signs of ET. Instead, they think we should also be actively reaching out to the cosmos on behalf of planet Earth.
These astronomers occupy a controversial niche within the SETI community known as Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligences, or METI. At the forefront of this group is Douglas Vakoch, president of METI International, a research group dedicated to designing and sending messages intended for extraterrestrial recipients.
Vakoch and his colleagues at METI International are fighting an uphill battle. Aside from all the technical problems that come with trying to contact aliens, many SETI astronomers think it's a bad idea.
The METI opposition group, which includes scientists like Stephen Hawking, argues that since we have no idea what ET might be like, sending a message into the cosmos comes with a huge existential risk. If the aliens happen to be friendly, no problem. But if they're hostile, that means we're essentially sending out a beacon that says "ATTACK HERE."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnet.com ...
I hope it does not say “We taste like chicken!”.......................
You know how aliens are always depicted in fiction as being superior to humans in every way, right? Harry Turtledove wrote a terrific short story that challenged that assumption. The aliens that try to invade Earth are great at high-speed interstellar travel and are motivated by conquest but fight on the ground with Napoleonic-era technology, which is more than sufficient for most places that they conquer. The National Guard shows up with M-16s and a few Bradleys and eats them for lunch.
If ET came here, the ONLY assumption that we could safely make is that they're good at fast space travel. Is caution warranted? Absolutely yes. It is already out of our hands no matter what SETI does? Probably.
BWAHAHAHA! Congressional Star Trek Space Hippies!
Here is the message we should send.....
“Our Lawyers Are Tasty. Stop By And Try A Million Or So.”
June 2016
Demanding Action On Gun Control, House Democrats Stage Sit-In
Unnecessary because we’ve been sending out signals for decades aliens could hear. And no, they aren’t listening to FM radio.
What an Alien SETI Program Would Learn from Earth’s Signals
https://hubpages.com/technology/What-an-Alien-SETI-Program-Would-Learn-from-Earths-Signals
What if the Romulans answer?
Crop circles?
They can shove more of the skinny ones into the cargo holds.
Search for water planets.
According to the inverse square law, for every time you double the distance of a communications transmission, the signal is only 1/4 the strength it was at its source. At ten times the distance, the strength of the signal would only be one hundredth as great.
Space is the very definition of distance. Space also has its own background noise. So in practical terms, when a transmission drops below the level of background noise, it is no longer detectable.
With our most sensitive listening devices, we can just barely detect high power transmissions given by probes just at the perimeter of our solar system.
Right out of Galaxy Quest...the historical documents.
but what’ll we do when they realize the “free healthcare” they have a right to, sux?
I only vaguely remember it; they do so much that is worthy of mockery.
This is a waste of money.
EVERY signal in the vhf, vhf-fm, uhf.... basically every signal that is line-of-sight and doesn’t reflect back to earth is already going out in space.
Better to read the WORD and gain an understanding of the times in which we live. JESUS is coming soon.
We borrow money at interest to send nessages to no one as if the noise from our power grid was not 50 times brighter than the sun. It changes its tone from 60 hz to 50hz and back every 12 hours. If they don’t see that they’re blind anyways.
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