Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Next year, scientists will send messages to search for aliens
cnet.com ^ | Daniel Oberhaus

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 ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-63 next last
To: RoosterRedux
Image result for star trek original

Image result for democrat congress

Image result for star trek eden

21 posted on 09/14/2017 10:20:48 AM PDT by ETL (See my FR Home page for a closer look at today's Communist/Anarchist protest groups)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SandRat

I hope it does not say “We taste like chicken!”.......................


22 posted on 09/14/2017 10:23:09 AM PDT by Red Badger (Road Rage lasts 5 minutes. Road Rash lasts 5 months!.....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: bgill
The aliens they’ll attract likely won’t be cute little fuzzy creatures who wouldn’t harm a fly.

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.

https://eyeofmidas.com/scifi/Turtledove_RoadNotTaken.pdf

23 posted on 09/14/2017 10:23:19 AM PDT by Riley (The Fourth Estate is the Fifth Column.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: ETL

BWAHAHAHA! Congressional Star Trek Space Hippies!


24 posted on 09/14/2017 10:24:19 AM PDT by Riley (The Fourth Estate is the Fifth Column.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: RoosterRedux

Here is the message we should send.....

“Our Lawyers Are Tasty. Stop By And Try A Million Or So.”


25 posted on 09/14/2017 10:24:40 AM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Riley

June 2016

Demanding Action On Gun Control, House Democrats Stage Sit-In

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/06/22/483091059/demanding-action-on-gun-control-house-democrats-stage-sit-in


26 posted on 09/14/2017 10:26:27 AM PDT by ETL (See my FR Home page for a closer look at today's Communist/Anarchist protest groups)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: RoosterRedux

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


27 posted on 09/14/2017 10:26:31 AM PDT by tbw2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: blueunicorn6

28 posted on 09/14/2017 10:28:14 AM PDT by Magnum44 (My comprehensive terrorism plan: Hunt them down and kill them)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: RoosterRedux

What if the Romulans answer?


29 posted on 09/14/2017 10:28:17 AM PDT by silverleaf (We voted for change, not leftover change)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

Crop circles?


30 posted on 09/14/2017 10:29:11 AM PDT by silverleaf (We voted for change, not leftover change)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Riley
Image result for hippie sit in

Related image

31 posted on 09/14/2017 10:30:10 AM PDT by ETL (See my FR Home page for a closer look at today's Communist/Anarchist protest groups)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Magnum44

They can shove more of the skinny ones into the cargo holds.


32 posted on 09/14/2017 10:31:48 AM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: RoosterRedux

Search for water planets.


33 posted on 09/14/2017 10:32:25 AM PDT by Architect of Avalon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RoosterRedux

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.


34 posted on 09/14/2017 10:33:02 AM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy (Hitlers Mein Kampf, translated into Arabic, is "My Jihad")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RoosterRedux

Right out of Galaxy Quest...the historical documents.


35 posted on 09/14/2017 10:33:20 AM PDT by Night Hides Not (Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad! Remember Gonzales! Come and Take It!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: C210N

but what’ll we do when they realize the “free healthcare” they have a right to, sux?


36 posted on 09/14/2017 10:34:09 AM PDT by orlop9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: ETL

I only vaguely remember it; they do so much that is worthy of mockery.


37 posted on 09/14/2017 10:36:17 AM PDT by Riley (The Fourth Estate is the Fifth Column.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

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.


38 posted on 09/14/2017 10:37:42 AM PDT by Clutch Martin (Hot sauce aside, every culture has its pancakes, , just as every culture has its noodle.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: RoosterRedux

Better to read the WORD and gain an understanding of the times in which we live. JESUS is coming soon.


39 posted on 09/14/2017 10:37:56 AM PDT by stars & stripes forever (Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalm 33:12)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RoosterRedux

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.


40 posted on 09/14/2017 10:42:12 AM PDT by American in Israel (A wise man's heart directs him to the right, but the foolish mans heart directs him toward the left.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-63 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson