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SETI
SETI = Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence
The SETI-project has involved scientist from the whole world in the search for
signs of alien civilizations in the universe.
They have done calculations on the probability for planets like our own to exist. The
Drakes equation.
SETI is mainly focused on using radiotelescopes, trying to find any signs of communication
between alien civilizations.
But they also spend some time on theoretical work and programming. And some work on
optical laser communication.
So far they have found nothing, and perhaps you know why ?
The radio window
SETI receive and analyze only some selected frequencies, most probable of being used
for communication. Because the earth's atmosphere is transparent to only a portion of the
entire radio bandwidth. And interstellar clouds of gas between the stars also blocks
some frequencies from passing through. Because the molecules in the clouds absorbs radio
energy. The same is true to the atmosphere of alien earth like planets.
The Drake equation
Was a first fast attempt to calculate the existence of alien civilizations with a
mathematics equation.
It was mainly intended as something to show at a meeting between scientists and other
people. But has since then grown in importance.
Frank Drake formulated his equation in 1960 in preparation for the Green Bank meeting.
This meeting, held at Green_Bank,_West_Virginia established SETI as a scientific
discipline. The historic meeting brought together leading astronomers, physicists,
biologists, social scientists, and industry leaders to discuss the possibility of
detecting intelligent life among the stars.
The equation is near completely useless because of the unknown values of some of
the parameters in the equation.
It won't give any exact number of alien civilizations, but has forced some progress in
theoretical analysis of the matter.
Dr. Frank Drake, now Professor Emeritus of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University
of California, Santa Cruz
The Fermi paradox
Italian physicist Enrico Fermi suggested in the 1950s that if technologically advanced
civilizations are common in the universe, then they should be detectable in one way or
another. (According to those who were there, Fermi either asked "Where are
they?" or "Where is everybody?")
Because they should have been here long ago, already, if the equations are correct.
The Fermi paradox can be stated more completely as follows:
The size and age of the universe incline us to believe that many technologically advanced
civilizations must exist. However, this belief seems logically inconsistent with our lack
of observational evidence to support it. Either :
(1) the initial assumption is incorrect and technologically advanced
intelligent life is much rarer than we believe, or
(2) our current observations are incomplete and we simply have not
detected them yet, or
(3) our search methodologies are flawed and we are not searching for the
correct indicators.
And the truth is (3)
The aliens have been here for thousands of years already, and they don't
use radios.
You can't use radios to search for them if they don't use radios.
But instead they use quantum physics, and they are responsible for intuition, subconsciousness,
hearing voices, demons, Gods, religion, dowsing . . .
" Early 21st century humans have no means of knowing how a superior
technology is communicating or would communicate. Negative results may simply mean humans
are making the wrong searches. "
The truth is that the aliens have invented a new tool for communication, and SETI is on
the wrong track if they focus any work on radios.
See links for more information about SETI, the Drake equation, and the
Fermi paradox.
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