Mysterious signals from 1000 light years away

[BrandonL]

In February 2003, astronomers involved in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) pointed the massive radio telescope in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, at around 200 sections of the sky.

The same telescope had previously detected unexplained radio signals at least twice from each of these regions, and the astronomers were trying to reconfirm the findings. The team has now finished analysing the data, and all the signals seem to have disappeared. Except one, which has got stronger.

This radio signal, now seen on three separate occasions, is an enigma. It could be generated by a previously unknown astronomical phenomenon. Or it could be something much more mundane, maybe an artefact of the telescope itself.

But it also happens to be the best candidate yet for a contact by intelligent aliens in the nearly six-year history of the SETI@home project, which uses programs running as screensavers on millions of personal computers worldwide to sift through signals picked up by the Arecibo telescope.

http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996341


Even if it is a false signal-it's a testament to the SET@home project that the telescope is getting so much help from around the world.

[kathleen]

I read about this in the news today. It is interesting. The point you make about SETI is true - truly amazing what can be accomplished when a bunch of people get together to get something done. The idea to run the calculations on home computers was ingenious (and probably saved a ton of money to boot). It also gives a sense of accomplishment/purpose to the millions of volunteers who willingly got involved in the project. A real boon for mankind.

The human genome project was kind of run the same way - divided between private and government agencies - who shared the information with each other.

As for the idea of "other life out there", well, why not? If the conditions are right, life can easily evolve on another planet. Intelligent life, on the other hand, is another matter. ;)

[Thunder Bay]

It's an echo; both of you need to go change your panties. ;D




p.s. Maybe it's Buzz Lightyear. ::)

[Satan]

Smartass. ;D

[McBp_2003]

"dooot doooot doooot....deeeeeeeeeet.....Toooooooo........Inffff fffff..........iinnnnnnnnnntttyyyyyyyyy.........an .....ddddddd.........beeeeeeee........
.yooooooooonnddddd."

[wellkeptsecrets]

It's an echo; both of you need to go change your panties. ;D




p.s. Maybe it's Buzz Lightyear. ::)




Are you sure it isn't ManBoy? He's making some strange sounds in a previous post. 8)

[Tiger]

Way cool. :)

[wellkeptsecrets]

Several years ago I had the SETI@ home program downloaded on my computer. When that computer died I never downloaded it to this one. You can check it out at their site.

http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/

[truelies]

Isn't this where we spend $1T USA to send Jodie Foster on a trip to nowhere?

[McBp_2003]

Isn't this where we spend $1T USA to send Jodie Foster on a trip to nowhere?


Not nowhere, to the sun and back...

[BrandonL]

No politics!!! Argh!!!