Radio eyes open wide

steve smyth lynn ma — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 01:56:06 GMT

even if they're out there, what makes anyone think we'd recognize an alien life form?
never could figger that one...
ain't it all a big life form?

Radio eyes open wide

roger jones reno navada — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 05:53:27 GMT

cant we speed this along? we are headed in the right direction. i would like to see more of that other galaxy out side our milkyway it called the sagittarius galaxy . you know the one that hasnt fallen in with us yet its sort of sitting at 2 oclock from us now explain that one ... how did it get there ... wouldnt it be the first stuff blown out during the big bang?

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Greg Martin, Bethesda MD — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 13:42:52 GMT

A mere 50 million bux for this kind of promising science??? Thats about 10 minutes worth of Iraq war spending. Chickenplop. You'd think the govt could spare some real change...

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Bill Bates, Miami Beach, FL — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 13:55:40 GMT

We can't seem to get along with all of the alien's on earth. Add a few more different life forms and I can't imagine the challenge. Still I'm for it, curiosity or a desperate hope they might bring us the wisdom we need to live in peace.

Radio eyes open wide

Mike, Rockford IL — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 14:04:16 GMT

Just detecting intelligent life would be profound.
But how about commuication? impossible, even the closest stars ( which I'm sure we have checked)are 4 light years away. Do we want to wait at least four years for a reply? better say a mouthful.

Radio eyes open wide

John, Rome, NY — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 14:19:31 GMT

God help ET if we humans find him, especially if he tastes good.

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Frank Glover, Rochester NY — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 19:32:32 GMT

"You'd think the govt could spare some real change... "

NASA once tried. The late senator William Proxmire gave it one of his 'Golden Fleece Awards.' It was dropped from their budget soon thereafter.

http://www.planetary.org/news/2005/
1216_Society_Marks_Passing_of_SETI_Critic.html

http://www.setileague.org/songbook/taxcut.htm

http://openseti.org/OSCost.html

Remember, there's still a 'giggle factor' in SETI research to some people, and if those people hold the purse strings, backed up by those who say "We should take that money and spend it on (fill in blank) instead.' Then it fals to private sources with vision and deep pockets.

(Of course, there are those who would *still* try to say that those people, using their own personal after-taxes wealth, should spend it on [fill in blank], instead of one space-related activity or another...)

Radio eyes open wide

Chris Kleckner — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 20:31:47 GMT

I really appreciate Paul Allens' contribution to this project.

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Bob , Los Angeles CA. — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 22:22:48 GMT

Intelligent life, if it exists, has been listening to us since the radio was invented. If they are intelligent, they wil stay the hell away until we have made this planet into a cinder, and then come in and see if they can fix what'a left. I submit this as an optimist but knowing that a pessimist is simply an optimist with experience.

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Mokie, Haleiwa, Hawaii — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 22:36:50 GMT

My worry is that they will find US, and decide WE taste good.

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Austin — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 23:41:53 GMT

I have heard E.T. tastes like chicken...mmmmm, chicken.

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magnus, Cincinnati, Ohio — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 01:15:40 GMT

E.T. heard that we taste like chicken...mmmmm, chicken.

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Gary, Little Rock, AR — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 01:27:08 GMT

We cannot understand communication of a single species on Earth. What makes anyone think we can talk two whatever is out there?

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Colorado Springs, CO — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 01:40:25 GMT

I agree, they might think we taste good, yikes! I am excited by this project, and am glad people like Paul Allen are willingly to help.

Radio eyes open wide

L.H., Colorado — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 04:36:20 GMT

Oh, the indignity of it all -- to know that they've been watching "I Love Lucy" reruns all these years.

I think we may prefer to hide our heads in shame, than to seek out those life forms who have viewed such lunacy.

Radio eyes open wide

David Kagan, Mesa, AZ — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 04:37:06 GMT

Glad that Paul Allen helped fund this new radio telescope array, and pointed it in the direction of SETI. Maybe as Seth Shostak mentioned, the next few dozen years could prove interesting, like in discovering definitive signs of life out there. Now that would knock everybody's socks flat!

In the meantime, sure wouldn't do any harm to put in a few hours a week to probe cosmic phenomena like gamma-ray bursts, just in case
one might occur nearby and negatively impact Earth. Always good to be prepared.

BTW, just have to say that over the years I've been both educated and entertained by Alan Boyle's great scientific and technological diversity and substance in his Cosmic Log. It fills a great void, because we all know nature abhors a vacuum, especially of knowlege.

Radio eyes open wide

Jon Simpson , Jacksonville Florida — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 07:50:48 GMT

The immediate point is not to communicate as the amount of time to transmit is going to be waaaay beyond anyone of our lives. The point is primarily to show that there is ET life. This alone would have such an impact on our society and force us to think more profoundly than many of us have dared. I welcome it!!!

Radio eyes open wide

Nadir Muthu, Dubai, UAE — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 08:04:53 GMT

great work by the people involved in this! one of the least understood science right now is cosmology... i hope this helps to learn about ourselves better

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Jason — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 08:56:19 GMT

With all the new data I wonder if the SETI@Home project will get overwhelmed

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Darin Iversen — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:48:29 GMT

E.T has already found us talking monkeys. We are too primitive and violent as of yet. Perhaps when we stop killing one another en masse they will contact us for brunch!

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James Phillips, Crofton, Maryland — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 16:03:08 GMT

We seem to miss the point..its not about finding intelligent life..but the fact that the technology has advanced so far to allow us to scan vast amounts of stars at once. Now that the technology exist other applications will emerge..some more usefull than others..The best part is that this technology represents the future of radio astronomy and hopefully the basis for all future designs..ty

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Carl Bredberg — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 16:53:27 GMT

Maybe Paul Allen can get his buddie Bill Gates to throw in a little of his pocket change to complete the project.

Radio eyes open wide

jim Willmot — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 18:24:40 GMT

How ironic...we are using new science and technology to search for intelligent life in far away galaxies while here in my home state of Kentucky we just opened a creation museum with the tacit approval of our evangelical govenor. Meanwhile, fundamentalist Islamists want the world to return to the dark ages. Unfortunately, they have 21st century weapons. Beam me outa here Scotty.

Radio eyes open wide

Rod S, Twilight Zone — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 21:39:03 GMT

To Serve Man .. it's .. a cook book!!!

Radio eyes open wide

Brian Fraser, Scottsdale, Arizona — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 21:45:58 GMT

From:
http://members.andiamo-tel.com/~bfraser/4v4a/MKSURE.html :

"If extraterrestrial life is so abundant, why don't we just go out and find it? Antigravity technology and spacecraft speeds greater than light should be within our reach in not too many years. Simple experiments that demonstrate the essential principles can be done by today's hobbyists! I have also outlined pertinent principles in Advanced Stellar Propulsion Systems (see especially the section on Motion Cancellers). To heck with the SETI project. Let's spend our money building a stardrive so we can go find THEM instead of passively waiting for them to come to US. Build small starships and go look for alien civilizations on other planets. Hunt 'em down and invite 'em over for brownies! If they are out there, they did not come into existence by evolution. The general Christian view is that such intelligent physical creature life, if it exists, must have been created by God, and in the image of His qualities. So let's go meet 'em! —if they are out there."

See also:
http://members.andiamo-tel.com/~bfraser/4v4a/ADVPROP.html

Radio eyes open wide

Pat G, Hendersonville, nc — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 22:29:35 GMT

I think the search for other life in the cosmos is about making humans realize that there are bigger reasons for living peacefully together and eventually reaching out as a civilized society.

Radio eyes open wide

Luis Villanueva. Pflugerville, TX — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 01:39:30 GMT

All hearsay, no solid proof of alien was ever found. Roswell? Doubt it. Abductees, they just want their 15 minute of fames. We are just curious about our surroundings up and down because humans are intelligent beings. NASA already sent a radio 30 or 50 years ago into the deep space with the "i love lucy" and some Blues Songs and until now nobody has even pick up the signal yet if some alien had already listen to it or is already in the possession of one. How about feed the hungry instead of spending millions of dollars in a project that nobody knows whats going to happen, it's all speculations. Feed one hungry person and maybe that person will even live longer.

Radio eyes open wide

Jim Pickett, Bozeman, MT — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 02:52:53 GMT

Any alien who could reach Earth would probably enslave us as too primitive to be interesting and we can't travel light years before we have to replace fossil fuels and probably reduce our human population to maintain a reasonable GDP per capita. See the data at www.zpgjames.com

Radio eyes open wide

Arne P. Ryason, Hailey, Idaho — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 04:09:29 GMT

If this telescope found signs of alien life would "they" allow the public to know about such a finding?

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Zach — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 11:50:14 GMT

What about how fast they re traveling if we were to see them? it's like going to fast through a speed camera. it would not register a picture. How are we any different?

Radio eyes open wide

Taylor, DFW, TX — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 12:03:56 GMT

It's outrageous to decide that other lifeforms have discovered the same exact technology as we have. :-/ Silly geese.

Radio eyes open wide

David — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 15:35:23 GMT

to Bob, LA. "Intelligent life, if it exists, has been listening to us since the radio was invented."

So, if there is a habitable planet within 70 light-years of earth, and if they are listening to the AM bands, and if they have a strong enough receiver to pick up the greatly attenuated signal, they may be listening. But I doubt it. 70 light-years is an incredibly small radius. Also, If we take the time it took for earth to evolve (or for God to get around to creating) intelligent life, and if we extrapolate it to the rest of the galaxy, I doubt we'll hear anything for a few thousand years more.

Radio eyes open wide

Farrell, Austin, TX — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 15:37:46 GMT

The Laws of the Jungle will soon be replaced with the Laws of community. Instead of steal kill & destroy, it will be Justice, Mercy and GoodFaith. This is the inevitable destiny of any advanced society. Let us chain our Demons now, then reach for the stars, rather then pollute the universe.

Radio eyes open wide

Steven, Highlands Ranch, Colorado — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 15:40:41 GMT

What you have to ask yourself and everyone around you is 'what will the discovery of alien life do to the religions of the world?' Some, like Buddhism, Taoism and Wiccan will continue you on, Christianity, Judaism and Muslim would be seriously challenged as to the validity of their texts.

Radio eyes open wide

David — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 16:13:32 GMT

As far as what discovery of Alien life (not counting tdhat which crosses the borders every day) does to religion, can't say as it matters much. After all, all religions say non-believers will go to hell, and as an alleged physics student put it, no one can belong to more than one religion, so everyone is destined for hell. Wonder if we'll meet the Aliens there?

Radio eyes open wide

james o'brien fl — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 17:41:45 GMT

The problem I see is, what if we are the most intelligent life out there? SCARY THOUGHT, isn't it? Some thing has to be the smartest thing. WE might be it. Then again we might be the only thing out there. Who knows?

Radio eyes open wide

Mike — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 19:06:13 GMT

To Bob of Los Angeles: But aren't the aliens you're refering to "experienced" and as you put it, pessimistic?

Radio eyes open wide

Jeff, Ridgewood, NJ — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 20:32:54 GMT

I agree with Steven... the main achievement of finding life outside of planet earth will be the perspective it will give to humans as a whole. Didn't the world come together when we landed on the moon? Well, if we found proof of life on another planet, how would the world religions respond? All of their ancient stories would no longer be considered "fact", and maybe people would stop thinking that "GOD" made us, and only us. Maybe another lifeform can tell our whole world that "GOD" didn't single humans out as "the one", and knock us all down a notch, humbling us back to our place in the natural universe.

Radio eyes open wide

Guy S. Newell — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 21:52:13 GMT

What if the aliens ARE chickens? Big chickens that don't like the way we treat their brethern here on Earth? Big chickens with advanced weapons like little lazers strapped to their spurrs? What if they like to sit around and bet on human fights? What if we're just a form of entertainment for advanced chicken life forms that set this all up so they can wager on the outcome? Wouldn't that explain alot? Huh? The chicken theory of everything.

Radio eyes open wide

Frank Glover — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 22:25:34 GMT

"Antigravity technology and spacecraft speeds greater than light should be within our reach in not too many years."

We don't know if physics permits either of those things as yet. Call me back if and when we have firm reason to believe it does.

(And understand, I WANT those things, I even strongly SUSPECT they're possible, but the Universe isn't obliged to concur with my gut feelings...

And, as has been noted elsewhere, if FTL is possible, it makes it even harder to explain why no one's been here already, if intelligent, technological civilizations are not very rare [thus Fermi's Paradox] Contrary to several above postings, even self-destructive civilizations can be worthy of contact and observation. Espically one quite unable to follow them home.)

Radio eyes open wide

Jason B, Pleasant Hill, CA — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 22:33:21 GMT

Keep in mind, we've only been transmitting signals (through our own radio waves) for what, 100 years now?? That means that we'd only make ourselves know to civilizations within 100 light years of us. That's VERY close. In other words, if some other alien civilization exists and has been transmitting radio signals for, say, the last 10,000 years, we'd have to still be pretty darn close to that star/planet in order for us present day humans to detect them with our instruments, and we'd be detecting a civilization as it existed 10k years ago when the signals left. The sheer vastness of space makes for some crazy observations!

Radio eyes open wide

Andy — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:57:28 GMT

At what point do we admit that we are indeed alone?
If we scan a million stars for a million years and detect nothing, what have we really accomplished?

Radio eyes open wide

John, Oklahoma — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:53:47 GMT

Why do we want to know if we are alone, or if there are other creatures out there? What drives us to find out? Is it a fear that we are truly the only ones, or, a desire to issue a collective sigh of relief upon discovery that we aren't? Do we want to put an end to religion's tight grip on our ancient fears, or do we hope to gain from other's knowledge?

Life on earth started from the right combination of chemicals, energy and let's face it, luck. All that goop had to be in the right place at the right time, and it may have happened multiple times during our planet's formative years. Since that's the case, the laws of probability dictate that this cannot be the only place where it all came together. The only uncertainty is how many others, and where are they in their evolutionary progress?

I hope we find them soon, before my own molecules again become part of Earth's relentless recycling of all organic matter.

Radio eyes open wide

David Duncan — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 00:50:33 GMT

Michael Crichton did a pretty good job of putting the Drake equation in its place, and that's much of the logic behind the SETI search. I also think its absurd that so many are convinced alien civilizations are out there, but they couldn't possibly be visiting us now. We're a young civilization, and look at what we could do. Who says a race a thousand years ahead of us couldn't do now what we think today is impossible? And who says if they were visiting us, they'd want us to know unequivocally that they are? Lots of unwarranted assumptions up and down the field...check out:

www.keyhoereport.com

for more in depth information about SETI and the "competing" hypotheses...

Radio eyes open wide

Thomas Ashby, Calgary — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 21:54:32 GMT

The whole idea to me of travelling blindly through interstellar space is ludicrous, let alone intra-galactic travel. ET would have had to designed a telescope with a diameter the size of the solar system to home in on our earth system. Then they would have to come to the assumption that..oh look a water planet with continents...must be earthlings..lets go.

Radio eyes open wide

Des Emery, St. Thomas, ON, Canada — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 05:49:15 GMT

Jeff and Steve -- If you have actually read the Bible, you will have noted that Christ, in teaching (he was a Rabbi, remember) his early converts explained himself to them as a Good Shepherd and made a passing reference to "...other sheep I have, who are not of this fold..." Which could be interpreted quite easily as 'not of this world.' Just a thought.

John of Oklahoma -- The co-incidence of life forming here on Earth under certain circumstances has to be almost unique in the universe, but means that all life everywhere would form under similar circumstances. The development of life from that primordial, warm, dark, wet and poisonous soup is quite another thing and relies on many more co-incidences in a particular sequence to have resulted in you and me. I think there are enough co-incidences in total to obliterate the 'billions and billions' of chances advocated by Carl Sagan in pushing SETI, making us completely unique.

Thomas Ashby - I'm working on a novel of sorts, with the original premise of a spaceship which does indeed travel 'blindly' both in interstellar space and intergalactic regions, logically. Like Pogo, it becomes obvious that "We have met the enemy, and he is us."

Radio eyes open wide

Doc W, Orbis Primus — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 09:29:40 GMT

For one thing, if there were ETs, they would not be on the menu for humans, nor would we be on their menu. We'd have radically different, thus incompatible biochemistries.

For another thing: If there were ETs and they could come here, why would they want to? This planet's a mess. And if we had the technology to travel to oher planets, I'd want to go to one that didn't have an indigenous intelligent life. I'd want to go to one that was uninhabited!

Finally, to the either/or-thinking idiots who want us to cease scientific research to feed the hungry--YOU go feed the hungry! You know What you'll get? More hungry mouths to feed. With the world as overpopulated as it already is, starvation is one problem that will solve itself.

Finally, for those who always want to bring God into every discussion on this blog, if He exists, HE's an alien!

Radio eyes open wide

AJ, MD — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:16:08 GMT

If there was ET life and they had been watching us for x amount of years, they probably wouldn't want to meet us. They would've seen enslavement, war, and some of our movies featuring us blowing up aliens. That would be enough for them to want to stay as far away from us as possible. I don't believe that there is other life out there, but just something to think about anyway.