1973 04 00 Science et Vie No 667

Magazine Overview

This issue, titled "Premiers documents 'officiels' sur les extra-terrestres" (First 'official' documents on extraterrestrials), presents a collection of articles discussing the scientific exploration of extraterrestrial life and civilizations. The cover highlights two books published simultaneously in the United States and Russia, patronized by MIT and the USSR Academy of Sciences, authored by Nobel laureates, focusing on the study of extraterrestrial civilizations.

Soviet Research and the CETI Conference

The article details the ongoing research program in the Soviet Union, led by Professor V. Troitski at the Institut de Radiophysique of Gorki University. For over three years, Troitski's team has been using radio telescopes to systematically search for signals emitted by extraterrestrial civilizations, which he believes exist at distances of 100 to 1000 light-years. While previous attempts to detect signals were found to be of local origin (e.g., interaction of solar winds), the program continues with international collaboration.

Key findings and details of this research were to be published in the proceedings of the first international Conference on Communications with Extraterrestrial Intelligence (CETI), held discreetly in September 1971 at the Burakan Observatory in Armenia. This conference brought together prominent scientists from various disciplines, including Nobel laureates F. Crick and C. Townes. The CETI conference was a result of an agreement between the US and USSR Academies of Sciences, aiming to discuss recent astronomical and biological findings, evaluate the probability of extraterrestrial life, and establish a research program for detecting signals.

Historical Context and Theoretical Frameworks

The article traces the origins of this scientific inquiry back to the early 1960s with the American Project Ozma, initiated by J. Cocconi, Ph. Morrison, and F. Drake. While the US effort was largely academic, the Soviets, inspired by K. Tsiolkovski, maintained a strong interest in extraterrestrial civilizations. Notably, Soviet astronomer Kardashev once interpreted signals from a quasar as an extraterrestrial emission. In 1964, a national conference in the USSR led to the establishment of a research strategy based on the idea that advanced extraterrestrial civilizations would inevitably degrade and radiate energy, creating detectable 'residues' in the environment.

Existence of Planetary Systems and Life

The existence of planetary systems similar to our own is considered highly probable, with astronomer Van de Kamp providing evidence for a companion to Barnard's Star. Estimates suggest that a significant percentage of stars (like G-type stars) host planetary systems. The question then shifts to whether life can develop on these planets similarly to Earth. The article dismisses the idea of panspermia (life spreading via spores) due to harsh cosmic radiation. Instead, it posits that life must arise spontaneously on a planet under favorable conditions, as suggested by experiments like Miller's, which recreated primitive Earth conditions in a lab. However, Nobel laureate Crick disagrees, attributing the origin of life on Earth to pure chance and doubting its reproducibility elsewhere.

Evolution of Intelligence and Civilizational Types

The consensus among CETI participants is that if life is possible on other worlds, it would likely evolve towards intelligence, mirroring Earth's trajectory. The article discusses the concept of technological civilizations and introduces Kardashev's classification of civilizations based on their energy consumption: Type 1 (Earth-level), Type 2 (planetary system-level), and Type 3 (galactic-level). It is suggested that Type 2 civilizations might develop artificial intelligence, with machines potentially leaving their home systems to join galactic super-civilizations.

Detecting Extraterrestrial Signals

Advanced civilizations are expected to re-emit energy, particularly in the infrared spectrum, which could be detected by telescopes. American scientist Dyson proposed that celestial sources of infrared radiation might originate from extraterrestrial civilizations. The possibility of these civilizations being near comets is also considered. The article also touches upon the idea that advanced civilizations might utilize unknown physical laws, possibly involving black holes for intergalactic travel, a concept often explored in science fiction.

Communication and Potential Contact

Soviet astrophysicist V. L. Guinzbourg suggests that the laws of physics might differ in other regions of the universe. If extraterrestrial civilizations operate under similar physical laws, they might communicate through networks that we haven't yet detected. The primary method for communication is considered to be through Hertzian waves. Projects like the Arecibo radiotelescope and the proposed 'Cyclope' antenna array aim to send and receive signals over vast distances. The article also discusses the potential use of optical lasers for communication, though this is contingent on knowing the target civilization precisely.

Societal Impact of Contact

The potential consequences of receiving a signal from an extraterrestrial civilization are compared to the discovery of radioactivity – an event whose profound impact was not immediately understood. While direct contact is not expected to be immediately disruptive, the long-term consequences could be considerable. It is speculated that extraterrestrials might assist humanity in advancing, and that hostile intentions are unlikely, especially since radio contact poses no inherent danger. A significant challenge is the time delay in communication; a response to a signal from 100 light-years away would take a century to reach its destination, by which time the originating civilization might no longer exist.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently emphasizes the scientific pursuit of extraterrestrial intelligence, highlighting international collaboration (particularly between the US and USSR) and the role of advanced technology like radio telescopes. It presents a cautiously optimistic view on the likelihood of extraterrestrial life and intelligence, while acknowledging the immense challenges in detection and communication. The editorial stance appears to be one of promoting scientific inquiry and open-mindedness towards the possibility of life beyond Earth, grounded in current scientific understanding and theoretical extrapolation.