SearchLites - Vol 06 No 1

Magazine Overview

SearchLites, Volume 6, Number 1, Winter 2000, is the quarterly newsletter of The SETI League, Inc. This issue is membership-supported and dedicated to the electromagnetic Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence. The copyright is 2000 by The SETI League, Inc., with permission granted for reproduction provided credit is given. All opinions expressed are those of the individual contributors.

The Case for Active SETI

Adrian W. Kingsley-Hughes, SETI League Regional Coordinator for Wales, presents the case for active SETI. He argues that with the Millennium approaching, numerous organizations are vying to be the 'first to transmit humanity's message into space.' Kingsley-Hughes believes it is easier to ask 'What reasons are there for transmitting messages?' than for not transmitting. He observes a widespread belief that beaming any signal will guarantee contact, leading to a race where various groups want to send messages ranging from simple greetings to religious or commercial solicitations. He highlights the lack of a single, strong, fair, and impartial voice speaking for the planet, suggesting that opposition to such a unified voice stems from paranoia related to government cover-ups and UFO phenomena. Kingsley-Hughes also raises the crucial point of message content, questioning whether to send a message that includes Earth's flaws or presents an idealized version.

Introducing: Our Legal Services Chairman and South Central US Regional Coordinator

Stephen D. Carver, The SETI League's Legal Services Committee chairman and South Central US Volunteer Coordinator, shares his background. He recounts hearing about Sputnik at age nine and the subsequent Cold War anxieties. Carver's early interest in radio and shortwave listening led him to pursue amateur radio, eventually becoming a K5PT operator and obtaining a First Class Commercial radio license. He graduated in Electrical Engineering and worked for the FCC. Disillusioned with cities, he pursued law, establishing a patent law firm in Arkansas. Carver is recognized in 'Best Lawyers in America' and is a member of various professional organizations. He became involved in SETI-related activities in 1997 after reading an article by Dr. Paul Shuch and established his Project Argus station in 1998. Carver expresses a revised view on the Drake equation's 'L' factor, now believing there's a reasonable chance for scientifically inclined civilizations to survive and engage in SETI.

Guest Editorial: The Unseen Hand of Evolution

Bruce Cornet, Ph.D., a biologist and evolutionist, reflects on the origin of life on Earth. He notes the lack of data on the evolution of living cells and suggests that the complexity of the process makes it easier to assume an 'intelligent' process rather than fully understanding the biochemical steps. Cornet posits that human macro-evolution, particularly intelligence, may have been guided by an invisible 'hand' through artificial genetic selection. He argues that humans, through warfare and social issues, have limited natural selection, requiring an external influence to maintain genetic diversity and potentially guide evolution toward an unknown goal. He dismisses 'flying saucer' beliefs as akin to Victorian-era enthusiasms but seriously considers the possibility of advanced extraterrestrial civilizations.

Event Horizon

This section lists upcoming SETI League events and related conferences in 2000 and 2001, including Contact 2000, SETI League Annual Meeting, various ARRL conventions, Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers meetings, and science fiction conventions.

Director's Corner: Marriage Made in Heaven

Dr. H. Paul Shuch discusses The SETI League's Project Argus, an ambitious effort to create a global network of small radio telescopes. He presents SETI@home as a low-cost opportunity for individuals to contribute to SETI by processing data from Arecibo. However, he points out the weakness of relying on a single data source. Shuch proposes Project Argus, a distributed computing network of amateur radio telescopes scanning the sky in real time, as a complementary approach to SETI@home. He likens the combination of SETI@home's data processing and Project Argus's global network to a 'marriage made in heaven.'

A Student's Perspective: ET, Call Enrico Fermi

Mike Shupp, a graduate student in Anthropology, discusses the discovery of exoplanets and the implications for the existence of extraterrestrial life. He notes that Upsilon Andromedae has multiple planets in the 'life zone.' Shupp reviews the evidence for early life on Earth, suggesting it may have existed before the 'Age of Bombardment.' He addresses the Fermi paradox ('Where are they?') by considering Michael Hart's argument that the absence of aliens on Earth implies their absence elsewhere. Shupp also touches upon Ron Bracewell's concept of 'von Neumann replicators' for interstellar exploration. He concludes that either multi-cellular life, intelligent life, or technological civilizations are rare.

Helix Antennas, Theory and Practice

Edward R. Cole details research on axial-mode Helix antennas, citing studies by Dr. John Kraus, Darrel Emerson, King and Wong, and Lee and Wong. He mentions Mike Cook's 437 MHz tapered Helix design and his own adaptation for a 437 MHz build. Cole discusses antenna spacing, gain, and aperture, referencing Kraus's formula for the number of turns. He concludes that Kraus's formula for helix gain is too optimistic, with King and Wong, and Lee and Wong being the classic references.

L-Band Gain At Sixty Percent Off!

Dr. H. Paul Shuch reviews an inexpensive UHF TV accessory from Radio Shack that can serve as a low-noise amplifier (LNA) for amateur radio telescopes, offering a cost-saving alternative to three specialized components. He describes using a Skyvision satellite TV line amplifier and a Radio Shack coaxial in-line amplifier, detailing their specifications and how they integrate with an LNA and power supply. Shuch confirms the effectiveness of this setup for L-band radio astronomy and Ku-band applications.

Announcing: The SETI SuperStar Web Award

The SETI League announces the establishment of the SETI SuperStar Award to honor excellence in SETI website design. Noncommercial websites dedicated to SETI are eligible. Members are encouraged to nominate worthy sites, and webmasters can self-nominate. The award carries no cash honorarium, but recipients are listed on The SETI League's website and encouraged to display a graphic.

Bruno Nominations Now Due

Nominations for the 2000 Giordano Bruno Memorial Award, The SETI League's highest honor, are due by January 1, 2000. The award recognizes significant contributions to SETI. Past recipients are listed, and nominations can be submitted via email, fax, or mail.

Annual Membership Meeting Scheduled

The Sixth Annual Membership Meeting of The SETI League, Inc. is scheduled for Sunday, March 26, 2000, at SETI League Headquarters in Little Ferry, NJ. Details on location, travel recommendations, and agenda item submission are provided. The annual Board of Trustees Meeting will follow.

Back Page Information

The back page includes copyright information, contact details for The SETI League, Inc., and a form for accepting credit card payments for memberships and contributions. It also lists membership levels and associated premiums, such as T-shirts, mouse pads, and technical manuals.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently promotes The SETI League's activities and membership. There's a strong emphasis on amateur contributions to SETI research, exemplified by Project Argus and the SETI SuperStar Award. The articles explore both the philosophical and technical aspects of SETI, from the debate on active vs. passive SETI to practical advice on building radio telescopes and amplifiers. The editorial stance appears to be one of encouraging public participation and scientific inquiry in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, while also acknowledging the challenges and ongoing debates within the field.