SearchLites - Vol 12 No 4

Magazine Overview

Title: SearchLites
Issue: Vol. 12 No. 4
Date: Autumn 2006
Publisher: The SETI League, Inc.
Type: Quarterly Newsletter

Main Articles

When Will We Reach India? by H. Paul Shuch, Ph.D.

This article discusses the question of when SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) might succeed. It references a prediction by Seth Shostak of the SETI Institute, who proposed in an Acta Astronautica article that SETI would detect extraterrestrial intelligence within twenty years, by 2025. Shuch explains that Shostak's prediction is based on extrapolating current trends in observational capacity and technological advancements. Shuch draws a parallel to Christopher Columbus's voyage, noting that while Columbus aimed for India, he discovered the New World, suggesting that SETI's ultimate success might come in an unexpected way. The article also highlights a paradigm shift in scientific thought, from the perception of Earth's uniqueness to the widespread acceptance of intelligent life existing elsewhere in the universe, evidenced by the question changing from "Will We Detect?" to "When?"

Book Review: Television's Pirates – Hiding Behind your Picture Tube by Robert B. Cooper, ZL4AAA, reviewed by H. Paul Shuch

H. Paul Shuch reviews Robert B. Cooper's book, which chronicles the development of satellite TV and the rise of the industry that repurposes satellite TV dishes for SETI. Shuch praises Cooper, a journalist and TV technologist, for his role in creating the dish industry. The book details the history of cable television and the satellite TV revolution, including the inside stories of those who pioneered the technology. Shuch notes that many original satellite pirates are now SETI League members. He also draws parallels between the race to intercept and decode satellite TV signals in the 1970s and the current race to detect ETI. The review mentions that Cooper's book also clarifies claims about who should be considered the 'Father of Satellite Television,' suggesting Sir Arthur C. Clarke. Shuch acknowledges that while the book is engaging and informative, it suffers from some unfortunate misspellings due to a rushed publication process and some clouded recollections by the author.

Ask Dr. SETI: Lifetime of Brown Dwarfs Dear Dr. SETI:

Margaret Turnbull of the Carnegie Institution of Washington published a list of the top 100 stars most likely to harbor life. The inquirer, Dick H., asks why brown dwarfs are not listed as likely to harbor planets with life, given their potential for long-term evolution. Dr. SETI explains that brown dwarfs are not commonly listed because few have been catalogued, and their existence was only postulated in the 1970s. While they may have a longer lifetime than typical stars, their useful period for warming a planet might be very short, possibly fading after only 10 million years. The article also mentions that brown dwarfs are important to SETI science for other reasons, including their role in the development of scientific terminology.

Ask Dr. SETI: Size of Nanobacteria Dear Dr. SETI:

Robert inquires about the purported microbes found on the Mars meteorite ALH 84001, asking if they are smaller than Earth organisms, what else they could be if not microfossils, and if primitive Earth organisms could have survived a trip to Mars. Dr. SETI clarifies that SETI is a sub-branch of Astrobiology and that the size of the structures in ALH 84001 was initially an argument against them being biological. However, nanobacteria of similar size were later discovered on Earth. While other arguments against the microfossil hypothesis exist, the jury is still out. If they are indeed unicellular life, it strengthens the theory of panspermia. The response also notes that no inorganic objects resembling these structures have been observed on Earth. The possibility of life originating on Mars and spreading to Earth is considered more likely than the reverse due to the energy required for interplanetary travel.

Ask Dr. SETI: What Were They Covering Up at Roswell? Dear Dr. SETI:

John A. from Missoula asks why the US government has provided multiple official explanations for the Roswell incident. Dr. SETI offers his opinion that the government was covering up ultra-secret test firings of captured German A-4 rockets. He suggests that the government initially hinted at an alien spacecraft, then retracted it, claiming it was a weather balloon, to distract from their actual activities. This is referred to as the 'Red, White, and Blue Herring hypothesis.' While Dr. SETI, as a SETI proponent, would like to believe in an alien spacecraft, he concludes that the evidence does not support it.

Is SETI a Religion? by Dr. David Darling

Dr. David Darling addresses the claim by George Basalla that SETI is more of a faith-based enterprise than a genuine science. Darling argues that SETI is not a religion because it does not involve worship and its 'faith' is in the scientific method, not in the absence of material evidence. He draws a parallel to the search for extrasolar planets, which also took decades to yield conclusive proof. Darling explains that SETI's goal is to test the hypothesis that intelligence exists elsewhere in the universe, and that the discovery of numerous other planets supports the idea that planetary systems are common. He also discusses the debate on how often primitive life evolves into advanced intelligence, comparing it to the 'Rare Earth' hypothesis versus the idea that intelligence arises when given a chance. Darling concludes that SETI is an extraordinary, exciting, and worthwhile quest, even though researchers are like Columbus sailing into uncharted waters.

Guest Editorial: Past - Present - Future by Dr. Alexander Zaitsev, IRE

Dr. Zaitsev discusses the temporal aspects of SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) and METI (Messaging to Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence). He explains that SETI searches for signals from the past, as celestial objects are observed as they were when they emitted light. METI, conversely, transmits messages to the future. He posits that conducting both SETI and METI signifies a 'present' and 'genuine' activity for an advanced civilization, representing a mature consciousness that seeks to overcome the silence of space. The editorial includes a diagram illustrating the concepts of Past, Present, and Future in relation to signal transmission and reception, and mentions Blaise Pascal's insight about the 'eternal silence of these infinite spaces.'

Three SETI Myths by Dr. Peter Backus

Dr. Peter Backus, Observing Programs Manager at the SETI Institute, debunks three common myths about SETI:

1. The "National SETI Agency": There is no single organization that coordinates all SETI work globally. While the SETI Institute is the largest research group with about a dozen people, it is not a government agency.
2. "All radio telescopes do SETI, all the time": Most radio telescopes are highly directional and are used for various astronomical research, with SETI projects utilizing only a small percentage of their time. The ambitious 'Project Cyclops' was never built.
3. "SETI has been listening for nearly 50 years...": This myth implies continuous listening. In reality, SETI searches have been sporadic, with limited frequency coverage, directions, and sensitivity. Only a few projects have conducted significant searching, and the field is just beginning to truly listen.

Event Horizon

This section lists upcoming conferences and meetings relevant to SETI-related information, inviting SETI League members to attend and contribute information about other events.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the current state and future prospects of SETI, the scientific basis for the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and the public's perception of SETI. The editorial stance, as represented by the articles, is one of cautious optimism and a strong defense of SETI as a legitimate scientific endeavor, distinct from religion or pseudoscience. There is an emphasis on the scientific methodology, the ongoing development of technology, and the profound philosophical implications of the search. The newsletter also serves as a platform for members to engage with the SETI community through book reviews, Q&A sessions, and event listings.