SearchLites - Vol 13 No 1

Magazine Overview

SearchLites, Volume 13, Number 1, Winter 2007, is the quarterly newsletter of The SETI League, Inc. The issue is dedicated to exploring various facets of SETI and related scientific endeavors, with a strong emphasis on the interplay between education and practical training.

Education vs. Training by H. Paul Shuch, Ph.D., Executive Director Emeritus

Dr. Shuch, Executive Director Emeritus of The SETI League, addresses the distinction between education (imparting knowledge) and training (acquiring skills). He argues that while often mistaken, both are vital for the SETI enterprise. Education provides the foundational knowledge, often necessary before specific skills can be acquired, while prior skills can accelerate knowledge accumulation. The SETI League's mission encompasses both, with training focused on assembling and operating Project ARGUS stations, fostering manipulative skills through hands-on practice. The organization's volunteer Regional Coordinators play a key role in this training. Dr. Shuch notes the overlap, where educators might help members build equipment, and Regional Coordinators might educate members on scientific principles behind SETI. He posits that SETI serves as an excellent educational tool, making abstract scientific theories tangible. Conversely, training in SETI requires foundational education in areas like coordinate systems. Education emphasizes facts, suited for classrooms and textbooks, while training is task-oriented, best suited for laboratories, such as an amateur SETI station. He concludes with an analogy to sex education versus sex training.

Event Horizon

This section lists upcoming conferences and meetings relevant to SETI and radio astronomy where SETI-related information will be presented. Members are encouraged to check the SETI League website or email for details. Events listed include:

• Eighth annual SETI League Ham Radio QSO Party (April 2007, April 2008, April 2009, April 2010)
• Hamvention (May 2007, May 2008, May 2009)
• Rochester Hamfest (June 2007, May-June 2008, May-June 2009, June 2010)
• Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers Conference (June 2007, June 2008, June 2009, June 2010)
• Central States VHF Conference (July 2007, July 2008)
• 65th World Science Fiction Convention (August-September 2007)
• 58th International Astronautical Congress (September 2007)
• AMSAT Space Symposium (October 2007, October 2008, October 2009)
• EME 2008 (Mid-August 2008)
• 59th International Astronautical Congress (September-October 2008)
• 60th International Astronautical Congress (October 2009)

SETI League Members Honored by European Radio Astronomers

This article reports on four SETI League members who were elected Fellows of the European Radio Astronomy Club (ERAC) at the Fourth European Radio Astronomy Congress in Heidelberg, Germany, on September 10, 2006. The honored members are Peter Wright (Germany), Marko Cebokli (Slovenia), Stelio Montebugnoli (Italy), and H. Paul Shuch (USA). They were recognized for their significant contributions to European radio astronomy. ERAC, founded in 1995, has over 250 members in 16 countries and is a SETI League-affiliated society. The article also touches upon the privatization of SETI research following NASA's funding cut in 1993 and provides contact information for those interested in supporting SETI.

Ask Dr. SETI

Frequency of the Cosmic Background

In response to a question from Stephen, a member of the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers, Dr. SETI explains that the cosmic microwave background radiation, with a temperature of 2.7 Kelvins, has a peak amplitude frequency of approximately 279.5 GHz. This is derived using Planck's Law and Wein's Law. He notes that detecting this faint emission, even at its peak, remains a challenge, referencing the original detection by Penzias and Wilson in 1963 at 4 GHz.

What Color is the Sun?

Responding to 'Colorblind in Kansas', Dr. SETI explains that the Sun, considered a 5780 Kelvin thermal blackbody, has a peak radiation wavelength of about 501 nm. This wavelength falls within the optical spectrum, approximately 29% from the red end, corresponding to the color yellow. This aligns with how the human eye, adapted to sunlight, perceives the Sun.

Earth TV as Interstellar Ambassador

TC, a writer of science fiction, poses a hypothetical scenario where aliens might judge Earth based on its television programming, suggesting it would warrant quarantine. Dr. SETI responds that decoding Earth's TV signals beyond a few light-years is highly improbable due to the nature of signal transmission. He explains that the carrier signal is detectable at much greater distances than the information-carrying sidebands. Therefore, while aliens might detect our technology, they are unlikely to understand our programming. He also notes that the chemical signature of Earth's atmosphere is a more likely indicator for aliens to deem the planet 'environmentally suicidal'.

Faster-Than-Light Revisited

Peter from New Zealand questions Dr. SETI's previous response on FTL communication, suggesting that gravity transcends the FTL barrier and that manipulation of gravity on a nano-scale could enable instantaneous communication. He believes radio communication will become obsolete. Dr. SETI agrees that his responses are simplifications and that radio communication should become obsolete if technology advances. However, he disagrees with Peter's assertions about gravity and FTL communication. He clarifies that while gravitational effects might appear instantaneous, the instantaneous appearance of a planet is not physically possible. He also expresses skepticism about quantum microwave tunneling, a proposed FTL communication method, citing a failed demonstration at a conference and classifying it as 'Technology Not In Evidence' (TNIE).

SETI League Member Launches mm-Wave Search

This article details a SETI search conducted by Peter Panayiotis Vekinis in November 2006 at the 12-meter Radio Observatory of the Steward Observatory, University of Arizona. The search focused on millimeter wave radio bands, targeting stars GJ139 and GJ71. The hypothesis is that advanced civilizations might use advanced frequencies and synchronize signals with natural timing sources like pulsars. The experiment generated nearly 6 GBytes of data, which is available for download for members to experiment with using digital signal processing techniques.

Searching for Extraterrestrial Idiots? by Dr. Alexander Zaitsev, IRE

Dr. Zaitsev responds to an editorial by Peter Backus, challenging the interpretation of the SETI acronym. While Backus argues that SETI is a 'Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence,' Zaitsev, a proponent of Messaging to Extraterrestrial Intelligence (METI), suggests that the reluctance of SETI scientists to detect signals might be due to the perceived dangers of transmission. He provocatively proposes that the acronym could imply 'Search for Extraterrestrial Idiots' if those who transmit are considered foolish.

Executive Director Introduces New Astrobiology Course

H. Paul Shuch, in his capacity as Visiting Professor at Lycoming College, has introduced a new undergraduate course titled "Life in the Universe." The course explores the origin, development, and distribution of life in the cosmos, covering topics previously addressed under the umbrella of "Bio-astronomy" and now termed "Astrobiology." The article highlights that astrobiology is a relatively new academic discipline, and few universities offer such courses at the undergraduate level.

Annual Renewal

This section is a membership renewal notice for The SETI League, Inc. It provides details on membership categories, renewal deadlines, and options for ordering membership premiums such as pocket protectors, mouse pads, and proceedings from SETICon and EuroSETI conferences. It also includes information on how to pay via credit card.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the practical and theoretical aspects of SETI. There's a consistent emphasis on the importance of both education and hands-on training for members engaged in SETI activities, particularly with Project ARGUS. The newsletter also explores the scientific underpinnings of SETI, such as the cosmic microwave background and radio wave propagation, while also engaging with speculative topics like FTL communication and the potential implications of Earth's broadcast signals for extraterrestrial intelligence. The editorial stance, as reflected in the articles, is one of rigorous scientific inquiry, tempered with a pragmatic approach to technological possibilities and a commitment to advancing the search for extraterrestrial intelligence through both knowledge dissemination and skill development.