SearchLites - Vol 14 No 3

Magazine Overview

Title: SearchLites
Issue: Vol. 14 No. 3
Date: Summer 2008
Publisher: The SETI League, Inc.
Type: Quarterly Newsletter

Key Articles and Features

SETI League Announces Annual Awards

The SETI League announced its annual awards at its New Jersey headquarters on April 20, 2008. Dr. Ivan Almar of Hungary was honored with the Giordano Bruno Memorial Award for technical excellence in SETI, specifically for developing the San Marino Scale and co-authoring the Rio Scale, analytical tools for assessing the impact of transmissions and quantifying extraterrestrial signals. Tom Crowley of the United States received the Orville Greene Service Award for his exemplary volunteer service to the organization, including his role as a SETI League volunteer Regional Coordinator and his efforts to bridge The SETI League and the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers (SARA).

Formal award presentations were scheduled for later dates: Prof. H. Paul Shuch planned to present Crowley with his plaque at the SARA Annual Meeting in Green Bank, WV, in late June, and to honor Almar at the IAA's International Astronautical Congress in Glasgow, Scotland, in September.

Guest Editorial: Evolution vs. Panspermia

By Prof Alex Antonites, SETI League Regional Coordinator for South Africa.

This editorial explores the relationship between Darwin's hypothesis of evolution and the concept of panspermia. Antonites clarifies that the idea of a 'primeval soup' and evolution from sea to land was originally formulated by the Greek philosopher Anaxagoras, while Darwin's contribution was the principle of natural selection. The editorial then introduces panspermia, the hypothesis that seeds of life exist throughout the universe and were seeded on Earth and other celestial bodies via comets or meteors. This idea also has ancient Greek philosophical roots.

Antonites argues that evolution and panspermia are not mutually exclusive. Evolution describes the origin of life from non-life (abiogenesis) on Earth, while panspermia connects Earth to the rest of the universe through external seeding. He suggests that panspermia could act as a catalyst, accelerating and enriching life's processes, and that Darwinism does not preclude the possibility of external seeding. Ultimately, panspermia is seen as an expansion, rather than a contradiction, of evolution.

Remembering Sir Arthur C. Clarke

By H. Paul Shuch, Executive Director Emeritus.

This personal remembrance reflects on the life and influence of Sir Arthur Charles Clarke, the renowned science fiction author and communications engineer. Shuch recounts Clarke's profound impact on his own career, citing Clarke's seminal article 'Extraterrestrial Relays' and his concept of the geosynchronous orbit. Shuch details his first meeting with Clarke in 2000 and a subsequent visit to his home in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He shares an anecdote about Clarke's single share of Comsat stock, which he gifted to The SETI League, highlighting Clarke's generosity and support for the organization. Shuch notes that Clarke eulogized Isaac Asimov as 'the world's second-greatest science fiction writer,' and Shuch inscribed a song he wrote, 'Extraterrestrial Relays,' with a similar tribute to Clarke.

Remembering Marc Arnold, Esq.

By A. Heather Wood, Secretary/Treasurer.

This piece reports the passing of Marc Arnold, a SETI League Trustee since its inception, on April 11, 2008. Arnold is remembered as an attorney, a Charter Member of The SETI League, and a person with a strong sense of humor and commitment to social justice. He was involved in early non-violent demonstrations for civil rights and peace, spearheaded nuclear-free zone efforts in New Jersey, and was interested in world spiritual traditions. Arnold became The SETI League's Registered Agent and provided pro bono legal services. His belief that 'we are not alone in the universe' is highlighted.

Ask Dr. SETI: Do Signals Degrade to Thermal Noise?

In response to a reader's question, Dr. SETI addresses the concern that radio energy pumped into space might be thermalizing to noise within a few light-years. Dr. SETI disagrees, citing the Drake-Helou Limit, which describes spectral dispersion in the Interstellar Medium (ISM) affecting radio signals. He explains that even for coherent signals like the hydrogen line, the dispersion is minimal (milliHertz), indicating artificiality is still evident. While acknowledging that some UHF TV broadcasts may spread too much for video decoding, the carrier signal's coherence, according to the Drake-Helou Limit, still suggests artificial origin.

Event Horizon

This section lists upcoming conferences and meetings relevant to SETI, including the Contata 5 / NEFilk 18, Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers Conferences, Central States VHF Conferences, World Science Fiction Conventions, and the International Astronautical Congress, spanning from June 2008 to October 2010.

Minutes of the Fourteenth Annual Membership Meeting

• The meeting was convened on April 20, 2008, at SETI League Headquarters. Key actions included:
• Acceptance of the 2007 Membership Meeting minutes.
• Presentation of the Treasurer's Report, detailing 2007 revenues ($21,719) and expenses ($14,841), resulting in a surplus of $6,878. The 2008 budget projected revenues of $18,200 and expenses of $15,000, with a projected surplus of $200.
• Acceptance of the Executive Director's annual report.
• Committee Reports: The EME Committee reported on moonbounce system reconfiguration and antenna repairs.
• Old Business: A mid-year renewal letter was sent to lapsed members, yielding a 50% return. The 2007 Annual Report was made available online. Gratis one-year renewals were offered to Committee Chairs and Regional Coordinators who continued their volunteer service.
• New Business: The SETI League will assist SARA with its annual technical conference and editing proceedings. Awards for Dr. Ivan Almar and Tom Crowley were announced. The next Annual Meeting is scheduled for April 19, 2009.
• Good and Welfare: A moment of silence was observed for Marc Arnold and Sir Arthur C. Clarke.
• Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 13:25 hours EDT.

Business Transacted by Board of Trustees

• A quorum was present with Trustees Richard Factor, A. Heather Wood, and H. Paul Shuch.
• Officers were retained for a one-year term: Richard Factor (President), A. Heather Wood (Secretary/Treasurer), and H. Paul Shuch (Executive Director Emeritus).
• Richard Factor was appointed Registered Agent following Marc Arnold's death.
• The Board voted to continue cost-sharing of the Executive Director Emeritus' health insurance premiums.
• An offer was made to SARA members for extended SETI League memberships and a free copy of Project Cyclops.
• Two new members were appointed to the Advisory Board: Greg Bear and Prof. Paul Davies.

Book Review: Ham Radio's Technical Culture

By Kristen Haring, reviewed by Frank Etzler.

Frank Etzler provides a critical review of Kristen Haring's book, finding the scholarship to be poor and the author's ignorance of radio and radio amateurs to be significant. The review criticizes the book's reliance on QST back issues and lack of direct engagement with the amateur radio community, leading to a narrow, American-centric view. Etzler argues that the book fails to capture the diversity and contributions of radio amateurs, suggesting that money would be better spent on other books.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The SETI League, as represented in SearchLites, maintains a strong focus on promoting SETI science, fostering community among amateur radio operators and scientists, and acknowledging significant contributions to the field. The publication emphasizes the importance of volunteerism, scientific rigor, and open discussion of hypotheses like panspermia. The editorial stance appears to be one of encouraging scientific inquiry, supporting amateur radio's role in scientific endeavors, and honoring individuals who have made substantial contributions to SETI and related fields. There is a clear dedication to the organization's mission of searching for extraterrestrial intelligence.