SearchLites - Vol 17 No 1

Magazine Overview

SearchLites, Volume 17, Number 1, Winter 2011, is the quarterly newsletter of The SETI League, Inc. This issue focuses on the interdisciplinary nature of SETI, updates on international protocols, and remembrance of a key supporter.

Six Degrees of SETI Separation by H. Paul Shuch

Executive Director Emeritus H. Paul Shuch traces a personal intellectual journey that connects seemingly disparate events and figures to the field of SETI. He begins with the pivotal moment of the Challenger shuttle explosion and the subsequent investigation led by physicist Richard Feynman. Feynman's work at Los Alamos during WWII is linked to Enrico Fermi, known for the Fermi Paradox. Shuch then introduces John Tukey, a statistician whom Feynman knew, and highlights Tukey's development of the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), a crucial tool for observational SETI. The narrative continues to Ron Bracewell, who wrote a landmark textbook on the Fourier Transform and was involved in SETI research. Bracewell's interest in SETI was motivated by the seminal article "Searching for Interstellar Communications" by Cocconi and Morrison. Morrison is described as the father of modern SETI science and a mentor to Shuch. Shuch notes that many Los Alamos scientists, including Feynman and Morrison, became pacifists. The article emphasizes that SETI is a highly interdisciplinary field, accessible from many starting points, and that the skills of individuals are needed.

SETI League Embraces New International Protocols

This section announces that The SETI League has become the first scientific organization to embrace the newly revised "Declaration of Principles Concerning Activities Following the Detection of Extraterrestrial Intelligence" (SETI protocols). These protocols, updated on September 30, 2010, by the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) SETI Permanent Study Group, replace the 1989 document and better reflect current technology and the role of the internet. Professor H. Paul Shuch, Executive Director Emeritus, states that the revised protocols provide a workable means for honoring both scientific integrity and the public's right to know. The protocols stipulate that SETI activities must be conducted with scientific rigor and total public transparency. The article mentions that since NASA's SETI funding was terminated in 1993, research has been privatized by groups like The SETI League. Contact information for The SETI League is provided for those interested in participating or supporting the search.

Declaration of Principles Concerning the Conduct of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

This document, unanimously adopted by the SETI Permanent Study Group of the IAA in Prague on September 30, 2010, outlines the commitment of individuals and institutions to conduct the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) in a scientifically valid and transparent manner. It establishes uniform procedures for announcing a confirmed SETI detection, recognizing the profound scientific, social, ethical, legal, and philosophical implications. The principles include:

1. Searching: SETI experiments will be conducted transparently, with practitioners free to report activities and results publicly and professionally.
2. Handling Candidate Evidence: In case of a suspected detection, discoverers must make all efforts to verify it, collaborating with other investigators. Premature disclosures are to be avoided, and inquiries from the media should be handled promptly and honestly. Information should be treated as provisional results, and the Rio Scale or equivalent should be used to assess significance.
3. Confirmed Detections: If verification confirms a detection by consensus, the discoverer must report it fully and openly to the public, the scientific community, and the UN Secretary General. The report must include basic data, verification processes, conclusions, and any detected information content. A formal report is also to be made to the IAU.
4. Data Availability: All data necessary for confirmation must be made available to the international scientific community.
5. Monitoring: Data bearing on extraterrestrial intelligence evidence should be recorded and stored permanently for future analysis.
6. Electromagnetic Signals: International agreement should be sought to protect appropriate frequencies.
7. Post-Detection Support: A Post-Detection Task Group under the IAA SETI Permanent Study Group will assist with matters arising from a confirmed signal and support scientific and public analysis.
8. Response to Signals: Signatories will not respond to a confirmed signal without first seeking guidance and consent from a broadly representative international body, such as the United Nations.

The revised protocols replace the 1989 document.

Ask Dr. SETI ®

Signal from a Habitable Planet?

Joe S. asks if a SETI candidate signal analyzed by Dr. Ragbir Bhathal in Australia came from the vicinity of Gliese 581g, a recently discovered Earth-like planet. The response clarifies that while a telescope was pointed in the star's vicinity, the signal was inconclusive and not necessarily from the planet. The article emphasizes the vastness of the galaxy and the low probability of pinpointing a signal's origin. It also notes that Gliese 581g, despite being in the habitable zone, is tidally locked and not particularly Earth-like, attributing much of the publicity to journalistic exaggeration.

Is The Military Taking Over SETI?

Maurice from UC Berkeley inquires about rumors of the US Navy "overrunning" SETI and potentially covering up detections. The response explains that SETI is not a single centralized organization but a science pursued by various groups. It acknowledges that the SETI Institute collaborates with UC Berkeley and that the US Navy pays for occasional use of the Allen Telescope Array for non-SETI purposes. However, it asserts that the Navy has no interest in SETI science and is not involved in covering up secrets.

In Memoriam: Dr. Malcolm I. Raff by H. Paul Shuch

H. Paul Shuch memorializes Dr. Malcolm I. Raff, a significant supporter of The SETI League. Shuch recounts meeting Raff in the mid-1970s through amateur radio and discovering a shared interest in planetary astronomy, aviation, and music. Raff, with a background in physics and astrophysics, earned a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois and later developed expertise in biotechnology, contributing to early DNA sequencing techniques and software for human genome classification. Raff explained his career transition by stating, "The tools are exactly the same... I used to use them to image the very large and distant. Now, I apply them to imaging the very small and near. Same difference." Raff was an early supporter of The SETI League, contributing financially, serving on the advisory board, and chairing the Strategic Planning Committee. Shuch recalls Raff's passion for interdisciplinary pursuits and his support for privatized science. The memorial also touches on Raff's personal life, including his love for Brazilian jazz, his 70th birthday celebration, his diagnosis with a fast-growing brain tumor, and his passing on November 3rd. He is survived by his wife, Connie Woods, a sister, a tortoise, and a cockatoo.

2010 Billingham Cutting-Edge Lecture

This section details the 2010 Billingham Cutting-Edge Lecture, "Footprints of Alien Technology," presented by Professor Paul Davies at the 61st International Congress in Prague. The lecture series, established by the SETI Permanent Study Group (SPSG) of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), honors Dr. John Billingham and showcases breakthrough SETI thinking. Professor Davies, a theoretical physicist and astrobiologist from Arizona State University, discussed his research interests, which span the origin of the universe, life, time, and quantum mechanics. He is known for his work on black hole radiation, the theory of panspermia, and the concept of a "shadow biosphere." The article lists several of Davies's awards and honors, including the Templeton Prize and the naming of an asteroid in his honor. It also highlights his extensive work as a science communicator through books, documentaries, and public presentations. His latest book, "The Eerie Silence," focuses on the search for intelligent life.

IAC 2010 Photos

This section presents a collection of photographs from the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Prague. Images include:

• Attendees at the Opening Ceremonies enjoying traditional Czech folk music and dancing.
• International Academy of Astronautics secretary general Jean-Michel Contant and president Madhavan Nair convening IAA Academy Day.
• SETI League executive director emeritus H. Paul Shuch presenting "SETI: Fifty Years in Fifteen Minutes" to mark the 50th Anniversary of the first observational SETI experiment.
• Co-authors Kathryn Denning, Claudio Maccone, H. Paul Shuch, Doug Vakoch, Stelio Montebugnoli, and Seth Shostak meeting to finalize their book, "SETI Past, Present, and Future."
• SETI colleagues Ivan Almar, Stelio Montebugnoli, and H. Paul Shuch at the Prague IAC.
• A general view of IAA Academy Day in Prague.

Back Cover: Membership and Renewal Information

The back cover provides details for renewing SETI League memberships and ordering premium items. It lists various membership categories, including Full Member, Supporting Member, Scholarship Member, and Household Member, with corresponding annual dues. It also offers a list of membership premiums such as pocket protectors, mouse pads, CD-ROMs, proceedings from SETICon and EuroSETI conferences, technical manuals, books, and music CDs. Special pricing is available for members on a "SETI Nerd Gift Set." The page includes instructions for payment via check or PayPal, and a form to update contact information. Annual memberships are issued for the calendar year, with prorated dues for those joining mid-year.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of SearchLites revolve around the interconnectedness of scientific disciplines in the pursuit of SETI, the importance of clear and transparent protocols for potential extraterrestrial contact, and the value of individual contributions to the field. The editorial stance, as reflected in the articles and the organization's actions, is one of promoting scientific rigor, public transparency, and a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence. The SETI League actively supports and participates in international efforts to advance SETI science and encourages broad public engagement.