SearchLites - Vol 23 No 1

Magazine Overview

Title: SearchLites
Issue: Vol. 23 No. 1
Date: Winter 2017
Publisher: The SETI League, Inc.
Type: Quarterly Newsletter

Main Articles and Content

Three Questions to Ponder by Ed Trice

Ed Trice opens the issue by posing three fundamental questions inspired by the movie "Contact." The first question addresses the immense complexity of cosmic motion and the difficulty of pinpointing a specific planet within it. The second question explores the fractal nature of the universe, referencing Edwin Hubble's discoveries and the concept of potentially infinite "bubble universes." The third question delves into the "Great Filter" hypothesis, questioning whether humanity has already passed it or if it still lies ahead, and whether other intelligent life forms have faltered at a similar barrier.

Executive Director's Reply

Paul, the Executive Director, acknowledges the validity of Trice's questions but states that there is no simple answer, emphasizing that "the only way to ever know is to do the experiment." He suggests that direct dialogue with extraterrestrial civilizations is unlikely, but listening through SETI is "relatively cheap, and easy." He outlines the null hypothesis (no detectable extraterrestrial civilizations) and the value of the SETI endeavor, noting that even a failed search can lead to "serendipitous discoveries."

Guest Editorial: Freelancing an Interstellar Message by Paul Gilster

Paul Gilster, writing for Centauri Dreams, discusses the challenges of METI (Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence). He argues that the primary obstacle is not technology but a lack of consensus on whether, why, and how to send intentional signals. Gilster advocates for broad discussion and agreement, drawing parallels to the debate over recombinant DNA research. He highlights the "Cosmic Call" project, a privately initiated effort involving Michael Chorost, Yvan Dutil, and Stéphane Dumas, which sent messages from the Evpatoria dish in Ukraine in 1999 and 2003. The project aimed to create a symbolic communication system understandable to an alien civilization. The article details how the project evolved from a Texas-based firm's interstellar sail concept to a message sent to multiple stars. It also touches upon the controversy surrounding METI, including the temporary halt of the Cosmic Call transmission by the National Space Agency of Ukraine due to press attention and concerns about the message's safety. Gilster concludes by emphasizing the need for a formal and codified discussion process for METI, driven by technological advancements.

Event Horizon

This section lists upcoming conferences and meetings relevant to SETI and astrobiology, including the Seventeenth annual SETI League Ham Radio QSO Party, the Twenty-Third SETI League Annual Membership Meeting, the AbSciCon 2017 Astrobiology Science Conference, and various astronautical congresses and science fiction conventions.

Member Activities

This section features an update on Scott, VE3CGN, a new member in Eastern Canada. It details his acquisition and repurposing of a 3-meter C-band satellite TV dish for his Project Argus radio telescope. The update includes photos of his progress, including refurbishing the dish frame, assembling the Ku-band dish, cleaning and painting the mesh petals, and using a Software Defined Radio dongle with Radio Sky Pipe software for signal analysis.

Ask Dr. SETI

How Long Do We Have?

In response to a question from Ruben in Portugal, Dr. SETI addresses the temporal challenges of SETI. He explains that civilizations must exist at a recognizable and compatible technological level and that the vast age of the universe means civilizations might be long dead or not yet evolved. He posits that SETI is largely a one-way enterprise, but meaningful communication is possible because civilizations evolve at different rates and radio telescopes are time machines. He suggests that finding signals depends on detecting them at the right time and distance.

Hydrogen times Pi

Dr. SETI responds to Fentro from Danbury, CT, regarding the "hydrogen times Pi" frequency mentioned in the movie "Contact." He clarifies that the frequency is not based on the atomic weight of hydrogen but on its natural resonance frequency (spin-flip transition). Multiplying this natural constant by pi (another natural constant) yields a potential "magic frequency" for interstellar communication that other civilizations might also use. He notes that Carl Sagan chose this frequency for his novel, and several SETI scientists were already monitoring it.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The SETI League, through its publication SearchLites, consistently promotes the scientific endeavor of searching for extraterrestrial intelligence. The magazine emphasizes the importance of listening (SETI) over active messaging (METI), while acknowledging the ongoing debate and ethical considerations surrounding METI. The publication encourages member participation in SETI projects and community events, and provides updates on technological advancements and relevant scientific discussions. The editorial stance supports rigorous scientific inquiry, the value of data collection, and the potential for unexpected discoveries, even in unsuccessful searches.