SearchLites - Vol 24 No 4

Magazine Overview

Title: SearchLites
Issue: Vol. 24 No. 4
Date: Autumn 2018
Publisher: The SETI League, Inc.
Country: USA
Language: English
ISSN: 1096-5599

This issue of SearchLites, the quarterly newsletter of The SETI League, Inc., focuses on the intersection of SETI science and science fiction, and includes updates on SETI-related events and tools.

No Longer Science Fiction by H. Paul Shuch

In this lead article, H. Paul Shuch, Executive Director Emeritus of The SETI League, reflects on his lifelong fascination with both science fiction (SF) and SETI science. He recalls how his early exposure to SF, particularly through his mother's subscriptions to magazines like 'Amazing Stories' and his sister's copy of 'Childhood's End,' sparked his imagination. His acquisition of a ham radio license in 1961 made SETI science seem more plausible, as he realized the potential for global communication. He even wrote a short story for his local ham club newsletter about contacting a distant radio amateur. Shuch notes that by the time Richard Factor founded The SETI League, the SF and SETI communities had both merged and diverged. While many SETI scientists were influenced by SF literature, they also recognized the greater difficulty of observational science compared to storytelling. He draws a parallel between the World Science Fiction Convention (WorldCon) and the Dayton Hamvention, noting their shared characteristics of specialized language, unique attire, and enthusiastic participants. Shuch highlights the intriguing overlap between the SF and amateur radio communities, which attracted members to The SETI League. He recounts attending WorldCon 76 in San Jose, where he was surrounded by fellow enthusiasts, many of whom were inspired by SF's Grand Masters. The article concludes by emphasizing that SETI is no longer science fiction but a real science, with photos from WorldCon 76 featured in the newsletter and on the League's website and Facebook pages.

Guest Editorial: Why Should We Update the Rio Scale? by Elisabeth Piotelat

Elisabeth Piotelat, SETI League Regional Coordinator for France, discusses the need to update the Rio Scale, a tool used to evaluate the credibility and consequences of potential SETI signals. She notes that the scale, proposed in 2000 and adopted by the International Academy of Astronautics in 2003, has not been changed in 15 years, despite being designed as a work in progress. Piotelat explains that while an online calculator exists, it's difficult to explain the scoring to the general public. She uses an example of a journalist asking about a 'signal' and how she would score it, highlighting the subjective nature of the current scale. Piotelat argues for a more robust scale that yields consistent results across different SETI League members and institutions. She emphasizes the importance of considering both credibility and consequences, suggesting that a signal from a nearby star might have vastly different implications than one from a distant galaxy, even if both have similar credibility.

Piotelat shares her experience answering journalists' requests, recalling H. Paul Shuch's advice to keep sentences short and simple. She recounts an instance where a science video editor requested the term 'radio-telescope' be replaced because the team didn't know its meaning. She also describes how a scientific journalist reacted similarly to a detailed explanation of the Rio Scale, indicating a general lack of understanding about SETI concepts among the public.

Piotelat then details a specific candidate signal from HD164595, reported by Paul Gilster based on data from Dr. Alexander Panov. The signal was received by the RATAN-600 radio-telescope on May 15, 2015. When announced, it generated widespread media attention, with many SETI antennas searching for it. However, the signal was eventually identified as terrestrial interference, leading most experts to assign it a very low Rio Scale score. Piotelat explains that when interviewed about this, she focused on the IAA SETI Permanent Committee, SETI protocols, and the Rio Scale itself, rather than the specific signal. She then outlines the questions used to determine a Rio Scale value, applying them to the HD164595 detection: the phenomenon was classified as leakage radiation without possible interpretation, the discovery type was an a posteriori discovery without possibility of verification, the apparent distance was within the Galaxy, and the credibility of the report was 'Possible, but should be verified before taken seriously.'

Piotelat concludes by stating that the HD164595 signal makes the first three Rio Scale questions easy to answer, but the last one involves subjectivity. She notes that knowing co-author Claudio Maccone might have led to a higher credibility score. She reiterates the need to translate the Rio Scale quiz and scores into multiple languages to facilitate worldwide use. Piotelat stresses the importance of having objective Rio Scores in international press articles for journalists to refer to. She suggests a Rio 2.0 version is needed for social networks and specialized journalists, and that SETI, being an interdisciplinary field, requires input from linguists, psychologists, anthropologists, and sociologists to develop versions 3, 4, and 5 that can be understood and used globally.

Event Horizon

This section lists upcoming conferences and meetings relevant to SETI. Notable events include:

• Mid-Atlantic States VHF Conference, Bensalem PA (September 28-30, 2018)
• 69th International Astronautical Congress, Bremen, Germany (October 1-5, 2018)
• AMSAT General Meeting and Space Symposium, Huntsville, AL (November 2-4, 2018)
• Philcon, Cherry Hill, NJ (November 16-18, 2018)
• Boskone 56 Science Fiction Convention, Boston MA (February 15-17, 2019)
• Twenty-Fifth SETI League Annual Membership Meeting, Little Ferry, NJ (April 14, 2019)
• Balticon 53 Baltimore Science Fiction Society Annual Convention, Baltimore MD (May 24-27, 2019)
• 77th World Science Fiction Convention, Dublin, Ireland (August 15-19, 2019)
• 70th International Astronautical Congress, Washington DC (October 21-25, 2019)
• 43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly, Sydney Australia (August 15-23, 2020)

The section also encourages members to check the SETI League website for more details and to submit information about other upcoming events.

AmazonSmile and SETI SuperStar

Two promotional sections are included: one encouraging readers to support The SETI League through AmazonSmile by designating the organization as their charitable recipient, and another inviting members to nominate SETI-relevant websites for the monthly SETI SuperStar Award.

Visual Content and Event Coverage

The issue features several photographs from the recent World Science Fiction Convention (WorldCon 76) in San Jose, CA:

• Dr. Michael Busch of the SETI Institute with Dr. H. Paul Shuch.
• Michael Busch displaying a meteorite fragment shed by a near-Earth asteroid.
• Jack Clemons, Andy Fraknoi, and Michael Busch presenting a SETI panel.
• Dr. Doug Vakoch and Brother Guy Consolmagno discussing SETI detection outcomes.
• H. Paul Shuch with SETI League supporter David Brin, who is critical of METI (Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence).
• Jack Clemons reading from his memoir "Safely to Earth."
• Performers demonstrating traditional Tongan song and dance at WorldCon 76.
• H. Paul Shuch with authors Jim and Greg Benford, longtime SETI supporters.
• H. Paul Shuch with author G. David Nordley.
• H. Paul Shuch with author Greg Bear, a member of the SETI League Advisory Board.
• Mel Korshak presenting an award to Robert Silverberg.
• Chairman Kevin Roche introducing Spider Robinson and musician Frank Hayes at the Worldcon 76 opening ceremonies.

Membership and Renewal Information

Page 7 provides details on renewing SETI League memberships, listing various membership categories and their annual dues. It also offers a list of "Membership Premiums" available for purchase, such as pocket protectors, mouse pads, CDs, books, and T-shirts. The page also includes information on how to pay via PayPal and a form for address service requests.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the connection between science fiction and SETI, the practicalities and challenges of SETI research (highlighted by the discussion of the Rio Scale), and the community aspect of SETI, exemplified by the coverage of WorldCon. The editorial stance, as presented by H. Paul Shuch and Elisabeth Piotelat, is that SETI is a serious scientific endeavor that requires clear communication, robust methodologies, and public understanding, moving beyond its fictional origins.