SearchLites - Vol 25 No 1

Magazine Overview

SearchLites, Vol. 25 No. 1, Winter 2019, is the quarterly newsletter of The SETI League, Inc. This issue, with an ISSN of 1096-5599, is a membership-supported, non-profit educational and scientific publication dedicated to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

Little Green Man

This lead article by H. Paul Shuch, Executive Director Emeritus, revisits his song "Little Green Man" and focuses on the discovery of the pulsar by Jocelyn Bell at Cambridge. Shuch highlights that while Bell made the discovery, the Nobel Prize was awarded to her advisor, Prof. Antony Hewish, reflecting the challenges faced by women in the physical sciences in the 1960s. He notes that Bell, a humble Quaker, has always downplayed her role, attributing the oversight to the norms of the time rather than sexism. The article celebrates Bell's recent receipt of the $3 million Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, an award of significant prestige. Shuch quotes his wife, Muriel, saying, "It's about f***ing time," a sentiment he believes Jocelyn shares. Bell is donating her prize money to a scholarship fund for underrepresented minorities in physics. Shuch includes a new verse for his song, reflecting Bell's eventual recognition.

The article concludes with a reflection on the long-awaited recognition for Bell, emphasizing that her story has a happy ending, reiterating the sentiment "It's about f***ing time."

Guest Editorial: Why Don't We Answer Your Emails?

Authored by Muriel Hykes, this editorial addresses why organizations and government agencies often do not respond to urgent letters detailing paranormal sightings. Hykes uses the example of the "crazy rainbow lady" who attributed a rainbow in a sprinkler to extraterrestrial toxins. She explains that for individuals with schizophrenia, all possibilities seem equally valid due to a lack of frontal lobe "differentiator" which normally weighs information. This condition, she argues, can lead to conclusions that make no sense to a sane person, such as believing a government cover-up erased evidence of a UFO sighting.

Hykes points out that victims of malfunctioning frontal lobes genuinely believe their experiences, and resist explanations of hallucination. She notes that many famous murderers have exhibited similar justifications. The editorial draws a parallel to SETI science, where researchers are confronted by individuals who embrace personal versions of reality and insist on a single interpretation of phenomena, making them resistant to evidence or testing.

The author concludes by expressing understanding for why frenzied attempts to gain attention for such stories may be ignored, stating that there isn't time to chase fiction, even if it seems real to the experiencer. A disclaimer notes that the opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of The SETI League.

Press Release: SETI League Director Joins International Astronomical Union

This press release, dated October 20, 2018, announces that Dr. H. Paul Shuch, founding Executive Director of The SETI League, has been elected to membership in the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Although Shuch does not consider himself an astronomer, his contributions to radio astronomy and SETI research, particularly in instrumentation design and observational research, have been significant. The IAU, founded in 1919 and headquartered in Paris, promotes astronomy worldwide through international cooperation. Shuch, who is also a member of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), will step down from some of his IAA leadership roles to focus more on IAU activities. He continues as Executive Director of The SETI League on an Emeritus basis.

The IAU's activities include organizing scientific meetings, publishing proceedings, defining astronomical constants, and establishing nomenclature. Shuch expresses his honor at being elected and regrets not joining earlier, suggesting he might have influenced the decision to demote Pluto from planetary status. The article also mentions that The SETI League and other scientific groups have privatized SETI research since NASA's funding was terminated in 1993, and invites interested individuals to contact the League for more information.

Event Horizon

This section lists upcoming conferences and meetings relevant to SETI. League members are encouraged to check the SETI League website for details and to submit information about other events. Listed events include Boskone 56 (Boston, MA), Zenkaikon 2019 (Lancaster, PA), the Twenty-Fifth SETI League Annual Membership Meeting (Little Ferry, NJ), Balticon 53 (Baltimore, MD), Readercon 30 (Quincy, MA), Shore Leave 41 (Baltimore, MD), the 77th World Science Fiction Convention (Dublin, Ireland), Albicon 2019 (Albany, NY), Capclave 2019 (Rockville, MD), the 70th International Astronautical Congress (Washington DC), Philcon 2019 (Cherry Hill, NJ), and the 43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly (Sydney, Australia).

Additionally, the section mentions the SETI SuperStar Award, encouraging members to nominate SETI-relevant websites. It also features an advertisement for AmazonSmile, encouraging supporters to shop through the program to benefit The SETI League.

Eventide

This section congratulates SETI League members Tony Agnello and Richard Factor for receiving a Technical GRAMMY award for their invention of pitch-shifting and pitch-correction technology, now known as Auto-tune.

In Memoriam

This section pays tribute to several notable individuals who have passed away:

• Patricia Margaret Sterns: A longtime leader in space law, she provided guidance on legal issues related to the detection of life beyond Earth. She was an attorney in Phoenix, Arizona, served as judge pro tempore, and was a member of the IAA and the IAA SETI Committee. She passed away on May 6, 2018, at the age of 66.
• Leon Lederman: A physicist and Nobel laureate, former director of Fermi Lab and co-discoverer of the neutrino. He passed away in early October 2018 at the age of 96.
• Stephen Hawking: The renowned theoretical physicist passed away on March 14, 2019, at the age of 76. He lived for 56 years with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Membership and Renewal Information

The back page provides details for renewing SETI League memberships, listing various categories such as Full Member, Supporting Member, Scholarship Member, and Life Member, with corresponding annual dues. It also details available membership premiums, including books, CDs, and merchandise, with prices for US and international members. The SETI League accepts PayPal payments and provides contact information for inquiries. It also includes a section for address service requests.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of SearchLites include the ongoing search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI), the history and recognition of scientific discoveries (particularly concerning women in science), the challenges of distinguishing credible reports from those stemming from mental health conditions, and the organizational activities and support of The SETI League. The editorial stance, particularly evident in the guest editorial, is one of scientific rigor and a pragmatic approach to handling claims, prioritizing verifiable phenomena over unsubstantiated reports, while also acknowledging the importance of inclusivity in science and honoring significant scientific contributions.