Excerpt from techtimes.com
Extraterrestrial research experts have said that now is the time to contact intelligent life on alien worlds.
Leading figures behind the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
(Seti), which has been using radio telescope to detect unnatural signals
from space in search of intelligent extraterrestrial life, proposed an
active form of alien life search dubbed Messages to Extraterrestrial
Intelligence (Meti).
Meti signals will be targeted in parts of the galaxy where life may
exist in Earth-like planets based on the increasing number of exoplanets
identified by the Kepler space telescope.
Douglas Vakoch, a proponent of sending signals to alien life, said
that there are now natural targets for transmission projects given the
recent detection of Earth-like planets in the so-called habitable zones.
At the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement
of Science in San Jose, Seti director Seth Shostak told the attendees
that this moment is an opportune time for humans to bolster efforts to
search for other beings on other planets.
“Some of us at the institute are interested in ‘active Seti,’ not
just listening but broadcasting something to some nearby stars because
maybe there is some chance that if you wake somebody up you’ll get a
response,” Shostak said.
There are concerns, however, that actively reaching out to
extraterrestrial life could potentially lead to our planet’s
devastation.
Renowned cosmologist Stephen Hawking warned in 2010 of the potential
consequences should alien civilizations get notified of the presence of
our planet. They may be attracted to Earth and may have the technology
required to travel to our planet and exploit its resources.
The scientist likened the event of aliens visiting Earth to when
Columbus landed in America, which did not turn out favorable to the
Native Americans.
Science fiction writer David Brin, who opposes the proposal to send
the signals, said that the odds of making contact with alien life is
very low but it involves extremely high risks that require careful
consideration before somebody sends a signal to worlds potentially
inhabited by alien life. He said that shouting into the cosmos without
the right risk assessment could place the future generations of the
Earth at risk.
Radio astronomer Frank Drake described active Seti to be a waste of time at the moment.
“It’s like somebody trying to send an email to somebody whose email
address they don’t know, and whose name they don’t know,” Drake said.
Source Article from http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AscensionEarth2012/~3/0QBfa11rbUY/earth-to-aliens-scientists-want-to-send.html
Earth To Aliens: Scientists Want To Send Messages To Extraterrestrial Intelligence Possibly Living On Exoplanets
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