Looking for alien lasers, not radios

New Scientist Space ^ | 04/15/06

[Zeppo]

says Paul Horowitz, an astronomer at Harvard University

If I'm not mistaken, that is the same Paul Horowitz who is the co-author of The Art of Electronics, which is one of the best textbooks ever written for learning electronics theory as well as hands-on electronics. Add the ARRL Radio Amateur's Handbook and you have an unbeatable one-two punch in the electronics books department.

Whether either book will lead to successful communication with aliens is less certain, though...

[Laz711]

True, but I think the theory is, that at some point, an alien intelligence decided to broadcast radio (or other EM) signals out into space, either on purpose, or not. They may have used it for years, or even centuries, before something else (might have) come along. If some of the calculations as to the amount of life in the Universe are close, then we would recieve signals, even if the race that created them has moved on, or is long gone.

Suffice it to say, that no one knows. It is impossible to know if this is a good idea or a bad idea, but who can fault anyone for trying? If it doesn't work, then oh well, we are still alone. But, if it does work, then that opens up whole new doors.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I would imagine aliens would seek communication methods that would travel faster than light, but what would it be...

Quantum Entanglement is what you are looking for.

[George - the Other]

"Klaatu barada nikto"

[gregwest]

ETs have probably been monitoring our radio emissions for decades. The 1950's and 1960's were hotbeds of UFO activity. Then the 70's hit and the sightings dropped dramatically. They probably got an earful of Disco music and decided we needed another 100 years or so before we were ready for contact. If Elvis and the Beatles ever come back in a big way, maybe they'll return.

[Coyoteman]

That's one of my big gripes about the scientific community.What is unassailable now that schoolchildren will snicker at in another hundred years?

Do you know of any shortcuts?

[Jaysun]

Tricky. Hey, am I the only man on this planet that thinks that light moving as a body through space is nonsense? I think the idea of "light years", as most understand it, is absurd.

[demlosers]

I would imagine aliens would seek communication methods that would travel faster than light, but what would it be...

And of course that would be subspace communication. ;^)

[Ronin]

Two questions:

Are WE sending out such signals?

Do we really want to?

Searching for evidence of life outside the solar system is something I am all in favor of.

Revealing our home address to ETs seems a lot like playing fast and loose with credit card information on the Internet.

[SteveMcKing]

Any space faring race will need a means of communication that's faster than light.

Apple sells tachyon modems.

Um, anyway. This seems to assume that aliens might not only aim a laser at us, but at a 1.8 meter telescope of indescript positioning on earth.

Personally, I am betting on the Allen Array to find something. In my professional opinion, I mean...

[6SJ7]

True, but I think the theory is, that at some point, an alien intelligence decided to broadcast radio (or other EM) signals out into space, either on purpose, or not. They may have used it for years, or even centuries, before something else (might have) come along.

We might pickup the alien version of "I Love Lucy". That would be cool!

[Laz711]

Exactly!! We don't know. We can't know. But, if we don't try to find out, we never will know.

[TXnMA]

And lightyears are distance, not time...

Nice try, Chode! '-)

[Riley]

Do you know of any shortcuts?

Shortcuts? To what? My criticism isn't directed at the scientific method, which is the best that we can do.

It is directed at the notion that we have arrived at the pinnacle of knowlege, and everything that we think is impossible, really is- and always will be. Science has scoffed at all sorts of things in the past which are commonplace today.
To paraphrase another poster- the scientific orthodoxy has no sense of history.

[Tallguy]

The speed of light is the speed of light. Laser light propogates at the same speed as microwave radiation.

[Tallguy]

If Elvis and the Beatles ever come back in a big way, maybe they'll return.

But I thought that THEY took Elvis with them?!

[RightWhale]

No need to speculate. UFO sightings are reported every day in the US.

[rattrap]

Exactly what I was going to say.

[dljordan]

It won't pass it.