IanSearch For Extraterrestrial Intelligence
September 30th 2011 06:00
The search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) is the collective name for a number of activities people undertake to search for intelligent extraterrestrial life. Some of the most well known projects are run by the SETI Institute. SETI projects use scientific methods to search for intelligent life on other planets. For example, electromagnetic radiation is monitored for signs of transmissions from civilizations on other worlds.
The United States government contributed to early SETI projects, but recent work has been primarily funded by private sources.
There are great challenges in searching across the cosmos for a first transmission that could be characterized as intelligent, since its direction, spectrum and method of communication are all unknown beforehand. SETI projects necessarily make assumptions to narrow the search, the foremost being that electromagnetic radiation would be a medium of communication for advanced extraterrestrial life.
No evidence has yet been found of extraterrestrial life, however in a universe as vast as ours it must exist.
The info-graphic below explores the cost of maintaining SETI into the future. Is it worth it??
*This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article for Search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
The United States government contributed to early SETI projects, but recent work has been primarily funded by private sources.
There are great challenges in searching across the cosmos for a first transmission that could be characterized as intelligent, since its direction, spectrum and method of communication are all unknown beforehand. SETI projects necessarily make assumptions to narrow the search, the foremost being that electromagnetic radiation would be a medium of communication for advanced extraterrestrial life.
No evidence has yet been found of extraterrestrial life, however in a universe as vast as ours it must exist.
The info-graphic below explores the cost of maintaining SETI into the future. Is it worth it??
click to enlarge
*This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article for Search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
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