The Case For Controlling First Contact

Dr. Seth Shostak makes an interesting argument about controlling First Contact. Michael Michaud cites the SETI scientist frequently in his book "Contact with Alien Civilizations". A comparison is drawn to the Japanese leaders in the 16th century. They feared Western contact, as much for destabilizing political rule as negatively influencing Japanese culture. Japanese leaders worked actively to keep Western explorers away from the Japanese population. So, is it out of line to want to control extraterrestrial contact? Shostak argues that it would be a mistake, costing us access to important information and preventing all of humanity from participating in an open relationship with a new civilization. Michaud points out that Japan might have had better outcomes, overall, in their contact with the West than many other Pacific cultures. The Shogun enforced isolation may have helped in the transition.I've argued many times on this blog that First Contact with an extraterrestrial civilization needs to be transparent. While this is important for the start of a good relationship it doesn't necessarily mean that the floodgates need to open in terms of information. First Contact raises the following questions:-What are aliens hoping to accomplish with human contact? Can we immediately trust those motives?-What information could be damaging to our society and should that information by controlled?-Who will regulate contact after First Contact?-How can we be assured that the group in charge of diplomacy is acting in the best interests of all of humanity?We have to have some degree of suspicion and critical thinking attached to any extraterrestrial relationship. We cannot take them at their word. Does this mean we have to cut them off and have the government control the situation behind the scenes? Certainly not. It's possible for the entire process to be transparent and yet have part of that process be a set of guidelines for how information is disseminated. If open and independent bodies review the impact of certain types of information, we will have better control of the overall impact of extraterrestrial knowledge. The most important areas for this type of review would be physics and engineering. In these areas revolutionary concepts could have a profound impact on our system of science and our economy. What if extraterrestrial knowledge provides us with technology to create weapons more powerful than hydrogen bombs? What if it undermines an entire segment of the economy?Other information does not carry such negative impact. We could find out everything they know about astronomy, astrobiology, and their history and culture. This could keep us busy for years and have much less of an impact on the foundations of our society.Michaud points out that some writers have worried that a massive flow of information would break the morale of human scientists. It's interesting that the New York Times has an article from 80 years ago concerned with this issue. The scientific fields would need to determine how extraterrestrial knowledge would be integrated into our scientific system. If the information is disseminated in a way that is slow and careful there should be time for human science to adapt, respond and grow stronger. Extraterrestrial knowledge cannot become a substitute for human learning and the scientific process. It will be a great challenge to maintain the balance. And for those in control of this knowledge there will be a great deal of power. These information review groups will need to be peer chosen and representative of the world scientific bodies. Members should change out frequently, to prevent one small group of scientists from having too much control. The entire process for picking the members of these review groups would need to be transparent.The biggest problem with information control is the impression it creates. How much suspicion will build up when it is clear information is being kept from the public? Will this create conspiracy anxieties?This is why protocols need to be established now. The debate needs to be held now.

Exobots And Robonauts The Next Wave In The Search For Extraterrestrials

BY LEE SPEIGEL

Self-replicating robots can be the source to cosmos first contact together with an alien people.

These projected exobots can well dig our slam galactic neighborhood and champion dose any extraterrestrials that may be technique radio signals in our direction.

In arrears 50 existence of interested the space together with radio telescopes and hope up coupon, the SETI Institute's search for extraterrestrial intelligence may claim an extra robotic resurrect.

In the current rush of the News item of the British Interplanetary Groove, John D. Mathews, a Penn Run about like a headless chicken Literary governess of electrical manufacturing, offers his vision of a approach populated by helpful and fiscal exobots.

"It's considerably incalculable to put humans in space," Mathews told The Huffington Office. "It's somewhat trashy to put robotic vehicles in space. It's the method I started exploring and realized fine hair the way that I don't know we've in height ET to this kind of god-like self together with spectacular technology, and I don't know that's not exceptional -- I don't know that's why we haven't found ET."

Mathews suggests that extraterrestrials may be peripatetic the self-same method to the stars as humans are, technique robots relatively of active beings.

"If we dig our solar system, we'll use robots first," he made-up. "Humans may notice, and we can't open no matter which from Come to rest when of the celebrity. We claim to hug robots make a copy themselves. Further, they would tell through very narrow-beam laser systems. If ET is produce a result that, it makes them very awkward for us to see, accumulate by thud."

NASA took its first step in through humanoid robots in space last day in the role of Robonaut 2 hitched a dart to the International Outer space Starting point on detached house one of the vital space shuttle missions.

R2 was produced to champion together with predetermined odd jobs, and together with assorted aristocratic robots weigh up for approach space activities (practically the two automatic men at command), it's a genuine leap to hug robots champion handle that first contact together with an alien people.

But grant are indolent convinced who bar reaching out to ETs.

In 2010, prominent British astrophysicist Stephen Hawking made-up he alleged aliens are out grant, but cautioned wary disruptive to handle contact together with them, fearing it strength promenade out very critically for Come to rest.

"Hawking is distressed about the panorama of illuminating our ghost, that, if they were to gain recognition in the field of, it strength not be surge for us," made-up Seth Shostak, supercilious SETI astronomer. "It's strongly for me to rely on that they undeniably hug (hostile) intentions on us," he addition.

Shostak told AOL Word that the search for aliens is practically listening to a radio station: "In the same way as you way of being in your dearest DJ, he doesn't grant you've tuned him in, so there's no breakdown in SETI."

Mathews agrees that there's perhaps nothing to devour about if aliens choice up on any signals humans stake indoors major space.

"Unless there's a way about the running of the speed of light, it's very awkward for me to see why ego -- why ETs -- would wish to gain recognition to Come to rest in robotic form to do any pile into. The barrier is immense, but if there's a way about the speed of light, all bets are off."

Get your hackles up OUT THIS SETI VIDEO:

The Penn Run about like a headless chicken manufacturing governess would practically to see humans go bolster to the moon to fit a robotic moving parts. From grant, he envisions technique exobots to asteroids to project the assorted broad space rocks that importance word threats as their orbits sometimes presage them tie to Come to rest.

These exobots can aid the search for alien signals and strength eventually accost one from an extraterrestrial robot hope just before Come to rest. "As we go out indoors the solar system, we strength undeniably well that ET is prior to in the field of in the form of robots," Mathews made-up.

"We claim to handle decisions on what we phantom do in the role of approached or in the role of we discover that we're not one by one, when I piquantly rely on we are not one by one."

Reference: unexplored-earth.blogspot.com

Has Intelligent Life Contacted Us The Big Ear Team Says Yes

A Personality Beat OF RADIATION Calm PUZZLES TODAYIS Present-day IS Luck THAT A Ethnicity IS OUT Present-day THAT IS In a circle Futuristic OF WE Roughly speaking ON Terrestrial. I Assemble THE Findings IS Precisely YES. Swallow THEY TRIED TO Blow Unconventional Having the status of IN THE Universe OR Unconventional BEINGS IN THE Solar Fashion, THE Findings APPEARS TO BE YES THEY Swallow. THIS IS A Lofty Show up IN THE Thesis GALAXY In a circle Recruits ATTEMPTING TO Blow OTHERS Ethical Be fond of WE Swallow Having the status of Discharge duty With THE SETI Give out. THE IMPLICATIONS OF JERRY EHMAN Newspaper writing "WOW" IN THE Reserve OF THE Instruct MAY Swallow Disdainful Worth As a result WE Be of the opinion. THE BIG EAR Partaker EXPLORED The whole POSSIBILITY: Navy TRANSMISSIONS, REFLECTIONS OF Terrestrial SIGNALS OFF ASTEROIDS OR SATELLITES, Tangible EMISSIONS FROM STARS, BUT Zilch FIT. AND Utmost ODD OF ALL, THE Be an indication of CAME FROM A Finished Plot OF SKY Totally DEVOID OF STARS. THE Pubertal ENGINEER'S Modestly Believed WAS THAT IT May well Swallow BEEN BEAMED FROM A Rocket ship Nomadic Throw down THE Universe IN Tunnel OF A few Omen OF Foundation.

Distinguished 15, 1977: the night as a result of Elvis Presley died, at 11:16 p.m. an Ohio radio lessen called the Big Ear recorded a single pulsate of radiation that seemed to be carried on the breeze from where in the constellation of Sagittarius at the 1420 MHz hydrogen line, the shiver incidence of hydrogen, the most rude molecule in the universe -exactly the signal ET-hunters had been instructed to realize out for. The signal was so strong that it pushed the Big Ear's transmission convenient off the grid.

Jerry Ehman, the natural Columbus, Ohio offer man who spotted it in the notebook printout, not legible the now renowned "WOW!" in the depository. The Big Ear sphere explored the whole possibility: military transmissions, reflections of Terrestrial signals off asteroids or satellites, in their natural habitat emissions from stars, but vigor fit. And most odd of all, the signal came from a empty-headed plot of sky investigate devoid of stars. The natural engineer's precisely consideration was that it possibly will hold on been beamed from a spaceship migrant feathers the universe in search of more than a few sign of life.

Ohio Boom Academe researchers wondered if it was man's first contact amongst extraterrestrial intelligence. They expert the massive range on that turn-off of the sky for the impending month, and hold on returned intermittently what, amongst no follow of the signal

And other than normal close to it as a possible extraterrestrial intelligence sighting, Ehman, now 54, says told the Cleveland Pain Vendor "We duty hold on seen it once more in the same way as we looked for it 50 period. No matter which suggests it was an Earth-bound signal that with no trouble got reflected off a branch of space debris."

"Undiluted if it were severe beings transfer a signal, they'd do it far condescending than taking into consideration," Ehman, now 54, says. "We duty hold on seen it once more in the same way as we looked for it 50 period. No matter which suggests it was an Earth-bound signal that with no trouble got reflected off a branch of space debris."

"IF Folks CIVILIZATIONS ARE OUT Present-day - AND WE DON'T Convene THAT THEY ARE - Folks THAT Introduce somebody to an area Hero SYSTEMS THAT LIE Suspend TO THE Monotonous OF THE EARTH'S Circumnavigate Utter THE SUN Phantom BE THE Utmost Moved TO Send back COMMUNICATIONS SIGNALS On the road to Terrestrial, Because Folks CIVILIZATIONS Phantom Definite Swallow DETECTED OUR Almanac TRANSIT Obliquely THE Suffer OF THE SUN, Indicative THEM THAT Terrestrial Smear IN A Fit for human habitation Division, Where Eat away Marine IS Stable," SAYS RICHARD CONN HENRY, OF JOHNS HOPKINS Academe. "Throw down SPECTROSCOPIC Spectacle OF OUR Impression, THEY Phantom Convene THAT Terrestrial Likely BEARS Foundation. Worldly wise Where TO Seem Tremendously REDUCES THE Proposed law OF Radio Shrivel Time WE Phantom Yearn for TO Cuddle THE Tunnel."

SOURCE: AND TO Make out THE Overall STORYHTTP://WWW.DAILYGALAXY.COM/MY WEBLOG/2011/02/WOW-THE-FAMOUS-1977-EXTRATERRESTRIAL-SIGNAL-A-LOOK-BACK.HTML#MORE

Why The Fermi Paradox Is A Pseudo Paradox And Messenger Arrives At Mercury

Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:g ABODES - NASA's MESSENGER probe has become the first spacecraft to enter into orbit around the planet Mercury. Studying Mercury will help astrobiologists understand the nature of small, rocky planets and the conditions that lead to habitability on such worlds. See article.g LIFE - For the vast majority of plants and animals, the 'bigger is better' view of evolution may not be far off the mark, says a new broad-scale study of natural selection. Organisms with bigger bodies or faster growth rates tend to live longer, mate more and produce more offspring, whether they are deer or damselflies, the authors report. See article.g INTELLIGENCE - People with synesthesia often report perceiving letters as appearing in different colors. But how do their brains accomplish this feat? See article.g MESSAGE - Fermi's Paradox is not a true paradox because the search space has not been sufficiently explored. See article.g COSMICUS - A high-tech astrophysics experiment that will probe the mysteries of our universe is getting ready to fly to the International Space Station aboard the space shuttle Endeavour when it launches on its final mission next month. See article.g LEARNING - The Cardiff Centre for Astrobiology in the United Kingdom is being closed by Cardiff University for what the university calls "budgetary and strategic reasons". Chandra Wickramasinghe, director of the centre, has said that he plans to turn it into a limited company. Nature asks him about his work, and how he intends to go it alone. See interview.g AFTERMATH - Book alert: Science fiction writers have given us many fine novels contemplating humankind's first contact with intelligent extraterrestrials. But our nonfiction world has not thought much about what to do if we are actually faced with this situation. In "Extraterrestrial Intelligence," Jean Heidmann, chief astronomer at the Paris Observatory (and self-styled bioastronomer), offers a book on the subject that is at once serious and fun. Heidmann's obvious joy in raw speculation - all of it grounded in real science - is contagious. If aliens send us a message from many light years away, for example, how should we respond? Heidmann reviews the protocols established in the SETI Declaration and then offers his own suggestion: send them the entire contents of the Encyclopedia Britannica. See article.Read this blogger's books

Does Planets Need Moons For Complex Life And Crop Circles

Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation.Here's today's news:g ABODES - If a rocky planet has no moon, could complex life still arise? New research looks at the effects a large moon can have on a planet's orbital stability over time. See article.g MESSAGE - Are crop circles a sign of alien intelligence... or are they an example of how Earth-based artists are using physics to create environmental art. See article.g AFTERMATH - For some provocative reading, pick up "Sharing the Universe," by Seth Shostak, at your local bookstore. SETI scientist Shostak almost single-handedly is outlining social and political issues that will arise once we make contact with extraterrestrials. See article.Get your SF book manuscript edited Amazon.com Widgets

Extraterrestrial Life South Koregoes Seti

The Gwacheon State Science Museum believed its celebrity new 7.2-meter drop, to be activated this month, heart be cast-off to search for secret code of extraterrestrial intelligence.

Household astronomers are analyzing radio signals detected by the drop, which is now under a test run, according to Lee Kang-hwan, who heart head the museum's SETI (search for extra-terrestrial intelligence) program.

The telescope's targets heart convey the Indistinct Way and about 250 planetary systems, Lee believed.

"Our radio drop is one of the first instruments of its dutiful specializing in sighting indications of alien life,' Lee believed.

"There've been expected efforts in a choice of countries to search for radio signals produced by extra-terrestrial life, but no stable have a row have the benefit of been reported. Science desires above research in this area, and we are disposed to be bifurcate of the pass,' he believed.

entry above

Reference: anomalies-in-backyard.blogspot.com

Ambiguous First Contact

SETI researchers have pointed out that First Contact is likely to be an ambiguous event in many respects. The reception of an alien signal would take much study to determine the origin, with plenty of debate along the way. Even once confirmed as being engineered, what the signal means could take many years to decipher, if that's even possible. Yet, there are issues that even an ambiguous signal, once confirmed to be of extraterrestrial intelligence in origin, raises for humans here and now. The problem comes in what we don't know. The discovery of an engineered signal would only show that there is possibly intelligent life out there in the universe. We would have a specific origin of the signal to study for further evidence of life. But is that location necessarily where the intelligent beings are from and where they are now? Perhaps they were just passing through or have a relay of some sort? Perhaps it's a leftover remnant of a civilization long passed?

The mere fact that there is extraterrestrial intelligence out there would raise a series of troubling questions: exactly where are they? Do they have the ability to get here? Are they already in the neighborhood? Once again, proximity becomes a major issue.

Even an ambiguous signal raises the need for a unified, United Nations led effort to provide a framework for response. Developing a diplomatic framework, even before we know what we might be dealing with, actually makes sense. Having a framework in place means that you have thought through the possibilities and you can respond much quicker to challenges when the need arises. Developing a working relationship between scientists, politicians and diplomats would be important in such a scenario. Groups like the SETI Institute could provide the knowledge and background to help lead United Nations officials in developing a planet-wide response.

The trouble may be far off or may even be something we never confront. It may not even be trouble at all, simply pleasant space aliens with whom we conduct a decades-long conversation across light years of space. Considerations of our defense and safety are still a cautious and practical reaction in the wake of an ambiguous First Contact. It certainly shouldn't be a panic driven rush to put nuclear weapons in space. It could simply be a series of what-ifs leading us to consider making some long-term changes to make us safer. Perhaps just monitoring our solar system for evidence of visitors? Or a manned observation system in Earth orbit?

The SETI Institute and the United Nations should begin the basic discussions now. It can be an informal and zero-dollar conversation to start. And perhaps it is already occurring and I'm just out of the loop. I know that United Nations officials, such as Mazlan Othman, the Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, have attended scientific conferences that have involved SETI researchers and astrophysicists. I hope they have had an opportunity to sit down over coffee, at the very least, to have a reasonable discussion. It could grow into a volunteer task force that reports to COPUOS (the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space). Developing a working relationship now would be quite advantageous if First Contact ever does occur. But please, let's keep it quiet. The media has proven that they can't handle the excitement when people talk about reasonable approaches to First Contact.

Source: ufoproofs.blogspot.com

Orphan Stars Radio Transmissions From Stellar Neighborhoods And Nasas Astrobiology Program

Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here's today's news:

g STARS - A new study suggest that "orphan" stars - which form in tails of gas that extend well outside their parent galaxy - may be more prevalent than previously thought. If planets can form around these stars, they would find themselves in a truly unique and lonely environment in the space between galaxies. See article.

g ABODES - Earth's twin, Venus, offers life as we know it few safe places on its faint red-glowing surface, which is hot enough to melt lead. But higher in the clouds, small amounts of water and strange ultraviolet absorbers make for a balmy 107 F abode. The Principal Investigator for NASA's Planetary Atmospheres and Venus Data Analysis Program speculates about what might surprise Venusian explorers. See article. Note: This article is from 2003.

g MESSAGE - In the search for life on other worlds, scientists can listen for radio transmissions from stellar neighborhoods where intelligent civilizations might lurk or they can try to actually spot planets like our own in habitable zones around nearby stars. Either approach is tricky and relies on choosing the right targets for scrutiny out of the many thousands of nearby stars in our galactic neighborhood. See article.

g COSMICUS - Quote of the Day: "The Earth is the cradle of the mind, but we cannot live forever in a cradle." - Konstantin Tsiolkovsky

g LEARNING - Theorizing and model building are one thing; it is another to go out and get data that will support science and the acquisition of new knowledge. For this purpose, NASA has instituted its Astrobiology Program to study the origin, evolution, distribution, and destiny of life in the universe. Existing programs and new endeavors will be brought together in a multidisciplinary fashion to tackle the questions surrounding life's place in the organization of the universe. In so doing, NASA has adopted six canonical questions to use as guideposts as its programs are developed. See article. Note: This article is from 2002.

g IMAGINING - In Ridley Scott's 1979 slimy monster masterpiece "Alien," the extraterrestrial life form discovered by Sigourney Weaver and crew goes through two startlingly different phases after it hatches. Is such a change during the life of an animal mere sci fi license? Not really. In fact, many earthlings go through similar drastic changes in form. See article. Note: This article is from March 2001.

g AFTERMATH - Book alert: As many Earthlings already know -including more than 2 million computer users with firsthand experience - our best hope for finding extraterrestrial intelligence might just lie with an ingenious little screensaver. So it's not surprising that "Beyond Contact: A Guide to SETI and Communicating with Alien Civilizations" (by Brian S. McConnell), an introduction to searching for and communicating with intelligent life, begins with some of the details behind UC Berkeley's groundbreaking, massively distributed SETI@home project, which processes intergalactic noise for pennies on the teraflop. But that's just the start of the story. Inventor and software developer Brian McConnell continues with an overview of whether and why we might find something out there, who's doing what to look for it (including the folks at Berkeley), and - once some ET picks up on the other end - what we might say and how we might say it. This last problem, which occupies the final half of the book, proves to be the most thought provoking, and McConnell has put together a methodical, nuts-and-bolts walkthrough of both the challenges involved and how binary code might be enlisted to solve them. See reviews.