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If intelligent life exists elsewhere in our galaxy, advances in computer processing power and radio telescope technology will ensure we detect their transmissions within two decades. That is the bold prediction from a leading light at the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute in Mountain View, California.
Seth Shostak, the SETI Institute's senior astronomer, based his prediction on accepted assumptions about the likelihood of alien civilisations existing, combined with projected increases in computing power.
Shostak, whose calculations will be published in a forthcoming edition of the space science journal Acta Astronautica, first estimated the number of alien civilisations in our galaxy that might currently be broadcasting radio signals.
For this he used a formula created in 1961 by astronomer Frank Drake which factors in aspects such the number of stars with planets, how many of those planets might be expected to have life, and so on. Shostak came up with an estimate of between 10,000 and one million radio transmitters in the galaxy.
More: www.newscientist.com...
Originally posted by mrmonsoon
We have been hearing that for 40-50 years now. If it keeps being said, one of these days it will be correct.
Originally posted by Jonna
I would really like to know if there are other intelligent life forms out there before my demise, but I really just don't see this happening. If we can't even find the end of the universe, then how can we say we have probed it all?
""... predicting the date, the decade or even the century of contact is another matter because the 'other end' of the communications link is completely out of our hands. It would be nice to think we know something about the existence, distribution, technology and motivation of our potential communications partners in space, but in fact, we don't."
Originally posted by Netchicken
Why don't people acknowledge the basic contradiction among alien believers...
As people seem to think that they are already here, doesn't that make all this SETI stuff a waste of time?
You can't take seti seriously and then in the same breath take UFO's seriously, its either one or the other.
So stop standing on the fence over this, either we HAVE been visited and they already exist, or we HAVN"T been visited and they may be found , maybe, in the future.