Space signal studied for alien contact!

[Bamspeedy]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/09/02/space.signals.reut/index.html

LONDON, England (Reuters) -- An unexplained radio signal from deep space could -- just might be -- contact from an alien civilization, New Scientist magazine reported on Thursday.

The signal, coming from a point between the Pisces and Aries constellations, has been picked up three times by a telescope in Puerto Rico.

There are other explanations besides extraterrestrial contact that may explain the signal. New Scientist said the signal could be generated by a previously unknown astronomical phenomenon or even be a by-product from the telescope itself.

But the mystery beam has excited astronomers across the world.

"If they can see it four, five or six times it really begins to get exciting," Jocelyn Bell Burnell of the University of Bath in western England told the magazine.

It was broadcast on the main frequency at which the universe's most common element, hydrogen, absorbs and emits energy, and which astronomers say is the most likely means by which aliens would advertise their presence.

The potentially extraterrestrial signals were picked up through the SETI+home project, which uses programs running as screensavers on millions of personal computers worldwide to sift through the huge amount of data picked up by the telescope.

Granted, the article does say there could be other explainations for the signal, so it isn't 100% proof yet.

 

[IglooDame]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/09/02/space.signals.reut/index.html

Granted, the article does say there could be other explainations for the signal, so it isn't 100% proof yet.

The mere possibility of it being proof has totally made my day, though. [dance]

 

[The Last Conformist]

1€ it's not an alien civilization.

 

[eyrei]

The mere possibility of it being proof has totally made my day, though. [dance]

Same here. Hopefully this isn't a mistake...

 

[Godwynn]

I actually hope it is not an alien civilization. I want humanity to be the ones in the spacecraft going to other planets.

Its a survival thing.

 

[betazed]

If its a alien contact, then I am throwing a

{but I am keeping the champagne on ice for now}

 

[anarchywrksbest]

It's hackers messing with SETI@home.

 

[Masquerouge]

I actually hope it is not an alien civilization. I want humanity to be the ones in the spacecraft going to other planets.
Its a survival thing.

I think one of the greatest things of it being indeed an alien civilization would be the kick in this planet's self-esteem. It'll put everyone in its place, that is in the very very back of the classroom

 

[LordKathen]

Man, it would be awesome if this is it. Think of the implications...

 

[stormbind]

It was broadcast on the main frequency at which the universe's most common element, hydrogen, absorbs and emits energy, and which astronomers say is the most likely means by which aliens would advertise their presence.

Does that mean humans broadcast on the main frequency at which the universe's most common element, hydrogen, absorbs and emits energy?

 

[TrailblazingScot]

Man, it would be awesome if this is it. Think of the implications...

I say we shouldn't allow aliens to join civfanatics!

 

[Steph]

I hope it's the Asgards or the Vulcans, and not the Borgs or the Goa'ulds.

 

[stormbind]

1€ it's not an alien civilization.

Is that a sign of confidence?

 

[Masquerouge]

Does that mean humans broadcast on the main frequency at which the universe's most common element, hydrogen, absorbs and emits energy?

No, but since you have to choose one frequency at which you'll broadcast your signals, I guess someone decided to pick one that would be easily recognizable, and not culture-dependant (because you don't know at what frequencies alien civilizations hear and see things !). Since hydrogen is the most common element in the entire Universe, it has been picked.

 

[The Last Conformist]

Is that a sign of confidence?

No. It's an attempt to make easy money.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Astronomers have moved swiftly to quell speculation they may have received a deep-space radio signal from ET.
It was reported on the internet that the signal had been found using the Seti@home screensaver that uses computer downtime to analyse sky data from telescopes.

But researchers connected with the project told BBC News Online on Thursday that no contact with extraterrestrials had been made.

"It's all hype and noise," said its chief scientist, Dr Dan Wertheimer. "We have nothing that is unusual. It's all out of proportion."

And Dr Paul Horowitz, of Harvard University, who specialises in hunting for possible alien contacts added: "It's not much of anything at all. We're not investigating it further."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3621608.stm

Oh well, hate to be a party pooper. Hmmm maybe its a coverup of first contact. Conspiracy theorists, start your engines!

 

[yoshi74]

Considering the time such signals need to traval this could mean the WAS a alien civ at a time our ancestors where small mammals. Maybe they still exist, maybe they arrive next week, because their technology evolved a lot during this time. But maybe its only a echo of a species from the past. Interesting, though.

 

[Yuri2356]

Perhaps they sent their SETI Signal at about the same time we sent ours. Then they'd be reciveing our signal at the same time theirs would have arrived, and think that we have the power to transmit information instantly! Of course, their gouvernment would cover it up... "Official statement heleased by the hive-mind is that the "signal" was nothing but backgroung radiation, they are maintaining their stance that there i no evidence of alien life."
And then the conspiracy theories would start, and their tabloids would be in heaven...
"Male claims 'I was aubducted by humans!' More on P.12"
"Humans are invading our governament, BE AFFRAID!"

 

[The Last Conformist]

@DP: Couldn't you've waited till someone accepted my bet?

 

[stormbind]

BBC is less enthusiastic than CNN

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3621608.stm