Refining the search for what's 'out there'
October 15, 2010 By Lori Kozlowski
Gregory Benford, his brother James and his nephew Dominic decided to combine their knowledge of astrophysics, space, microwaves and economics to look at the search for extraterrestrial life from a money perspective. They posed a simple question: What would beacon transmitters be like if built by civilizations that cared about cost?
Imagining and pricing out how much it would cost for aliens to create a beacon to send a signal deep into space, they concluded that sending messages between life forms could be very pricey and that our current searches for alien life may thus be looking for the wrong things. Instead of blasting continuous signals widely into space, money-minded aliens would design transmitters that send signals in short, narrowly targeted pulses -- the "Benford beacon" concept.
The University of California-Irvine astrophysicist talked with the Los Angeles Times.
Q: Talk about "Benford beacons."
A: Others have started to call them "Benford beacons" -- we didn't. We thought that on the 50th anniversary of SETI (the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence), it would be good to re-examine SETI and put it on more quantitative footing.
A beacon is something that attracts you from a great distance. For 50 years, SETI has examined thousands of nearby stars and found nothing. So we thought to look further away. My brother and I sat down and figured out that it was costly to attract the attention of others 1,000 light-years or more away.
It would cost billions of dollars just to build (such a beacon) and hundreds of millions to pay the power cost. It would take thousands of years for a message to get there, and thousands of years to get a message back. We discovered, by looking from the perspective of the alien who pays the bills, how beacons should be designed thriftily and therefore what kinds of signals we should be looking for. Unfortunately, that's not what radio astronomers have been doing.
Q: Your brother James said that alien signals are less like "War and Peace" and more like Twitter.
A: What you'd see is brief burst to attract your attention. Not a long signal. It's really a lead-in. Perhaps after the short burst, at lower power at broader bandwidth to get more bits per second, there's a message there. The SETI searches of the past have assumed that aliens will bear any costs to make it easy for us. I don't subscribe to that idealism.
Q: If alien life is out there, where is "out there"?
A: There is obviously not any intelligent life in this solar system -- maybe including us. SETI has been all about looking to the nearest stars, but that easy model of SETI has not worked.
SETI's 50 years of occasional looking have falsified several tempting ideas that signals will be always broadcasting, that wealthy advanced societies will build powerful beacons, probably omnidirectional, that these elder gods will make it easy for entry-level societies to find their civilizations. Frank Drake (the U.S. astronomer who founded SETI) once told me that many assumed they'd find a SETI signal by the 1970s.
Q: What might alien signals sound like?
A: Probably a pulsed message that could be readily unwrapped numerically to present, say, simple pictures. Later, once language is established by a point-and-say method, they could send science, great cultural works, music, even photographs of themselves.
Q: What would be the benefits of discovering extraterrestrial life?
A: You'd be listening to something you couldn't reply to for centuries, anyway. So the discovery is the signal itself -- that there is other intelligent life out there. Aliens may have motives we cannot even understand. Some examples of possible motives: The Funeral Pyre: They are attracting attention, proclaiming the wonders of a dead civilization. High Church: "We are a great culture. Here's what we have done." It's meant to convey the culture's highest achievements. Help Us: We have a problem we can't understand. Help us with it.
Q: Stephen Hawking has said that contact with extraterrestrials would be a threat, since aliens may be "looking to conquer and colonize." Do you agree?
A: Not particularly, because we're talking about immense distances. It's much too expensive to come here.
We're talking about listening, not broadcasting. It's probably not smart to shout in a jungle, where you don't know where the predators are. It is smart to listen and figure out what the predator sounds like.
It seems to me, evil aliens are not something worth worrying about. Smart aliens probably just stay home and listen to us, or anyone who ever broadcasts. Our TV cannot be picked up more than a few light-years away, without expensive efforts, so that's not a worry.
More information: This interview was edited for clarity and brevity from a longer discussion.
(c) 2010, Los Angeles Times.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
-
From lemons to lemonade: Reaction uses carbon dioxide to make carbon-based semiconductor,
28 comments
-
Every black hole contains a new universe: A physicist presents a solution to present-day cosmic mysteries,
214 comments
-
New silicon memory chip developed,
16 comments
-
SpaceX private rocket blasts off for space station (Update),
41 comments
-
Thioridazine kills cancer stem cells in human while avoiding toxic side-effects of conventional cancer treatments,
2 comments
-
Math behind Theoretical Physics
23 hours ago
-
Do we know whats at the center of galaxies yet?
May 23, 2012
-
Structure of the Milky Way?
May 20, 2012
-
What would it take to terraform Pluto and Charon?
May 19, 2012
-
Whats is volume of mass at the centre of the sun
May 19, 2012
-
Galaxies moving faster than the speed of light?
May 18, 2012
- More from Physics Forums - General Astronomy
More news stories
Organic carbon from Mars, but not biological
Molecules containing large chains of carbon and hydrogen--the building blocks of all life on Earth--have been the targets of missions to Mars from Viking to the present day. While these molecules have previously ...
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
10 hours ago |
4 / 5 (3) |
0
|
Asteroid nudged by sunlight: Most precise measurement of Yarkovsky effect
Scientists on NASA's asteroid sample return mission, Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx), have measured the orbit of their destination asteroid, ...
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
6 hours ago |
4.8 / 5 (6) |
0
|
New mapping of Mars shows western Medusae Fossae formation older than once thought
(Phys.org) -- Recent geologic mapping of the Medusae Fossae Formation on Marsan intensely eroded deposit near the northern edge of the cratered highlandshas revealed a wider distribution of its ...
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
6 hours ago |
not rated yet |
0
|
Autopsy of a eruption: Linking crystal growth to volcano seismicity
A forensic approach that links changes deep below a volcano to signals at the surface is described by scientists from the University of Bristol in a paper published today in Science. The research could ultima ...
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
10 hours ago |
4 / 5 (1) |
0
|
Private supply ship flies by space station in test (Update)
The world's first private supply ship flew tantalizingly close to the International Space Station on Thursday but did not stop, completing a critical test in advance of the actual docking.
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
14 hours ago |
4.8 / 5 (8) |
5
Is a classical electrodynamics law incompatible with special relativity?
(Phys.org) -- The laws of classical electromagnetism that were developed in the 19th century are the same laws that scientists use today. They include Maxwell’s four equations along with the Lorentz la ...
HyperSolar shows dirty water no barrier to power world
(Phys.org) -- The Santa Barbara, California, company, HyperSolar, is set to transparently share the ups and downs of its research experiences toward the companys ultimate vision, successfully producing ...
In nanorod crystal growth, nanoparticles seen as artificial atoms
In the growth of crystals, do nanoparticles act as "artificial atoms" forming molecular-type building blocks that can assemble into complex structures? This is the contention of a major but controversial theory ...
First direct observation of oriented attachment in nanocrystal growth
Berkeley Lab researchers have reported the first direct observation of nanoparticles undergoing oriented attachment, the critical step in biomineralization and the growth of nanocrystals. A better understanding ...
Global warming winner: Once rare butterfly thrives
(AP) -- Global warming is rescuing the once-rare brown Argus butterfly, scientists say.
Thioridazine kills cancer stem cells in human while avoiding toxic side-effects of conventional cancer treatments
A team of scientists at McMaster University has discovered a drug, thioridazine, successfully kills cancer stem cells in the human while avoiding the toxic side-effects of conventional cancer treatments.
Oct 15, 2010
Rank: 5 / 5 (2)
Oct 16, 2010
Rank: 5 / 5 (5)
Why do humans study mice?
Oct 16, 2010
Rank: 5 / 5 (4)
We have no legitimate way of predicting the behavior of a life-form so fundamentally foreign to us, and our entire biosphere.
Oct 16, 2010
Rank: 5 / 5 (5)
I understand what you mean, but I don't totally agree. If they've evolved in a plantery biosphere then there ought to be similarities. They would have had to compete with other animals, find food and shelter. They're likely to be social and cooperative rather then solitary (otherwise high technological development would be unlikely). They must have likes, dislikes and preferences which motivate them. They must be able to predict behaviours of others and of the physical world. They would use material resources which would have costs or value. In short, these are concepts we're familiar with and can understand. The details and implementation will be different for sure, but to say that we can't predict anything about them is too pessimistic.
If course, if they're an artificial, self-modifying species (robotic), then all bets are off...
Oct 16, 2010
Rank: 5 / 5 (2)
If you go with the probabilities, you say yes there is an EVIL race and also GOOD races out there. Seeing as we are one of them are we GOOD or EVIL. If we are GOOD we would have heard from others...(probabilities) but seeing as we havent we must conclude by Sherlockingen wisdom that we are EVIL.
I must say then...we come in peace..shoot to kill..shoot to kill ...
(I laughed too..the captains log...)
Oct 16, 2010
Rank: not rated yet
Oct 16, 2010
Rank: not rated yet
Oct 18, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (2)
For the sake of argument, suppose you were a ridiculously advanced, benevolent alien, and suppose you thought there were other intelligent, benevolent aliens in the universe who might benefit from your knowledge...
As an example, the U.S. basicly gives away all our technology anyway, so maybe the aliens are like that too. This seems unlikely, but is still possible.
If it is a type 2 civilization, they might be sharing technology or astronomical information with other colonies within their own species.
You might say, it's 1000 light years, surely the other planet would make the same discovery by the time the signal got there anyway. Not necessarily. Native Americans were like 2000 years behind Europeans and Middle easterners during the age of exploration and the colonial period. Technological discovery isn't guarantted, so communication is still worth it...
Oct 18, 2010
Rank: 3 / 5 (4)
Oct 18, 2010
Rank: 3.7 / 5 (3)
So...astronomy, scientific method, chemistry, physics, the beginnings of industrialization....
The Europeans AND the Eastern civilizations knew a hell of a lot more about the world than native Americans beyond the use of iron and steel.
Did you read your history off the back of a cracker jack box?
Oct 18, 2010
Rank: 3 / 5 (4)
Oct 19, 2010
Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
Incorrect. Did they know Jupiter had moons or Saturn had rings for instance? Did they know planets were planets and not stars? Do I really need to go on, I mean why the hell am I even responding to this idiocy??
The Principia?
I'm not even talking about practical stuff, I'm talking about the friggin CONCEPT. They didn't even have a CONCEPT of proper science much less chemistry.
http://en.wikiped...0.931800
Not a Native American name between 1500-1800. Fail.
Whatever the hell that's supposed to mean.
cont.
Oct 19, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
Did they write that treatise on a deerskin somewhere and we missed it? Oh that's right most of them didn't even have a written language... Did they even have a concept of scientific biology? Uh no they didn't.
I'd read the books written by Native Americans at the time, but they didn't do that kind of stuff back then. They made arrows and shot each other and buffalo...that's about it.
You expect me to read a revisionist book written by them now, then ya, you're crazy. Just like you wouldn't bother to read a book about why the Earth was flat, unless it was written by a Native American and it might assuage some of that "white guilt" you lefties LOVE to punish yourselves with...
Oct 19, 2010
Rank: 3.8 / 5 (4)
Oct 19, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
Oct 19, 2010
Rank: 4 / 5 (4)
No, we're talking the re-discovery of the new world by the Spanish. Pay attention.
Oct 19, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
No we weren't I'll quote the initial post by Quantum that you responded to...
Asterisks mine.
To which you responded:
Idiot...
Oct 19, 2010
Rank: 3.7 / 5 (3)
You couldn't have described yourself more perfectly. Look at my statement, pickup the context, learn to read.
Oct 19, 2010
Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
You are a joke man. The Native Americans, with the exception of the Mayans and whoever made Puma Punku, had no real metallurgy and no writing.
In the 1500's and 1600's, the native americans were still pretty much equivalent to stone age europeans and middle easterners. They had stone and bone knives, arrows, and spears. They didn't even have the wheel or bronze, for goodness sake. Israel and Egypt had bronze and iron weapons and chariots sometime between 1600B.C. and 1000 B.C. Iron Chariots are seen in the book of Judges, a couple hundred years before David, for example.
In most cases, the Native Americans were so far behind it's a wonder we even call them a civilization.
Oct 19, 2010
Rank: 4 / 5 (3)
http://en.wikiped...lization
And now have a quick look here, in particular, on mathematics, architecture, agriculture and language:
http://en.wikiped...lization
I don't think it is reasonable to dispute that the Mayans had impressively large and densely populated cities, a huge agricultural system, a sophisticated language, and a well organised society. Okay, so technologically they were missing a few of the key ingredients that the Europeans had, but they certainly were worthy of being called a civilisation. More so than many of the other native peoples that the Europeans came across, such as the Australian aboriginals, Pacific Islanders or many African peoples. In at least some respects the Mayans were more advanced than the Europeans.
Oct 20, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
Oh don't take my word for it.
http://geography....tion.htm
So your dates are STILL screwed up even with your PATHETIC attempt to weasel out of it...
I'm not going to help you pretend you said something you didn't say in "context". Your dates are wrong REGARDLESS of context.
Idiot...
Oct 20, 2010
Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
You've proved yourself even more inaccurate and woefully ignorant of history and culture.
@QC, that goes double for you.
Oct 20, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
It may have STARTED in the 15th centruy but it didn't END until 1700. Which does indeed STILL make your dates wrong...despite your weasel attempt with the "context" play.
Sorry SH you lose.
Idiot...
Oct 20, 2010
Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
That's right, you can't. You're one of those "scholars" who refuses to read.
Oct 20, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
No you didn't if the age lasted until 1700 then every European discovery UP to that point is included in my statement...period. What part of that is your pea brain having trouble grasping?
You're entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts.
You STILL lose.
Every single discovery I listed happened before 1700. So I'm right.
Since this was later than the age of exploration, I'm STILL right.
I already did, you apparently can't comprehend the concepts of dates, before, after..time?
Oct 20, 2010
Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
Oct 20, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
The entire period includes everything between the starting and ending dates of those ages, later if you're actually going to admit the discussion included the colonial period.
Moreover since the entire discussion is about what the Europeans/Eastern civilizations knew before the Native Americans. Therefore any discovery made by Europeans before the YEAR 1700 and they Native Americans didn't know themselves (even using your weasel tactic) is what we're talking about; since that's when the age of exploration ended. If there's anything I listed that falls after that date feel free to point it out. Otherwise kindly admit your error, or STFU either way I don't care.
Here's a source if you really, REALLY need it...
http://en.wikiped...coveries
Plenty on there I didn't include too.
Oct 20, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
http://www.scienc...1651.htm
physics...
http://www.weburb...oria.htm
Oct 20, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
http://www.scienc...tory.htm
Oct 20, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
http://www.google...f535a7fe
hopefully the whole link comes through.
Oct 20, 2010
Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
When are you measureing the two civilizations, pick an exact year and we'll make the comparison. Then tell us what age that year is in.
Oct 20, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
I didn't pick the dates, Quantum did and then you made a bull**** statement that the Native Americans weren't that far behind the Europeans during the time frames he referenced...which were as WE ALL KNOW BY NOW from the age beginning of the age of exploration to the end of the colonial period...say 1450 to say 1780.
However in comparing civilizations you have to take ALL their accumulated knowledge prior to 1450 into account as well. Quantum said the Europeans/Eastern civilizations were about 2000 years ahead of the Native Americans. Therefore let's say Sumeria in 3500 BC as a starting date for Euro-Eastern civilization.
So we're talking about everything the Europeans/Eastern civilizations knew that the Native Americans DIDN'T excluding the use of iron and steel between 3500 BC and 1780.
That make it clear enough for you YET baby Huey?
Oct 20, 2010
Rank: 3.7 / 5 (3)
So I think you need to go back and reread what was actually said, as opposed to what your diseased little mind made up.
Oct 20, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
Which was, and is complete BS. The Euro-Eastern civilizations knew a lot more, as I've amply demonstrated and as you've utterly failed to show otherwise.
Moreover you've been completely intellectually dishonest trying to shift and move your position constantly just so you won't have to admit you're full of ****. Quite amusing actually, or sad...actually both.
Oct 20, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
Oct 20, 2010
Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
http://en.wikiped...oamerica
-They had an extensive knowledge of metallurgy. The mystery is why they did not develop it. Ditto the wheel. A similar mystery is why orientals failed to capitalize on gunpowder. One explanation was that these technologies were selectively suppressed by an Informed Leadership, so that world consolidation could proceed unimpeded.
Mesoamericans did have the technological wherewithall to have posed a significant threat to europe within a few generations; and the precious metals and drugs they had to trade for weapons and knowledge made the situation dire. They had million-man armies and their cities were bigger than those in europe. Together these factors made their complete destruction Essential.
This link describes the michigan copper culture:
http://en.wikiped...Michigan
Oct 20, 2010
Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
http://en.wikiped..._America
Did you get yours from watching Gunsmoke?
Heres a link for the Missippian culture:
http://en.wikiped..._culture
-Fortified cities, irrigation, extensive trade across the continent. Most of this had disappeared by the time settlers had arrived, as diseases spread by early explorers had already done its work.
I suggest the book '1491' for current info on these cultures.
Oct 21, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
I proved unequivocally using facts, rather than whiny white guilt leftist idiocy to show the Europeans and Eastern civilizations knew far FAR more than Native American civilizations.
Sometimes actual historical facts are better to rely on that politically correct lies.
Oct 21, 2010
Rank: 3.7 / 5 (3)
When you're the only person who holds a stance, perhaps it's time to re-evaluate whether it's true or not. You know, like adults do.
Oct 21, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
http://philosophy...lar.html
Learn some logic, and how to argue...oh and THINK.
So far only YOU and otto seem to think that Native American civilizations were on par with Europeans and Eastern civilizations with their knowledge, and technology...excluding iron and steel.
Not exactly good company...
I wouldn't trust an opinion from either of you further than I could throw either of you.
I OTHO sourced historical FACTS and proved my case using FACTS, rather than mushy feely politically correct incorrectness.
Guess you lied again. Doesn't that make you evil? How do you feel about being evil and a liar?
Oct 21, 2010
Rank: not rated yet
Oct 21, 2010
Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
They also had extensive intracoastal maritime trade. They were armageddon waiting to happen to western culture.All youve proven with your extensive dumping here is that your education is woefully outdated at best. And youre in the company of similar willful godlovers who value opinion and posture over substance.
Your self-limiting knowledge of recent revelations about the past is no doubt due to the fact that much of the stuff you grew up on was religion-derived (you quote biblical evidence for chariot use?!?).
more-
Oct 21, 2010
Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
If you only accepted that FACT, you could learn so much MM! The bibles a lie- give it a try-
Oct 21, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
Sources please...
I'll give you one for the cities...show me ONE Native American one on the list.
http://en.wikiped..._history
You and SH are so full of it your eyes are brown...
Oct 21, 2010
Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
Oct 21, 2010
Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
http://en.wikiped...bian_era
YOU'RE the one who's bought into a message, you know the earlier xianist manifest destiny stuff about the natives being less capable and deserving than gods chosen people- euros that is.
Truth is, had euros not sucker-punched them, they would have begun independent trade with euro and mediterranean (and chinese) merchants, bought all the tech they needed, and you would have seen Aztec triremes bristling with polished bronze cannon oaring through the strait of Gibraltar within a century.
China may have made the necessity of euro conquest even more urgent:
http://www.1421.tv/
Oct 21, 2010
Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
http://books.goog...mp;hl=en
-I've seen it a number of times. As even this textbook tells you, the number is in dispute but the 300,000 figure is not the highest.
Oct 21, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
We were NEVER just talking about Europe, you'd know that if you knew how to read or follow an argument. Moreover this like refutes the 300,000 number and says it may have been as low as 200,000
http://en.wikiped...chtitlan
BUT again we were never really talking about city size we were talking about technology. Another thing you'd know if you were actually capable of reading. I don't hold it against you though as you're the typical brainwashed leftist idiot, I'd think something was wrong if you COULD argue logically or had a nit of reading comprehension.
Oct 21, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
My source refutes that number. Moreover since we're not just talking about Europe there were cities in China in the 1500s approaching one million people. So you fail.
Oct 21, 2010
Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
http://books.goog...mp;hl=en
-I've seen it a number of times. As even this textbook tells you, the number is in dispute but the 300,000 figure is not the highest. Who's we? I know what I was talking about- who ever knows WHAT you're trying to say?And I shall present my other asscheek for to be bitchslapped, as is the Xian way.
Oct 21, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
You yourself could have deduced that because I clearly never left the Eastern Civilizations out of the conversation, but then again that would require a minimal level of reading comprehension and intellectual honesty on your part...
Oct 21, 2010
Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
Oct 21, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
Uh I know you didn't I did. That's what the whole argument has been about though, whether you know it or not, whether you bother to mention it or not I'M going to. Eastern civilizations have been a part of the argument since it started dingbat.
Oct 21, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
So we're going from non-existent non factual white guilt revisionist "I wish this is the way it was" logic to you ACTUALLY telling me what's in my subconscious.
I'm not surprised a bit...
Oct 21, 2010
Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
Perhaps this will help you understand your affliction:
http://en.wikiped...etentive
Oct 21, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
My point is that if you are going to jump into the middle of an argument and attempt to make a point then it helps to know what the argument is actually about...which is of course far beyond you. That doesn't mean you can't try though does it?
Besides there were larger cities even in Europe at the time. Paris, Venice, and Constantinople.
Oct 21, 2010
Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
http://en.wikiped...xpulsive
-The Internet can help us to heal-
Oct 21, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
Indeed it can.
http://en.wikiped...disorder
Oct 22, 2010
Rank: 3.7 / 5 (3)
Now that you're all caught up, have a go.
Oct 22, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
Still don't have a source to prove that the Native Americans were the ones who actually ran the Apollo program?
Look harder, I'm sure you'll find some leftist revisionist loon who wrote a book about it you can quote...
Oh and you're still a liar, and therefore by your own standards evil. Do you like being an evil man?
Oct 22, 2010
Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
http://www.youtub...a_player
Oct 22, 2010
Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
http://www.youtub...a_player
Ha.
Oct 22, 2010
Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
http://www.contac..._1172294
-Who's methods of thinking and reaching conclusions led them to the same place as you're did. Time for a little introspection, eh?
My favorite ICP line: 'When I stick a pencil in my eye, I can't see shit- why?'
Oct 22, 2010
Rank: 3.7 / 5 (3)
See what I'm talking about Otto? It's sad, he could have had such a bright future.
Oct 22, 2010
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
Finally give up on that? Kinda like saying the Earth is flat...I know it must be hard to find sources to quote for such an idiotic position. Well CREDIBLE sources that is.