Should SETI Be Looking For Lasers Instead?

colonist writes "Frank Drake, creator of SETI's famous equation, says the detection of extraterrestrial radio signals won't work, because Earth's own radio signal will only be around for 100 years. More and more of Earth's communications use cable and satellites, with no radio-frequency leakage to space. Instead, we should be looking for intentional signals in the form of high-powered lasers that could 'outshine the sun by a factor of 10,000'. Meanwhile, Paul Davies writes that we should be conducting SETI in our DNA. In turns out that an alien message designed to last millenia should be 'inside a large number of self-replicating, self-repairing microscopic machines programmed to multiply and adapt to changing conditions', otherwise known as living cells. Are we the message?"

Message from aliens in our DNA finally found!

[Anonymous Coward]

The message only contained two words:

FIRST POST!

My guess on the message...

[miknight]

"We apologise for the inconveniance."

message of means?

[Tjebbe]

Maybe we should consider the possibility that we are part of a device to perform some calculation to find the answer to a certain big question.

If they outshine Sol by 10,000x...

[toomin]

Then we hardly need a whole lot of computers to see them!

are we the message ?

[selderrr]

yup. And the message is 41,99999999 (ad finitum)

We are the message.

[torpor]

Oh sure, yeah, right. DNA is the frickin' solution to everything, isn't it?

Next thing you know, all those conspiracy nutters who say we are "Children of the Gods" will be being appointed to national agencies ... sheesh.

Look, if someone knows something about space aliens, then OUT WITH IT!! Why the American people have put up with Area 51 for so long without any sort of culpability being required of their government, I do not know. Of the people and for the people, my ass.

Of the Grey Overlords, and For the Grey Overlords. Lets just call it a spade.

Re:message of means?

[The Clockwork Troll]

Yes, and perhaps the question is,

"Are we part of a device to perform some calculation to find the answer to

a certain big question?" [slashdot.org]

Dumb Idea

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes, we are the intelligent design of an alien lifeform. Find out more information at http://www.rael.org/ [rael.org].

I for one...

[MisterLawyer]

I for one welcome our DNA-speaking, laser-shooting overlords. :-D

Correction

[YOU FAIL IT!]

The message actually reads:

YOU FAIL IT!

My DNA says.

[Anonymous Coward]

No user serviceable DNA inside, please consult your local Genesis Device reseller of warrantee issues.

(Hair Color Gene)

Blond Hair Outside! Can't Divide!

(Appendix Formation Gene)

-- Depreciated Code, ##GOD

(Eye Color Gene)

-- Unchecked Buffer but who cares? ##JOE

So now we are looking for...

[hool5400]

Aliens with frickin' laser beams on their heads?

Because that would rock.

SETI on DNA

[trifakir]

CCAA MADE INCH INAA AAGT CAGT TCCT CGCT

That is to fool the lameness filter. It counts the capitals or something like this.

Noooooo!

[Anonymous Coward]

All my years of hard work at Seti@home for nothing? Oh, well, back to Doom3, much better use of my spare cycles anyway.

Re:Are we the message?

[Anonymous Coward]

no that violates the DMCA

Re:My guess on the message...

[R.Caley]

"Will you guys shut the hell up!"

Re:Optical SETI

[Amiga Lover]

I'm not really sure I want to be looking to make contact with aliens who are pointing FRICKEN LASERS at us.

That is a big laser

[jointm1k]

Instead, we should be looking for intentional signals in the form of high-powered lasers that could 'outshine the sun by a factor of 10,000'.

If one such laser beam would hit the earth, I don't think it would be a message like 'hi there, we are cute nice aliens from outher space and we are going to give you world peace!'. NO this alien death ray would mean something like 'Sheez, what a bunch of morons you puny earth dwellers are. Die die die!!1'. I would not bother building a giant listening post for that message. :/

Re:If they outshine Sol by 10,000x...

[Anonymous Coward]

"Do not look at the alien civilization with your remaining eye."

I found the message!

[RALE007]

In turns out that an alien message designed to last millenia should be 'inside a large number of self-replicating, self-repairing microscopic machines programmed to multiply and adapt to changing conditions', otherwise known as living cells. Are we the message?"

I found the message! Encoded in my own DNA! It says you should each send $50 to:

PO Box 1922
Anchron, OH
30544

Swear to god. Obey the aliens.

Re:Message from aliens in our DNA finally found!

[zeptic]

As long as it isn't "Hello World".....

Re:Satellites?

[prockcore]

And exactly since when do satellite uplink transmissions stop at the satellite? The uplink is a radio wave, albeit a directed one. It might still be possible to pick up an alien uplink signal.

Fuck... if aliens are anything like us, the signal is going to have DRM all over it.. you know, to ward off space pirates.

Re:Optical SETI

[thue]

A light bulb is a non-directed optical source. By turning the light bulb on and off in morse code you would have a non-directed optical signal. :)

first message?

[saint_uv]

this genetic sequence is licensed under GLP...

Alien Virii = Spam Marketing Wars?

[Anonymous Coward]

If alien civilizations sent messages via live virii, presumably the spammers did so, too. So, we should be chock full of millions of alien messages like, "Buy V1agra!", "Hot Grits PRON", and "INTERGALLACTIC RING T0NEZ".

That should be easy enough to find -- just look for a sixty-something man getting pleasure from his cell phone.

Re:Optical SETI

[hashwolf]

how about we set up SETI to search for radioactivity residue slung into space ??

Sure, radioactive sludge thrown in space is a sure sign of intelligence.

And the race is on...

[Anonymous Coward]

as /. users rush to see who can excel the other at sophistry. The rules are simple.

Comment on the physics and applicability of technology that has never been seen and wrangle and argue about how to build machines for which there is no conceivable power source.

Players must say as little in as many words as possible. It must also sound scientific and advanced. For lessons on how to do this, watch Star Trek.

Lastly, players must never admit that they don't know what they are talking about. By admitting such a thing, one is actively admitting to sophistry. Confession is the last thing a sophist must engage in.

Now, let the games begin!

Re:My guess on the message...

[chegosaurus]

Closely followed by some pedant pointing out the spelling mistake.

Re:Message from aliens in our DNA finally found!

[CFBMoo1]

DECODING...

1> Leave primordial goo on new planet.
2> Let simmer for a couple of billion years.
3> Harvest.
4> Cook and add A1 Bleeagnarg Sauce and server.

Health Note: Not all humans are guarenteed to be fat free. Pasty white ones should be tossed for lack of sun light unless your from Olga Snerga Prime, then prep with Oooogla Sauce instead.

Manufacturers Note: Any resemblance between intelligent life is purely coincidental.

They always did put the cooking directions on most foods.

Yes

[Kjella]

...just don't shoot the messenger.

Kjella

Re:Are we the message?

[Young Master Ploppy]

I guess in Soviet Betelgeuse, messages from advanced alien civilisations read YOU! (wince - sorry, first ever slashism - and hopefully the last)

Living proof of Aliens

[DJ-Dodger]

I think the duck-billed platypus is all the proof we need that aliens have messed with Earth.

Re:Optical SETI

[Delirium Tremens]

coming to Ireland via China in 2001 we converted money into US$, but now we are advised to carry Euro.

Could it be because the Euro is actually Ireland's official currency since 2002?

Re:Optical SETI

[Anonymous Coward]

> Slashdot only supports the lower 128 bits/characters of ASCII

With 128 bits, who needs Unicode anymore :)

Re:Optical SETI

[kahei]

1 -- you mean 'characters', not 'bits/characters'. 128-bit character sets will not be needed until we have to represent the languages of hyperintelligent alien races.

2 -- ASCII is a SEVEN bit standard, it only deals with 128 possible values. There is no 'non standardized upper half' of ascii. There _are_ many 8-bit character sets whose lower half is defined as 'same as ASCII'.

3 -- Nobody knows for sure why /. can't just support Unicode, but it's probably because there are so many people here who think unix is a great OS -- ack! Get away from me with those mod points! Nooooo!

Bible Codes

[Black Parrot]

> Meanwhile, Paul Davies writes that we should be conducting SETI in our DNA.

Let's see, we're looking for an unspecified message in an unknown language spelled out in an unknown coding... Yeah, I bet you can 'find' any kind of message you want in there, just like the silly Bible Codes thing. The only surprise is that k00ks haven't already been making their claims.

pathetic humans

[east coast]

You bullheaded humans think you have it all down pat, don't you?

The sad truth is that my planet found your planet from the leaked signal of an '802.11b' device owned by Dave Stewart in Provo, Utah as he was attempting to download a copy of Blue Oyster Cult's Don't Fear The Reaper song. But soon no other intelligence will be able to find your planet due to the decline in the P2P that was a beacon in the long dark night of space. You see, it's the legal dickering of the RIAA that is more a threat to your society than high powered lasers... so sad.

Re:Optical SETI

[maxwell demon]

Has anyone tried the trick with a yen symbol?

¥€$

Actually the message said this:

[commodoresloat]

Hi! How are you?

I send you this file in order to have your advice.

See you later. Thanks

(OT) This is the first time I have ever seen...

[CausticPuppy]

...a post consisting only of a single non-alphabetic character, getting modded to +5.

Truly we live in amazing times.

Re:Optical SETI

[Anonymous Coward]

oh yeah? well, take this! #

No, no, no

[Vinnie_333]

No no no! Aliens communicate through a series of large stone monoliths! Don't you guys pay attention?

-5 Flamebait on interstellar slashdot

[gd23ka]

Or perhaps the only message we'll ever see from them would be a giant laser beam that instantly fries our planet, making everything in this discussion irrelevant.

Maybe that's how you get modded down on an interstellar slashdot as -5 flamebait :-)

SETI in our DNA

[swordfishBob]

well, we all know what's programmed in there.

The answer is 42.