Detection of Earth-like Civilizations in Space Now Possible

Mr. McGibby writes "Astronomers have come up with an improved method of looking for extraterrestrial life with an Earth-like civilization. Theorist Avi Loeb proposes to use instruments like the Low Frequency Demonstrator (LFD) of the Mileura Wide-Field Array (MWA), an Australian facility for radio astronomy currently under construction. The array could (theoretically) detect civilizations broadcasting in the same frequencies as our own society. From the article: 'Loeb and Zaldarriaga calculate that by staring at the sky for a month, the MWA-LFD could detect Earth-like radio signals from a distance of up to 30 light-years, which would encompass approximately 1,000 stars. More powerful broadcasts could be detected to even greater distances. Future observatories like the Square Kilometer Array could detect Earth-like broadcasts from 10 times farther away, which would encompass 100 million stars. ' The original paper describes the details."

"Earth-like" civilizations?

[TheWoozle]

Great...

So we're going to pick up an alien version of "The View"?

any physicists out there?

[Lord Ender]

Could you list any of the current areas of research which may some day allow for information transmission faster than c? Let's keep in reasonable: only mention theories we may be able to explore within the next 1000 years.

Impossible!

[LiquidCoooled]

The Recording Industry Galactic Alliance (RIGA) mandated that no radio signals shall leave the atmosphere of any planet.

The respective governments all attempted to stop this legistation getting in but the RIGA had bigger guns!

Re:"Earth-like" civilizations?

[j00r0m4nc3r]

I think perhaps we already watch the alien version.

Obligatory

[inviolet]

And I, for one, welcome our new nearby, low-frequency-emitting overlords.

And I would like to remind them that as a net.geek, I could be useful in rounding up others, to toil in their oneline goldfarms.

Let's hope they're not like us

[orson_of_fort_worth]

The signals we'd pick up from a civilization similar to ours would be viagra spam and Saved by the Bell reruns. So disappointing it might set back space exploration by centuries.

It's already too late ?

[Rastignac]

You can't detect "Earth-like radio signals from 30-light-years-away stars" anymore. Because of the 1979 song "Video Killed the Radio Star" from the Buggles (see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_Killed_the_Radi o_Star [wikipedia.org] for more information).
So now we should check for video signals from these stars ! ;)

Re:Hmm.

[cmdr_beeftaco]

How will i listen to my ipod in my car if FM transmissions are obsolete?

my question is...

[jimstapleton]

Do we have the tech to set up a powerful and focused transmitter that would be recievable by standard radio devices on a planet (if we find one) that far away?

I can see it now.

"Citizens of Earth, the Xibian Communication Commision (XCC) is ordering a Cease and Desist of projection of signal on channel 88.6. Failure to follow this within the standard grace period of 1 Xibian day will result in fines of 100 Toriks per Xibian Day. Given that you are 50 Xibian years distant (as light travels), at 250 Xibian days per year... It really sucks to be you."

Re:"Earth-like" civilizations?

[SnapShot]

Even scarier... in 2 years all the galactic civilizations within 30 l.y. will be able to catch the original broadcast of The Dukes of Hazzard.

30 light years

[iminplaya]

That means we should be picking up their "70s Show" right about now.

Whoa, there...

[Rob T Firefly]

improved method of looking for extraterrestrial life with an Earth-like civilization

Do we really want to find something Earth-like? I for one would rather find someone who's got it right. We need a wise older sibling, not an equally dysfunctional twin.

I could just imagine the space phonecalls..

EARTH: Hey, guys. How's it going?"
ALIENS: Well, our environment is crapping itself, we're all trying to kill each other, and we still won't grant marriages to every couple who wants one.
EARTH: Yeah, same here. Any, you know, wise alien tips for us?
ALIENS: Well... have you invented Reality TV yet?
EARTH: Yep, doesn't seem to have helped much.
ALIENS: Have you, I dunno, tried invading someplace oil-rich?
EARTH: Done that, lots of times.
ALIENS: How about starting arguments about the origins of your own species?
EARTH: Oh hell, don't get me started on that can of worms buddy.
ALIENS: Well, try inventing a couple of new incompatible game consoles...

At last !

[Salsaman]

At last we will be able to receive "Single Female Lawyer" !

Re:Let's hope they're not like us

[kfg]

The signals we'd pick up from a civilization similar to ours would be . . .

. . ."Send more Chuck Berry."

KFG

Re:Knowing Your Neighbours

[multipartmixed]

> Plus, radio is our current means of communicating with our spacecraft(isn't it? I may be wrong).

No, we use quantum entanglement for long-distance communication, and gravity waves for short-distance (say, under 5 light years). Radio is too slow for the distances involved.

Re:"Earth-like" civilizations?

[ncc74656]

So we're going to pick up an alien version of "The View"?

With Jabba the Hutt [wikipedia.org] instead of Rosie O'Donnell [starwars.com]? Oh, wait...

Re:Knowing Your Neighbours

[mysticgoat]

"What are you doing?"

"Looking for my keys. I dropped them somewhere between the house and the car."

"But then why are you looking here? This isn't between the house and your car."

"Well, because its too dark to see them over there. I'm under the street light here. So if they somehow bounced this way, I just might be able to find them."

And so goes the SETI research, up until now at least.

Re:Fiber to the Home.

[Anonymous Coward]

Please, please PLEASE! Don't stop interacting with us! We need your words of wisdom. You would be doing a disservice to mankind by removing your intellect from public discourse. Someday, with your guidance, all with have fiber to the home and there will be no kooks. Please help us!

Re:Not a big area

[Penguinshit]

Hopefully the message wouldn't be "All your base are belong to us."

Re:Knowing Your Neighbours

[egyptiankarim]

Universes Worst AIM Conversation Ever... EarthDudez: Hey! Waz up? [30 years later] GrayGuys: Nothing much... u? [30 years later] EarthDudez: brb [400 years later] EarthDudez: back! [30 years later] GrayGuys: your moms back. [30 years later] EarthDudez: lolz. dude you're so GrAY! [30 years later] GrayGuys: lol