SETI@Home Adds New Search Method 191
Adam Korbitz writes to point out that SETI@Home has added a new algorithm for use in evaluating signals from outer space. It's called "Astropulse," and they've made the scientific details available. Quoting:
"The original SETI@home is narrowband, meaning that it is listening for a particular radio frequency. That's like listening to an orchestra playing, and trying to hear when anyone plays the note "A sharp." Astropulse listens for short-time pulses. In the orchestra analogy, it's like listening for a quick drum beat, or a series of drumbeats. Since no one knows what extraterrestrial communications will 'sound like,' it seems like a good idea to search for several types of signals. In scientific terms, Astropulse is a sky survey that searches for microsecond transient radio pulses."
Re:Yes but (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Surprising (Score:5, Funny)
Broadband wasn't common in 1999. Now they figure aliens must have upgraded too. ;)
Based upon human usage (Score:1, Funny)
I would guess, based on human usage, that if SETI intercepted an alien signal it would have a 50% chance of being alien porno.
Re:Erm... (Score:1, Funny)
There's a difference?