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March 19, 2001: SETI - Dr. Seth Shostak
Published 1 year, 5 months ago
Description
Art Bell welcomes Dr. Seth Shostak of the SETI Institute, fresh from a research run at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. Shostak describes the search process, including how the system monitors 28 million channels across two polarizations to detect narrow-band signals that could indicate an extraterrestrial transmitter. He recounts a brief moment of excitement during the latest run when a signal turned out to be an orbiting satellite, a common source of false alarms.
The discussion turns to optical SETI, a newer approach using telescopes to detect laser pulses from other civilizations. Shostak explains that a powerful laser could momentarily outshine our sun as seen from a nearby star, making detection possible with modest equipment. He also previews the Allen Telescope Array, a planned instrument that could observe stars 100 to 1,000 times faster than current methods, potentially surveying millions of star systems.
Art and Shostak debate the probability that advanced civilizations may have evolved beyond biology into machine intelligence, raising the possibility that first contact could be with artificial minds rather than biological beings. They also spar over whether the government would suppress a confirmed detection, with Art arguing secrecy would prevail and Shostak maintaining transparency.
The discussion turns to optical SETI, a newer approach using telescopes to detect laser pulses from other civilizations. Shostak explains that a powerful laser could momentarily outshine our sun as seen from a nearby star, making detection possible with modest equipment. He also previews the Allen Telescope Array, a planned instrument that could observe stars 100 to 1,000 times faster than current methods, potentially surveying millions of star systems.
Art and Shostak debate the probability that advanced civilizations may have evolved beyond biology into machine intelligence, raising the possibility that first contact could be with artificial minds rather than biological beings. They also spar over whether the government would suppress a confirmed detection, with Art arguing secrecy would prevail and Shostak maintaining transparency.