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A lot of students have questioned why I have my school computers' screen savers set to "scan for aliens." I have been a long-time advocate that our planet Earth is probably not the only planet where life has evolved in our universe. Since life on Earth has evolved to a point where intelligence has emerged and has the capability to transmit messaged out into the galaxy, then perhaps other civilizations on other worlds have done the same. The universe could be teeming with life and intelligent civilizations. If it is, perhaps the means of communication between civilizations is with radio signals. These could be passing by our planet on a regular basis (or not at all). The only way to find out is to listen and we have the technical expertise to do so using radio telescopes. This is relatively inexpensive (compared with the monies spent on other projects) and it certainly harms no one. Why not listen? If we discover a signal, we would know for certain that there is life elsewhere and that humanity is not alone in the universe. If we do not discover a signal, it does not mean other civilizations do not exist. It means if they are communicating over long distances we are either unable to detect the signals or are not clever enough (yet) to discover those signals.
The search for extraterrestrial intelligence is one of the great explorations undertaken by the human species. We have been explorers throughout our time on this planet. Only in the last few decades, however, have we stepped off our planet to begin the exploration of our moon and solar system. Journeying to other planets outside our solar system is (at this time) impossible due to the immense distances involved. However, using telescopes and other astronomical instruments, we have begun searching for ... and finding ... planets orbiting stars other than our own Sun. Finding life and intelligent civilizations on some of those planets may be the next step in this search.
Unfortunately, many confuse my curiosity about "extraterrestrial intelligence" with UFO's, "little green men," and aliens landing in some farmer's field every second Tuesday. No, I do not believe we are being "visited" nor that there are alien bodies from a crashed flying saucer hidden in some super-secret government bunker. To me, such stories are embarrassing. I am interested in real science. [ I am a big fan of the Star Trek series and Star Wars films. They are entertaining, but they are fiction ... terrific fantasy stories ... but they are not "real science." There is a huge difference! ]
The SETI@home project is a way for the common citizen to play a role in the real search for life and intelligence beyond our Earth. The listening for radio "noise" is done at large radio telescopes. The data is then sent out to computers to be processed. Individual personal computers are used to help analyze the "noise" we hear from space and to sift through that noise to determine if there is anything unusual in the signal that might be of scientific interest. Thus, the huge amount of computer time needed is conducted while machines are sitting idle.
I first learned of the software in a college calculus called Introductory Analysis. The professor pointed out that the software uses a calculus technique called a fast Fourier transform in analyzing data. Since I teach Advanced Placement Calculus, I thought this would be a great way to demonstrate calculus in action.
Finally, the screen saver is visually interesting, and certainly more constructive that others that are available.
Links for Further Information
SETI@home Home Page
The SETI Institute
The Planetary Society
From the "Astronomy Picture of the Day"
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