SETI The search for extraterrestrial Intelligence

Roswell NM July 8, 1947 Huge controversy over an observed crash of a “flying saucer” over a military base in New Mexico Why do most sightings now involve flying saucers? Why do aliens depicted appear humanoid in nature?

Crop Circles: the hoax of the century Although thought by many to be a phenomena of the 20th Century, crop circles and formations have been around for a very long time, and records even date back well before the invention of the camera. The 20 th century buzz cropped up in England

The Face Richard Hoagland Debunked!

What do you see?

Astrology Before I even start, a note: this is my attempt to show that astrology has no basis in reality whatsoever. Only four forces. Astrology doesn’t work! Believing a hoax. A specific prediction is rarely right, while a vague one is rarely wrong. Believing a hoax. A specific prediction is rarely right, while a vague one is rarely wrong. Astrologers rely on our inability to remember when they are wrong, and our almost unfailing ability to see patterns in random noise (in other words, to pull out something that may just possibly kind of vaguely resemble something that describes us). completely inconsistent

Real Science SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) The only debatable Mars question The only debatable Mars question The Drake equation The Drake equation

SETI PROJECTS Allen Telescope Array The Allen Telescope Array, once completed, will have an unprecedented amount of flexibility in observing. Allen Telescope Array The Allen Telescope Array, once completed, will have an unprecedented amount of flexibility in observing. Allen Telescope Array Allen Telescope Array Project Phoenix Project Phoenix Project Phoenix was the world's most sensitive and comprehensive search for extraterrestrial intelligence. It was an effort to detect extraterrestrial civilizations by listening for radio signals that were either being deliberately beamed our way, or were inadvertently transmitted from another planet. Project Phoenix Project Phoenix was the world's most sensitive and comprehensive search for extraterrestrial intelligence. It was an effort to detect extraterrestrial civilizations by listening for radio signals that were either being deliberately beamed our way, or were inadvertently transmitted from another planet. Project Phoenix Optical SETI Optical SETI California astronomers are broadening the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) with a new experiment to look for powerful light pulses beamed our way from other star systems. Optical SETI

ALH The Martian Meteor

Drake Equation Revealed N = The number of communicative civilizations R* = The rate of formation of suitable stars (stars such as our Sun) fp = The fraction of those stars with planets. (Current evidence indicates that planetary systems may be common for stars like the Sun.) ne = The number of Earth-like worlds per planetary system fl = The fraction of those Earth-like planets where life actually develops fi = The fraction of life sites where intelligence develops fc = The fraction of communicative planets (those on which electromagnetic communications technology develops) L = The "lifetime" of communicating civilizations N = N* fp ne fl fi fc L N = N* fp ne fl fi fc L Total number of communicating civilizations in our galaxy? 10,000 Total number of communicating civilizations in our galaxy? 10,000