ARE WE ALONE
Humanity is at the pinnacle of Life
at this planet. For roughly 30,000 years
we human beings have struggled and fought our way for survival. We created civisation . Many civilizations rose and fell. The most successful civilization was of the
Egyptians lasted some 4500 years . The
Greeks lasted a thousand and the Romans civilization lasted some 1500 years
miniscule as compared to the Stars.
SEARCH FOR EXTRA-TERRISTRIAL INTELLIGENCE
(SETI)
Since the beginning of civilization
mankind has wondered if we are Alone in this Universe or is there any Life
elsewhere. Probes are sent to other planets (Mars,)
of our Solar system, to investigate any other life exists there or not.
In the late twentieth century
scientists converged upon the basic idea of scanning the sky and listening for
non random pattern of electromagnetic waves (radio and TV waves) to determine
the existence of another civilization in the universe. NASA joined in SETI
efforts in 1960/70ties. By their mutual efforts more intensive Search was organized
in 1995. But their Government cancelled
their programme within a year. It is now funded by private foundations. Scientist
Carl Sagan was promoter and believer of the presence of life outside
Earth. 
Frank Drake of
SETI, a Scientist has devoted his life
to establish the presence of extra-terrestrial life. He derived an equation which
is known as Drake Equation..The probability of life elsewhere. Frank Drake had conceived an approach to bind the terms involved in
estimating the number of technological civilizations that may exist in our
galaxy. The equation is represented as
N = R* • fp • ne • fl • fi • fc • L,
where
N = The number of civilizations in
the Milky Way whose electromagnetic emissions are detectable.
R* = The rate of formation of stars
suitable for the development of intelligent life.
fp = The fraction of those stars with
planetary systems.
ne = The number of planets per solar
system, with an environment suitable for life.
fl = The fraction of suitable planets
on which life actually appears.
fi = The fraction of life-bearing
planets on which intelligent life emerges.
fc = The fraction of civilizations
that develop a technology that releases detectable signs of their existence
into space.
L = The length of time such
civilizations release detectable signals into space.
To scan the sky SETI needed
equipments, very large computers . But
the largest fastest computer too was uable to scan decode radio TV waves in the sky. Therefore, they
devised a project called SETI@home,
which they distributed as free Screen Savers to public's personnel computers
from their website://setiathome.berkley.edu which once installed routinely
downloaded packets of information from the central server and analysez
them. Thousands of people have uploaded
this free project showing their awareness and interest in the mission. I and my daughter too have installed on our
computers Seti@home since its inception in 1999.
Recent Debate:
There was a furious debate recently
among the astronomers about whether we should send our signals to the Universe
saying/we're here..Whether we should take the risk of letting all the Aliens
know that we are here.
A scientist and science fiction writer David Brin said,
"The arrogance of shouting into
the cosmos without any proper risk assessment defies belief. It is a course
that would put our grandchildren at risk." If we send them (aliens)
messages they will come here and enslave us. Or just eat us.
Actually we have been sending our
radio and TV singnals since many years (100 yrs), and by now they must have
been received . The nearest star is four
light years away..Our signals fade away in just one light year…
This new debate is actually of active
SETI. We have been doing passive SETI
listening for messages from civilization from other stars for more than forty
years.
Ellan Stofan (NASA chief scientist)
said I think we are going to have strong indications of Life beyond Earth
within a decade, and i think we are going to have definitive evidence within 20
to 30 years. WE know where to look, we
know how to look. We have the technology
and we are on the path to implementing it.
And so I think we are definitely on the road."
Latest News from NASA that, Be ready
to witness Alien Life by 2025 .It’s really becoming interesting isn’t it?
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