Has it realy been 1200 posts. Well here is this months crazy theory <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/silly.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/silly.gif" alt="" />

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We have all heard of the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence. Fermi's Paradox basically asks that if the Universe teems with intelligent life, then where are they? More to the point, given SETI's current emphasis - WHERE ARE THEIR DAMN RADIO SIGNALS?

Good question. We can speculate about "alternate" methods of interstellar communications that radio receivers cannot detect - such as telepathy, high-powered lasers, Star Trek's 'subspace radio', or quantum thingies. But, so far proof is hard to find. For similar reasons, I would put aside speculation that all incoming radio signals are being blocked or suppressed by UFOs or MIBs. Once again, hard evidence is lacking.

My view is that we are receiving radio signals from other civilizations, but are simply not recognizing them as such. The most fundamental difficulty is COMPATIBILITY of hardware and software. This is not always to be equated with technological progress. For instance, my digital watch has more computing power than 'Ultra' ever did. But I wouldn't expect my watch to be much help cracking the Enigma codes.

Crude analogy. Imagine discovering a fibre-optic communications cable in use, and then trying to make sense of it when you don't know precisely what it is used for. Take this one step further. Assume that you somehow make a leap of logic and figure that some of the impulses sent along it somehow correspond to sound. If so, what would be inferred from those impulses signifying the use of faxes, the Internet, and/or cable TV? I think a very similar situation could exist as regards SETI.

As well as hardware / software incompatibility, there is the cultural aspect. Consider the wide range of radio frequencies that could be in use by literally anyone, AND that the Universe seems a fairly noisy place. The so-called Hydrogen frequency is favoured by many SETI efforts, simply because it would be the most well-known. On the other hand, a durn good case has been for forgetting Hydrogen and tuning into other frequencies, like the one for Water. In any case, a lot of weird stuff is routinely picked up - most of it finding explanations as quasars, cosmic radiation, or whatever. Probably correct, but you never know. A simplistic analogy is to imagine a ham radio operator of the 1920s somehow tuning in to a transmission of MTV! Would he recognize all the racket as being (supposedly) music-related?

We could be literally bombarded with terrabytes of data from space, but simply are unable to recognize or interpret anything.


Not in the mood for cheese?
That excuse has more holes than a slice this fine Gorgombert!