Hunt Intensifies for Aliens on Kepler's Planets
discovery.com
Could ET be chatting with colleagues or robots on sister planets in its solar system? Maybe so, say scientists who last year launched a new type of Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, or SETI, project to eavesdrop on aliens.
Using data collected by NASA’s Kepler space telescope, a team of scientists spent 36 hours listening in when planets in targeted solar systems lined up, relative to Earth’s perspective, in hopes of detecting alien interplanetary radio signals.
“We think the right strategy in SETI is a variety of strategies. It’s really hard to predict what other civilizations might be doing,” Dan Werthimer, director of SETI research at the University of California Berkeley, told Discovery News.
The idea to seek out aligned planets was triggered by the flood of data collected by NASA’s Kepler telescope, which was launched in 2009 to search for Earth-sized planets that are the right temperature for liquid water, a condition believed to be necessary for life.
Kepler scientists have yet to announce a true Earth analog, but already have added 962 confirmations and 3,845 candidates to the list of 1,792 planets discovered beyond the solar system.
Hundreds of the Kepler planets turned out to be in multi-planet systems, a discovery that caught the eye of Werthimer and colleagues.
A graduate student created a computer program to predict when extrasolar planets would line up with Earth and the team wrote proposals for observing time on radio telescopes.
“This is the first time in history we have had such specific and accurate information about other planetary systems and had the opportunity to consider how we could use it to improve the efficacy of our searches,” SETI scientist Andrew Siemion, with University of California Berkeley, the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy and Radboud University in The Netherlands, wrote in an email to Discovery News.
The Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia was the first to sign on, awarding the team a total of 36 hours to attempt to eavesdrop on ET. Scientists collected data during 75 conjunctions, with no alien transmissions detected. Additional proposals are pending.
Meanwhile, a second targeted SETI project is due to launch this summer. This time, the scientists plan comprehensive studies of 30 stars within 13 light years of Earth in the northern hemisphere.
“Typically, SETI searches cover only a very small region of the electromagnetic spectrum. We’re going to do a thorough search of the bands … in visible wavelengths, infrared and radio … at a small number of targets.
“If we just select a very small number of targets then we can do a pretty comprehensive search,” Werthimer said.
So far, the Green Bank Telescope and the Low Frequency Array, or LOFAR, in The Netherlands have agreed to give the project, known as Panchromatic SETI, observing time. Scientists are waiting to hear back from four other ground-based observatories, including Arecibo in Puerto Rico and the Keck telescopes in Hawaii.
Source: http://www.ascensionearth2012.org/2014/05/hunt-intensifies-for-aliens-on-keplers.html
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
LION'S MANE PRODUCT
Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules
Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.
Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.
