I look at it this way:
SETI is trying to recognise extra terrestrial intelligence,
EINSTEIN is trying to make sure they recognise terrestrial intelligence when they get here.
I look at it this way:
SETI is trying to recognise extra terrestrial intelligence,
EINSTEIN is trying to make sure they recognise terrestrial intelligence when they get here.
Well, I ran seti for about a year and quit because I believe the project has no meaning. Seti is not worth my computer time. I know there is some sort of life in the galaxy. If I believe there is then why look for it? Also looking for sounds just does not impress me. There is real research to be done, finding a cure for aids, cancer, and increasing encryption are just a few that come to mind. Give me a few good reasons to search space for sounds or "ET" and I may change my mind.
I look at it this way:
SETI is trying to recognise extra terrestrial intelligence,
EINSTEIN is trying to make sure they recognise terrestrial intelligence when they get here.
Perhaps the best sign of intelligence of all is that we, collectively, are looking at many different things. Combining pure science (E@h), outreach (SETI), medicine (Predictor) and protection (Orbit, CPDN) all at the same time rather than just focussing on one or the other. Diverse choices, collectively, are more intelligent than a single policy applied globally.
So, yeah, I'll join in some light hearted SETI-bashing cos that is in line with my own feelings; you can see how important I think SETI is by looking at my stats:
But on a deeper level I'm glad they are doing it. First contact might be made and the fact that we saw it first might just give us an edge. I really don't think it is at all likely, but I try to be intelligent enough to consider it possible that I may be mistaken.
In the unlikely event that I made the wrong call, thank God someone else is eager to cover for my mistake.
And in all fairness, it was SETI that gave us BOINC. For me: opening up their infrastructure to diversity was a much smarter move than their initial choice of project ;-)
This is my "Thoughts about SETI" from my profile at SAH, I wrote it long ago, but I still believe it today. It is why I still run S@H.
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I believe there are other intelligences in the universe, it would be arrogant to assume otherwise. Unfortunately I believe the scale of the universe to be the biggest, (groan), hurdle to finding other civilisations.
Apart from simply making things nicer, I believe that if we all stopped hating/fighting/mistrusting each other, sufficient funding would be released from the obscene global "defence" spending, to enable us to really move into space. It is an endeavour requiring global resources and co-operation.
I was born the year the space age started, (1957). In those 45 years we have progressed a little, but look at the facts, we still take 6 months to hurl a probe to Mars, and Cassini has been en route to Saturn for years! We will not make a real dent in space exploration with that kind technology, space is simply too big.
I run the screensaver because I hope that if it did detect something, it might rekindle the spark that we seem to have lost.
Sorry, bit of a rant.
-----
Cassini is, of course, now at Saturn, so perhaps I ought to update that a bit!
Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.
Apart from simply making things nicer, I believe that if we all stopped hating/fighting/mistrusting each other, sufficient funding would be released from the obscene global "defence" spending, to enable us to really move into space.
well, on that we agree. I'd love it if all them money spent on nukes was diverted to space-for-peace. But for me the advantage there would be the not spending it on the nukes.
Quote:
I was born the year the space age started, (1957).
me 1955. I was 7 during the Cuba crisis, and terrified. Often I wonder how much of the current idiocy and wanton violence from our leaders and (as you say) 'obscene global "defence" spending' is a result of them being kids at that time and as scared as I was...
Quote:
I run the screensaver because I hope that if it did detect something, it might rekindle the spark that we seem to have lost.
Any project that can achieve that would count as a massive positive. I have the same kind of hopes about Orbit@home, that as well as saving us all from a nasty sci fi death, if it found anything it would actually bring people together in a way that 'defence' spending never does.
If SETI did that, I'd regret not having been part of it. Missing out would certainly count as the 'mistake' I mentioned in my previous post!
You may not be crunching S@H WU's, but you are helping to develop the platform on which it rides. Therefore you are helping SETI, as well as all the other projects that benefit from BOINC.
Quote:
If SETI did that, I'd regret not having been part of it. Missing out would certainly count as the 'mistake' I mentioned in my previous post!
SETI vs EINSTEIN @ Home
)
Nicely said!!
Theory of Gravitational Waves & LIGO
Laser Interferometer Space Antenna - LISA
JPL-Caltech
Well, I ran seti for about a
)
Well, I ran seti for about a year and quit because I believe the project has no meaning. Seti is not worth my computer time. I know there is some sort of life in the galaxy. If I believe there is then why look for it? Also looking for sounds just does not impress me. There is real research to be done, finding a cure for aids, cancer, and increasing encryption are just a few that come to mind. Give me a few good reasons to search space for sounds or "ET" and I may change my mind.
RE: Give me a few good
)
Chicks dig it! :D
RE: I look at it this
)
Perhaps the best sign of intelligence of all is that we, collectively, are looking at many different things. Combining pure science (E@h), outreach (SETI), medicine (Predictor) and protection (Orbit, CPDN) all at the same time rather than just focussing on one or the other. Diverse choices, collectively, are more intelligent than a single policy applied globally.
So, yeah, I'll join in some light hearted SETI-bashing cos that is in line with my own feelings; you can see how important I think SETI is by looking at my stats:
But on a deeper level I'm glad they are doing it. First contact might be made and the fact that we saw it first might just give us an edge. I really don't think it is at all likely, but I try to be intelligent enough to consider it possible that I may be mistaken.
In the unlikely event that I made the wrong call, thank God someone else is eager to cover for my mistake.
And in all fairness, it was SETI that gave us BOINC. For me: opening up their infrastructure to diversity was a much smarter move than their initial choice of project ;-)
~~gravywavy
This is my "Thoughts about
)
This is my "Thoughts about SETI" from my profile at SAH, I wrote it long ago, but I still believe it today. It is why I still run S@H.
-----
I believe there are other intelligences in the universe, it would be arrogant to assume otherwise. Unfortunately I believe the scale of the universe to be the biggest, (groan), hurdle to finding other civilisations.
Apart from simply making things nicer, I believe that if we all stopped hating/fighting/mistrusting each other, sufficient funding would be released from the obscene global "defence" spending, to enable us to really move into space. It is an endeavour requiring global resources and co-operation.
I was born the year the space age started, (1957). In those 45 years we have progressed a little, but look at the facts, we still take 6 months to hurl a probe to Mars, and Cassini has been en route to Saturn for years! We will not make a real dent in space exploration with that kind technology, space is simply too big.
I run the screensaver because I hope that if it did detect something, it might rekindle the spark that we seem to have lost.
Sorry, bit of a rant.
-----
Cassini is, of course, now at Saturn, so perhaps I ought to update that a bit!
Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.
RE: Apart from simply
)
well, on that we agree. I'd love it if all them money spent on nukes was diverted to space-for-peace. But for me the advantage there would be the not spending it on the nukes.
me 1955. I was 7 during the Cuba crisis, and terrified. Often I wonder how much of the current idiocy and wanton violence from our leaders and (as you say) 'obscene global "defence" spending' is a result of them being kids at that time and as scared as I was...
Any project that can achieve that would count as a massive positive. I have the same kind of hopes about Orbit@home, that as well as saving us all from a nasty sci fi death, if it found anything it would actually bring people together in a way that 'defence' spending never does.
If SETI did that, I'd regret not having been part of it. Missing out would certainly count as the 'mistake' I mentioned in my previous post!
~~gravywavy
You may not be crunching S@H
)
You may not be crunching S@H WU's, but you are helping to develop the platform on which it rides. Therefore you are helping SETI, as well as all the other projects that benefit from BOINC.
Jim