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In 1961, an astronomer named Frank Drake formulated an equation, now called the Drake equation, which demonstrates that there could be many thousands of advanced intelligent cultures in our own galaxy, and millions in the universe as a whole. Drake was th e first to try looking for extraterrestrial signals using a radio telescope. Today's SETI program, the official scientific Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, is based on *Drake's pioneering work.*
However, even if there are millions of advanced cultures in space, this doesn't mean it will be easy to find them via radio signals. Theoretically, most of them are so far away that we could never hear them at all. And even if they're smart, they might no t use radio, either because they haven't invented it yet, or because they've already got something much better. But if they are fairly close -- say, within 100 light years -- and happen to be broadcasting clear and powerful radio signals, then we might ve ry well hear them, if we listen very hard and get lucky.
Today, there are quite a few radio telescopes looking for intelligent signals from space, and the majority of mainstream space scientists believe we will hear such a signal within the next few decades. Some scientists even think we might have heard such signals already, but they didn't last long enough for us to be sure what they were.
Of course, it would be extremely exciting and important if we did hear such a signal. But there would be various problems to solve before we could get very much benefit from this discovery. First of all, even if we recognize the signal as intelligent, it might be very difficult to decipher and understand. What if it's just a random bit of dialogue from the alien equivalent of "I Love Lucy" that has drifted for years in space? In fact, this is just the kind of "intelligent signal" that extraterrestrials mi ght pick up from earth, if they happen to be listening. Of course, we would like to find a signal that was deliberately sent our way, and some SETI scientists think we will find such a signal. In fact, humans have actually sent a number of *deliberate sig nals* into space, hoping they might one day be found by someone "out there." The people who designed these intentional human signals, including Frank Drake and the late Carl Sagan, tried very hard to make them both meaningful and easy to understand, keepi ng in mind that extraterrestrials would not know anything about human language. But when they showed their ideas to other scientists, they realized that even most humans could never decipher the signals they had so carefully created. So, even under the be st of conditions, understanding the signal is the first big problem.
And the next big problem is: If we get a signal, whether we understand it or not, how should we respond? This is not just a question of responding back to whoever is "out there." Even more important is how we humans should respond amongst ourselves, here on earth, to the fact that we have heard from someone "out there."
NASA and SETI scientists, not only here in the United States but in other countries as well, have thought a great deal about what to do if, or when, we receive a definitely intelligent signal from "out there." They realize that even one such signal has pr ofound implications for the human future. They also realize that some people might panic, others might start new religions, others might demand information that simply isn't available, others might try to profit by offering all kinds of dubious new E.T.-r elated products and services, still others might push the government to "do something" -- long before it becomes clear what to do. Indeed, governments might argue among themselves as to "who is really in charge" of such information, or who should speak fo r the people of earth.
In 1992, NASA received $100 million from the U.S. Congress to undertake the most ambitious SETI project ever. This was called the High Resolution Microwave Survey, or HRMS, and its purpose was to scan thousands of stars on millions of radio frequencies, l ooking for signs of intelligent life. One year later, Congress withdrew most of that funding, but the SETI project managed to continue with private support. In the meantime, anticipating that they would soon discover definite proof of life "out there," SE TI scientists prepared a *declaration of principles* and a report on *the cultural aspects of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.* This report applies to all of SETI's projects, including their latest effort called Project Phoenix.
It should be pointed out that SETI scientists are convinced that extraterrestrials cannot reach the earth. Hence, they reject all suggestions that UFOs could represent technology from "out there." However, it is possible that they are wrong.
