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rfmcdonaldI'm somewhat of a fan of Alpha Centauri, not least because of Tirane, but this Centauri-related action, as Centauri Dreams suggests, could be a very bad idea.
We’re doing it because we can . . .
[. . .]
As far as Twentieth Century Fox goes, my thoughts on METI are no secret. But look, there are advocates who make a strong case for METI, just as there are reputable and serious scientists who question whether brightening our signature in the electromagnetic spectrum is a good idea. I can listen and learn from both, but what I find deeply troubling is the notion that we can take a serious issue — one that deserves thoughtful study in many disciplines — and casually throw it out the window by yet another fait accompli.
Is it too late to lock down the mania for METI? Probably, as we’re beaming everything from movies and ads for the Doritos to watch them by seemingly at will. And a case can be made that our TV and radio signals are already reaching nearby stars, and that an advanced civilization could pick them up, as well as detecting biomarkers in our atmosphere. That’s plausible, but a sudden and deliberate brightening of our signal for whatever purpose strikes me as unwise given how little we know about the conditions that surround us. I doubt seriously that such transmissions endanger us, but the point is, we don’t know, and in the absence of that knowledge, caution and further study seem a more prudent course.
Thoughts? I agree with the poster, for whatever it's worth.
Twentieth Century Fox will be transmitting the re-make of the science fiction classic The Day The Earth Stood Still to Alpha Centauri on Friday the 12th, timing the event to coincide with the film’s opening here on Earth. The transmission is being handled by Florida-based Deep Space Communications Network, a private organization that offers transmission services to the public (not to be confused with the Deep Space Network that manages communications with our planetary probes).
Why does Deep Space Communications Network offer transmission services to the stars? From its FAQ:
For a number of reasons, one is because we have the equipment, and the know how so we can, and also because we thought it would be an interesting public service that is not currently available.
We’re doing it because we can . . .
[. . .]
As far as Twentieth Century Fox goes, my thoughts on METI are no secret. But look, there are advocates who make a strong case for METI, just as there are reputable and serious scientists who question whether brightening our signature in the electromagnetic spectrum is a good idea. I can listen and learn from both, but what I find deeply troubling is the notion that we can take a serious issue — one that deserves thoughtful study in many disciplines — and casually throw it out the window by yet another fait accompli.
Is it too late to lock down the mania for METI? Probably, as we’re beaming everything from movies and ads for the Doritos to watch them by seemingly at will. And a case can be made that our TV and radio signals are already reaching nearby stars, and that an advanced civilization could pick them up, as well as detecting biomarkers in our atmosphere. That’s plausible, but a sudden and deliberate brightening of our signal for whatever purpose strikes me as unwise given how little we know about the conditions that surround us. I doubt seriously that such transmissions endanger us, but the point is, we don’t know, and in the absence of that knowledge, caution and further study seem a more prudent course.
Thoughts? I agree with the poster, for whatever it's worth.
