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Bad Astronomy
« Monkeys are always funny
That such a place exists »

SETI has not yet found aliens

I’ve been getting email that SETI, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, will make a big announcement tomorrow, and rumors are flying that they got a detection. I happen to know some folks there, and they assure me that this is not the case. There will be an announcement, but it’s not about aliens. Sorry to disappoint. The announcement is embargoed, meaning they want all news outlets to release the news at the same time, so I can’t talk about it until tomorrow. :-)

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October 16th, 2006 12:07 PM by Phil Plait in Astronomy, Debunking, Science, Skepticism | 24 comments | RSS feed | Trackback >

24 Responses to “SETI has not yet found aliens”

  1. 1.   Christian Burnham Says:
    October 16th, 2006 at 12:34 pm

    Did they find intelligent life in the White House then?

  2. 2.   dogscratcher Says:
    October 16th, 2006 at 1:30 pm

    You are such a tease!

  3. 3.   Blake Stacey Says:
    October 16th, 2006 at 1:48 pm

    If they had detected ET, I’d bet you my autographed copies of Earth and Beyond Star Trek that somebody would break the embargo. Just think: you could be known as “the guy who broke the embargo” about the biggest story ever. . . .

  4. 4.   Christian Burnham Says:
    October 16th, 2006 at 1:56 pm

    Of course, maybe they didn’t find intelligent life. Maybe they found Republicans living on Persei Omicron VIII.

  5. 5.   ioresult Says:
    October 16th, 2006 at 2:20 pm

    One can only hope they got some significant grant or something like it. (Remembering Foster’s speech about the “Big Picture” in Contact)

  6. 6.   Zoot Says:
    October 16th, 2006 at 2:33 pm

    Damn. I was hoping for a parasite brain slug invastion. Oh well, there’s always republican talk radio.

  7. 7.   Thomas Siefert Says:
    October 16th, 2006 at 2:59 pm

    We have rumours like that in my company, the “important” message always turns out to be about the lunch boxes people have left and forgotten about in the lunch room fridge.

  8. 8.   WoodGuard Says:
    October 16th, 2006 at 6:48 pm

    I heard they are going to announce their new major sponsor, “The Discovery Institute”. On the radio show, Skeptical Sundays will change to Mass. Host my the newly ordained Father Shostak.( some people will do anything for money).

    Someone connect with Seti has said “That finding evidence for intelligent signals will be easier by throwing out all the dumb science ideas and just have faith that all signals are intelligent and just go from them.”

  9. 9.   Evolving Squid Says:
    October 16th, 2006 at 7:36 pm

    The announcement is that they found the WMD stashed on Alpha Centauri beside Jimmy Hoffa.

  10. 10.   Maverick Says:
    October 16th, 2006 at 7:49 pm

    Is this a political website?

  11. 11.   WM Says:
    October 16th, 2006 at 9:21 pm

    The aliens are all in my basement. I’ll return them soon, promise.

  12. 12.   csrster Says:
    October 17th, 2006 at 12:05 am

    Thomas,
    Maybe they’re announcing that aliens have been stealing their lunch boxes?

  13. 13.   Navneeth Says:
    October 17th, 2006 at 12:46 am

    Nah…they just installed a new SETI@Home data recorder at Arecibo, which can “look” at 7 positions in the sky simultaneously. :D

  14. 14.   Zachary Kessin Says:
    October 17th, 2006 at 1:28 am

    I keep thinking woundn’t it be ironic if wehn we do find ET they are infact little green men (or bug eyed monsters).

    OK I just wanted an excuse to say “Bug eyed monsters”

  15. 15.   Steve Says:
    October 17th, 2006 at 4:53 am

    It can’t be intelligence in the white house. Their equipment is not yet sensitive enough for such weak signals.

  16. 16.   chris G Says:
    October 17th, 2006 at 6:01 am

    hmm……. maybe its that they are closing down as its a waste of time using radio waves to detect an advanced civilisation.

  17. 17.   gerrsun Says:
    October 17th, 2006 at 6:02 am

    “I think someone switched this page for the one at the DailyKos.”

    or

    “Huh Huh. I think Republicuns are dumb too! Ha Ha!”

    Whichever makes you feel better about yourself.

  18. 18.   Gp Says:
    October 17th, 2006 at 9:00 am

    when do we start to panic and ‘RUN FOR OUR LIVES?!”

  19. 19.   icemith Says:
    October 17th, 2006 at 9:13 am

    Ready…..Seti….. (Wait for it! Wait for it…) ……Goei.

    Ivan.

  20. 20.   Gary Ansorge Says:
    October 17th, 2006 at 9:53 am

    Intelligence in the White House? Now, that’s an oxymoron.

    Gary 7

  21. 21.   Navneeth Says:
    October 17th, 2006 at 10:27 am

    So is the news out yet?….

  22. 22.   aTom Says:
    October 17th, 2006 at 11:49 am

    On Tuesday, October 17, the SETI Institute will unveil a new center to study life in the universe and a fund-raising strategy to counter NASA’s proposed budget cuts for astrobiology research. From 10 to 11 a.m. at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, a distinguished panel of institute trustees and staff will announce the formation of the Carl Sagan Center for the Study of Life in the Universe. The center’s activities will focus on astrobiology and be dedicated to the memory of planetary scientist and astronomer Carl Sagan. The panel will explain a new emphasis on fundraising from private sources to offset a proposed 50 percent budget cut by NASA for astrobiology research.

  23. 23.   Skeptico Says:
    October 17th, 2006 at 1:23 pm

    Could it be “Earth to be hit by ultraviolet pulse beam from higher dimensions!”?

    That was due to happen today. Could it be true? Do I need my tinfoil hat?

    http://skeptico.blogs.com/skeptico/2006/10/earth_to_be_hit.html

  24. 24.   Pro Libertate Says:
    October 17th, 2006 at 1:24 pm

    Yep, it’s The Carl Sagan Center for the Study of Life in the Universe. Rats. I was hoping that it was aliens, after all :(

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