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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Phil Plait, the creator of Bad Astronomy, is an astronomer, lecturer, and author. After ten years working on Hubble Space Telescope and six more working on astronomy education, he struck out on his own as a writer. He has written two books, dozens of magazine articles, and 12 bazillion blog articles. He is a skeptic, and fights misuses of science as well as praising the wonder of real science.
Contact me: The Bad Astronomer "at" gmail "dot" com
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October 16th, 2006 at 12:34 pm
Did they find intelligent life in the White House then?
October 16th, 2006 at 1:30 pm
You are such a tease!
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. . . .
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.
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)
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.
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.
October 16th, 2006 at 6:48 pm
I heard they are going to announce their new major sponsor, “The Discovery Instituteâ€. 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.â€
October 16th, 2006 at 7:36 pm
The announcement is that they found the WMD stashed on Alpha Centauri beside Jimmy Hoffa.
October 16th, 2006 at 7:49 pm
Is this a political website?
October 16th, 2006 at 9:21 pm
The aliens are all in my basement. I’ll return them soon, promise.
October 17th, 2006 at 12:05 am
Thomas,
Maybe they’re announcing that aliens have been stealing their lunch boxes?
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.
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”
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.
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.
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.
October 17th, 2006 at 9:00 am
when do we start to panic and ‘RUN FOR OUR LIVES?!”
October 17th, 2006 at 9:13 am
Ready…..Seti….. (Wait for it! Wait for it…) ……Goei.
Ivan.
October 17th, 2006 at 9:53 am
Intelligence in the White House? Now, that’s an oxymoron.
Gary 7
October 17th, 2006 at 10:27 am
So is the news out yet?….
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.
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
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