SUBJECT: IS ANYBODY OUT THERE ? FILE: UFO1550 (C) 1991 ParaNet(sm) Information Service. All Rights Reserved. **************************************************************** ParaNet File Number: 00211 DATE OF UPLOAD: February 24, 1990 ORIGIN OF UPLOAD: ParaNet Headquarters CONTRIBUTED BY: Michael F. Corbin ======================================================== IS ANYBODY OUT THERE? by Michael Corbin As we ponder the question of life elsewhere in the universe, it is now without question that we should be utilizing our vast technology to listen for intelligent radio signals coming from other possibly civilized worlds in the galaxy. As we continue to breach worldly boundaries with satellite communications -- television and radio transmissions -- and all manner of electromagnetic emissions that occur on Earth 24 hours per day, have you ever wondered what happens to the signals? They not only reach their intended destinations, but continue endlessly into the vastness of space in all directions. To answer our question -- "Is Anybody Out There?" -- we must turn back the pages of history to the beginning of the radio age. In a small laboratory in Colorado Springs, Colorado, a young and enthusiastic inventor and scientist tuned in on what he believed to be intelligent transmissions from outer space. Thoroughly convinced that advanced beings were trying to signal us, Nikola Tesla revealed this event to the public in 1899. What did Tesla receive? Was it a beacon - much like the one from the monolith of "2001: A Space Odyssey" - intended to give life to what we know today as the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence? A beacon to pique our curiosity and to formally introduce us to perhaps our origins? Or did this research perish with all of Tesla's research papers when seized by the United States federal authorities? Read on. Twenty-two years later, another young and enthusiastic inventor, Guglielmo Marconi, the father of the "wireless," also claimed to have received intelligently coded signals from a civilized world in space. Although not widely known, but nonetheless public, these were not the only incidents where radio signals of a seemingly intelligent nature were received. A professor of Astronomy at Amherst College, Dr. David Todd made a photographic record of radio signals emanating from Mars in 1924 as it made a close approach to Earth. According to Dr. Ronald Bracewell, a physicist with the Radio Astronomy Institute at Stanford University, strange and unexplained signals were received in 1927, 1928, and 1964. What could account for such activity aside from galactic neighbors attempting to contact us? Some unusual radio emissions could have been pulsars. Pulsars are very unusual because, rather than producing a continuous radio intensity at the Earth, they produce short, regularly spaced bursts of radio emission. Typically, these bursts last about one-twentieth of a second and occur at intervals of about one second. However, pulsars were not the cause of an incident that occurred in 1959 - an incident which shook NASA officials and began what could be the most intense "Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence" to ever come to the fore. NASA detected radio emissions from an unknown satellite circling the Earth. Perhaps this was a Soviet satellite; it is unknown, as our research was unable to find more information. Following this event, a quiet effort was underway to begin a listening project. It was called OZMA and was organized by Dr. Otto Struve, one of the most distinguished astronomers of that time and associated with the National Science Foundation. Notwithstanding a public gone crazy on UFO activity, this project's credibility was boosted by Dr. Struve's impressive background and credentials which carried a lot of weight in the scientific community. Dr. Struve announced soberly to the press that there could be one million intelligently inhabited planets in our galaxy alone. Appointed by Struve, Dr. Frank Drake was Project OZMA's director. Drake also echoed Struve's sentiments by pointing out the tremendous benefits to our world by establishing contact with beings far advanced of us. Although the subject of UFOs was not discussed, the Air Force was very uneasy about this listening project. During formation of OZMA, it was determined by Philip Morrison and Giuseppe Cocconi that a frequency of 1420 mHz would be a universally recognizable communication channel. Continued next message... * Tossed by SFToss v1.02 on 92/10/06 03:49:34 =========================================================================== BBS: Fortean Research Center Date: 10-05-92 (00:05) Number: 57 From: MICHAEL CORBIN Refer#: NONE To: ALL Recvd: NO Subj: SETI - Part 1 Conf: (22) PARANET UF --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ... Continued from previous message In 1961, Drake and his staff at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia took their first step in the search by focusing on Tau-Ceti, one of the nearest suns likely to have intelligent life. Within two minutes something totally shocking happened. They were receiving intelligently coded signals from the Tau-Ceti system. As Dr. Drake related later, "the spooky signals had had an unexpected effect on everyone." Within a short period of time, the signals faded leaving the scientists in the room literally stunned. To avoid possible public panic, all discussion of this event was kept quiet, but because of the sensational magnitude of the event, word quickly leaked to the public. A swift and lethal blow to the credibility of the project soon followed from the Pentagon, which stated that the strange signals had been received from a military station so secret that its identity could not be revealed. Abruptly, Dr. Struve closed Project OZMA. At a conference before a bewildered press, Dr. Struve shocked them by stating that it was "folly" to listen for messages from space, and besides, it might be unwise for us to answer them without first knowing their identity and possible intentions. Quite peculiar behavior for a man of Struve's credentials, considering his strong comments in favor of the project, not to mention subsequent events in the SETI story. Were the strange signals merely from an earthly military station? Perhaps. But, if this were the case, would OZMA have to close so abruptly? One can reasonably argue "no." On the other hand, consider next the actions of a man who claimed it was "folly" to listen in on our galactic neighbors. With some urgency and in complete secret, November 1961 saw a meeting held at Green Bank to discuss seriously the number of worlds capable of communicating with Earth. On this panel were many well-known scientists, among them the man who had suddenly ridiculed the original project as "folly" -- Dr. Otto Struve, Dr. Melvin Calvin, Dr. John C. Lilly, Dr. Frank Drake, and Dr. Carl Sagan. It was concluded at this meeting that "There are between 40,000,000 and 50,000,000 worlds which are either trying to signal us or are listening for messages from Earth." This statement has become known as "The Green Bank Forumla." Following this, control of listening projects was turned over to the Air Force Office of Scientific Research in Puerto Rico. Although the true story of Tau-Ceti may never be publicly known, it is known that this was the birth of SETI. As part of NASA's Exobiology Program, NASA SETI has been ongoing since 1982 and is geared towards understanding the origin, evolution and distribution of life in the Universe. --- FD 1.99c * Origin: ParaNet -- Leading UFO Research Network (1:104/428.0) * Tossed by SFToss v1.02 on 92/10/06 03:49:34 =========================================================================== BBS: Fortean Research Center Date: 10-05-92 (00:06) Number: 58 From: MICHAEL CORBIN Refer#: NONE To: ALL Recvd: NO Subj: SETI - Part 2 Conf: (22) PARANET UF --------------------------------------------------------------------------- <..Continued from previous message> What does it take to launch a program of this sort? Through Stanford University, a compact and flexible prototype Multi-Channel Spectrum Analyzer (MCSA 1.0) has been designed and built. It provides 144 channels with 576-Hertz spectral resolution and 74,000 channels at 1/2-Hertz resolution. Present signal recognition software algorithms have demonstrated efficient and near optimal detection of continuous wave (CW) signals and narrowband pulses whether stationary or drifting up to (+/-)1 channel/observational frame. In testing, this system was able, in the Targeted Search mode, to detect the one-Watt signal from the Pioneer 10 spacecraft transmitter beyond the solar system using MCSA 1.0 at Goldstone. In the test of the Sky Survey mode, it was able to map a portion of the sky at a frequency corresponding to one sideband of the Voyager 2 transmitter and to detect that spacecraft more than 3 billion kilometers from Earth on its way to Neptune. The operational phase of the program will consist of two modes: the Targeted Search and the Sky Survey. The Targeted Search will examine 800 to 1000 nearby Sun-like stars for evidence of continuous wave (CW) and narrowband pulsed signals over the frequency range from 1 to 3 GHz (Gigahertz). The Sky Survey will search the entire sky for CW signals over the frequency range 1 to 10 GHz. The Targeted Search will have significantly more sensitivity than the Sky Survey, whereas the Sky Survey covers a larger area of the sky and a greater frequency range. Are the millions of dollars put toward this research justified? Would this suggest that science is convinced that life exists beyond our tiny little planet? Consider the next two statements from the Astronomy Survey Committee of the National Academy of Sciences in 1972 and 1982, respectively: "Our civilization is within reach of one of the greatest steps in its evolution: knowledge of the existence, nature, and activities of independent civilizations in space. At this instant, through this very document, are perhaps passing radio waves bearing the conversations of distant creatures -- conversations that we could record if we but pointed a telescope in the right direction and tuned to the proper frequency... Indeed there exist the know-how and instruments to search for extraterrestrial civilizations...Each passing year has seen our estimates of the probability of life in space increase, along with our capabilities for detecting it. More and more scientists feel that contact with other civilizations is no longer something beyond our dreams but a natural event in the history of mankind that will perhaps occur in the lifetime of many of us. The promise is now too great, either to turn away from it or to wait much longer before devoting major resources to a search for other intelligent beings... In the long run, this may be one of science's most important and most profound contributions to mankind and to our civilization." "While the Committee recognized that this endeavor has a character different from that normally associated with astronomical research, intelligent organisms are as much a part of the universe as stars and galaxies; investigating whether some of the electromagnetic radiation now arriving at Earth was generated by intelligent beings in space may thus be considered a legitimate part of astronomy. Moreover, the techniques that can now be most effectively brought to bear on a SETI program for the 1980's are those of astronomy... It is hard to imagine a more exciting astronomical discovery or one that would have greater impact on human perceptions than the detection of extraterrestrial intelligence." What if we do receive communication from extraterrestrial intelligence? What if we receive that big "hello" from across the galaxy? Do we answer? SETI - to be distinguished from communication with extraterrestrial intelligence (CETI), which implies actual two- way formulation of a mutually understandable language for discourse - has had at least nine searches since its beginning in 1960, with no reported success. Dr. Arthur C. Clarke, a highly respected author and space- travel authority, believes that a malevolent super-race might Continued next message... * Tossed by SFToss v1.02 on 92/10/06 03:49:34 =========================================================================== BBS: Fortean Research Center Date: 10-05-92 (00:06) Number: 59 From: MICHAEL CORBIN Refer#: NONE To: ALL Recvd: NO Subj: SETI - Part 2 Conf: (22) PARANET UF --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ... Continued from previous message transmit vicious, compelling information which could cause us to destroy ourselves. Perhaps one person responsible for the seriousness with which scientists take the possibility of life in the universe was Nobel Prize winner Sir Martin Ryle, who stated that no signals be intentionally sent to other stars for fear of an invasion or a loss of human values when contact is made with a superior intelligence. Despite these warnings, for over fifty years, radio, television and radar emissions have been traveling away from Earth at the speed of light, making our presence in the universe known. If it is found that life exists elsewhere in the Universe, we could benefit tremendously from such a discovery. It could revolutionize many aspects of earthly life. Or, on the other hand, it could be devastating to us. Dr. Carl Sagan once stated we should refrain from transmitting "because we do not know the intentions of a superior galactic society." Recently NASA was awarded $40 million dollars for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence from 1993 to 1999. --- FD 1.99c * Origin: ParaNet -- Leading UFO Research Network (1:104/428.0) * Tossed by SFToss v1.02 on 92/10/06 03:49:35 =========================================================================== BBS: Fortean Research Center Date: 10-05-92 (00:07) Number: 60 From: MICHAEL CORBIN Refer#: NONE To: ALL Recvd: NO Subj: SETI - Conclusion Conf: (22) PARANET UF --------------------------------------------------------------------------- <<..Continued from previous message>> Through efforts of a host of agencies associated with the NASA/SETI program a set of guidelines have been established which will act as a global protocol for dealing with our neighbors. Called the "Declaration of Principles Concerning Activities Following the Detection of Extraterrestrial Intelligence," it reads as follows: We, the institutions and individuals participating in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, Recognizing that the search for extraterrestrial intelligence is an integral part of space exploration and is being undertaken for peaceful purposes and for the common interest of all mankind, Inspired by the profound significance for mankind of detecting evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence, even though the probability of detection may be low, Recalling the Treaty of Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, which commits States Parties to that Treaty "to inform the Secretary General of the United Nations as well as the public and the international scientific community, to the greatest extent feasible and practicable, of the nature, conduct, locations and results" of their space exploration activities (Article XI), Recognizing that any initial detection may be incomplete or ambiguous and thus require careful examination as well as confirmation, and that it is essential to maintain the highest standards of scientific responsibility and credibility, Agree to observe the following principles for disseminating information about the detection of extraterrestrial intelligence: 1. Any individual, public or private research institution, or governmental agency that believes it has detected a signal from or other evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence (the discoverer) should seek to verify that the most plausible explanation for the evidence is the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence rather than some other natural phenomenon or anthropogenic phenomenon before making any public announcement. If the evidence cannot be confirmed as indicating the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence, the discoverer may disseminate the information as appropriate to the discovery of any unknown phenomenon. 2. Prior to making a public announcement that evidence if extraterrestrial intelligence has been detected, the discoverer should promptly inform all other observers or research organizations that are parties to this declaration, so that those other parties may seek to confirm the discovery by independent observations at other sites and so that a network can be established to enable continuous monitoring of the signal or phenomenon. Parties to this declaration should not make any public announcement of this information until it is determined whether this information is or is not credible evidence of the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence. The discoverer should inform his/her or its relevant national authorities. 3. After concluding that the discovery appears to be credible evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence, and after informing other parties to this declaration, the discoverer should inform observers throughout the world through the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams of the International Astronomical Union, and should inform the Secretary General of the United Nations in accordance with Article XI of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Bodies. Because of their demonstrated interest in and expertise concerning the question of the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence, the discoverer should simultaneously inform the following international institutions of the discovery and should provide them with all pertinent data and recorded information concerning the evidence: the International Telecommunication Union, the Committee on Space Research of the International Council of Scientific Unions, the International Astronautical Federation, the International Academy of Astronautics, the International Institute of Space Law, Commission 51 of the International Astronomical Union and Commission J of the International Radio Science Union. 4. A confirmed detection of extraterrestrial intelligence should be disseminated promptly, openly, and widely through scientific channels and public media, observing the procedures in this declaration. The discoverer should have the privilege of making the first Continued next message... * Tossed by SFToss v1.02 on 92/10/06 03:49:35 =========================================================================== BBS: Fortean Research Center Date: 10-05-92 (00:07) Number: 61 From: MICHAEL CORBIN Refer#: NONE To: ALL Recvd: NO Subj: SETI - Conclusion Conf: (22) PARANET UF --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ... Continued from previous message public announcement. 5. All data necessary for confirmation of detection should be made available to the international scientific community through publications, meetings, conferences, and other appropriate means. 6. The discovery should be confirmed and monitored and any data bearing on the evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence should be recorded and stored permanently to the greatest extent feasible and practicable, in a form that will make it available for further analysis and interpretation. These recordings should be made available to the international institutions listed above and to members of the scientific community for further objective analysis and interpretation. 7. If the evidence of detection is in the form of electromagnetic signals, the parties to this declaration should seek international agreement to protect the appropriate frequencies by exercising the extraordinary procedures established within the World Administrative Radio Council of the International Telecommunication Union. 8. No response to a signal or other evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence should be sent until appropriate international consultations have taken place. The procedures for such consultations will be the subject of a separate agreement, declaration of arrangement. 9. The SETI Committee of the International Academy of Astronautics, in coordination with Commission 51 of the International Astronomical Union, will conduct a continuing review of procedures for the detection of extraterrestrial intelligence and the subsequent handling of the data. Should credible evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence be discovered, an international committee of scientists and other experts should be established to serve as a focal point for continuing analysis of all observational evidence collected in the aftermath of the discovery, and also to provide advice on the release of collected in the aftermath of the discovery, and also to provide advice on the release of information to the public. This committee should be constituted from representatives of each of the international institutions listed above and such other members as the committee may deem necessary. To facilitate the convocation of such a committee at some unknown time in the future, the SETI Committee of the International Academy of Astronautics should initiate and maintain a current list of willing representatives from each of the international institutions listed above, as well as other individuals with relevant skills, and should make that list continuously available through the Secretariat of the International Academy of Astronautics. The International Academy of Astronautics will act as the Depository for this declaration and will annually provide a current list of parties to all the parties to this declaration. We, as a global society, must act responsibly in our endeavors in this search for extraterrestrial intelligence. This is only one small piece in the overall picture. Perhaps in our lifetimes we will discover the truth to this enigma concerning UFOs and the possible connection they have with a government-funded search. So, the next time you turn on your television or you use the telephone, ponder this question -- "Is Anybody Out There?" ================================================================= ********************************************** * THE U.F.O. BBS - http://www.ufobbs.com/ufo * **********************************************