It’s been 46 years since Frank Drake aimed an antenna at the stars in the first modern SETI experiment. His hope was to hear a deliberate signal – guided into space by intelligent beings – rather than the natural, noisy dance of hot electrons. Since then, SETI has expanded its search space, bettered its equipment, and refined its strategies. But the bottom line hasn’t budged: still no confirmed chitter from the cosmos.Some people mistakenly confuse a long search with a thorough one, and figure that the lack of a SETI detection indicates that we’re alone in the Galaxy. This, however, is nonsense. The number of star systems we’ve carefully examined is only about a thousand. That’s a trifling sample compared with the several hundred billion suns that stud the Milky Way, and of little statistical significance.

It’s comparable to initiating a quest for Americans who play the oboe, but considering the search meaningful after interrogating only two people. In addition, and of great consequence to those who actually do SETI, the speed of the experiments is growing geometrically. Every two years, the breadth of the search approximately doubles.

Click the full article link for the top reasons suggested for why SETI hasn't found a signal.

View: Full Article | Source: Space.com

They are getting restless and impatient thats all. Just keep waiting for the signals people.

It''s my belief however that an alien race will someday suddenly come to Earth in vast numbers and introduce themselves rather then send a silly signal. We might get lucky though and intercept a signal from somewhere someday.

didn't we receive a signal once, that came from outer space, but it couldn't be accepted as intelligent-alien communication, because it only happened once and scientists base themselves on "if it can't be repeated more than once, then there is no basis for it" <<< or something along those lines...

Yes. It was called the 'WOW" signal in 1976. It came from somewhere and it was very powerful. Powerfull enough to keep SETI going to this day. Google the "WOW" signal and find out more. Im about to as well..

ah yeah, I remember the details about it, but forgot what they dubbed the signal as.

story

I am still more impressed with the attempt to talk to Dolphins and Whales. They live in a World very different than ours. But we have not learned the language of ideas.

With out this skill we can never understand a message even if sent directly to us!

For all we know, there could be an alien civilization that picked up the transmissions and replied over 20 years ago, but that radio waves just haven't reached us yet. With that being said, it's definetely possible that if aliens exist, they use a completely different form of communication.

OR they've already passed us by.

I have to agree with roger it would be a great idea to undersatnd and communicate with the different life on this planet before trying to communicate with alien life in space.

THANK YOU!!!

Why communicate with an inferior intellegence. Dolphins and whales aren't that smart it would be a waste of time which is why an advanced civilization will not attempt to learn our primative communication skills.

Besides if dolphins (second smartest animal) were that smart they wouldn't end up in cans of Tuna nor would they perform trick for fish like a dog does for a biscuit. The reason why we don't is simply because they are dumb animals. No offense to dolphin loving hippies out there but it's true.

That would suck.



Lots of people thing that if a message is sent to us, it will be in a sequence of prime numbers or some thing similar.

Your ideas are backwords. Mankind learns from all the things on this planet. Many of the cures for being ill are found from creatures as stupid as mold bacteria. If we only paid attention to things as smart as humans where would we be looking?Nowhere,thats where.

How do you suppose dolphins would fight back against humans? They probably know there fate but would rather live free and without fear;feigning ignorance; rather then hide in the depths of the water afraid and miserable. Another thing is that not all profound discovery's are found through intelligence. But rather through dilligence and perseverance and almost all animals have that in more abundance then humans.Why? and How? you may ask. Because of there ignorance.!

Ego and pride are in the way of human progress.

Ego and pride have givin us every monument we have ever built and is our determination to push forward. Only if you have pride in your accomplishments will try to accomplish more. As for Ego we have traveled into space created nuclear energies and traveled to every corner of the globe. Our pride in what we can accomplish and have, and our Ego's are what make what we are. Our ego's allow us to see how truly awesome humanity is and can be.