Extraterrestrial

Shostak: 'we will find ET within 20 years'

By T.K. Randall
March 14, 2014

Image: OVRO 40 Meter Radio Telescope
Credit: Salvor Hardin / CC BY-SA 4.0 (adapted) The senior astronomer believes that advances in computing technology will make it possible to significantly speed up our ability to scan star systems for signs of intelligent extraterrestrial civilizations."The thing to keep in mind is that we're still in the very early days when it comes to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence," he said. "Saying there's a silence is a bit like if Columbus, looking to discover a new continent, only sailed 10 miles off the coast of Spain before turning back to say, 'Nothing out there!' I guess that whole exploration gig isn't going to work out."

The SETI Institute was founded back in 1984 with the aim to "explore, understand and explain the origin, nature and prevalence of life in the universe." If Shostak's prediction proves correct then the organization may succeed in achieving its goals a lot sooner than expected.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Tags: SETI, Seth Shostak