What happens if a signal is found?

[Hazzard 1,970]

Arecibo records strange signals from the region of Ross 128.  The SETI Institute's Allen Telescope Array joins the effort to uncover the source.

https://www.seti.org/signals-nearby-star-system

Despite what you might expect (especially if you are into Conspiracy theories) this protocol is not a classified government document stashed in a safe. Theres no sealed envelope to be ripped open. The text can be found on many websites and is straightforward and unsurprising. It states that scientists making the discovery should first do all they can to prove that the signal is truly extraterrestrial, then alert other astronomers (who would turn their telescopes to the new find), inform the government and tell the public. 

The biggest discovery of all time would result in big headlines in the morning newspapers, followed by a blistering stream of radio and TV reports? Seti practitioners and astronomers have no policy of secrecy, there are many in other countries than the US you know, and consequently any intriguing signals they find are quickly noted by the media. Then the "fun" would begin! 

Holy ****, I cannot imagine releasing that information and having hordes of crazys going nuts, religious zealots claiming the end of the world, press vans everywhere covering the nutty reactions, "THE END IS NOW",  aluminum foil sales tripling in a matter of days of the revelation, etc., etc... With that in mind, if I was on the team that actually received intelligent signals that could only be from extraterrestrial life, even I might be inclined to keep it an absolute secret?!

To detect a signal from another planet be wondrous. It would show that the appearance of life that can comprehend their own existence is not some improbable miracle, but a frequent occurrence? 

In the 17th century, when early telescopes were revealing great clouds of stars, French mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal wrote that the enormity of space terrified him. "Space is enormous. To learn that others are out there would be a comfort". 

 

[the13bats 4,791]

now more savvy than myself members will correct my flaws here but im under the impression that even we got a signal, a message from some alien race, it wouldnt matter much as it will still take so long for a reply to reach them its not like texting your bff

not sure how writers jumped this in contact and species, splice etc sci fi flicks

[Orphalesion 4,232]

I think people always overestimate the "panic" it would cause. Sure you'd have those Apocalypse prepper types running for their bunkers (good riddance) and on the religious side you'd probably get the Vatican holding a meeting about how soon they can convert (and take money from) those ALiens.

but as 13bats says, a signal doesn't equal a meeting.

The signal might be hundreds of thousands of years old and the ones who sent it are long dead, or it might be more recent, but their technology level isn't any higher than ours and they have no way to visit us, just like we don't have any way to get to them.

 

8 minutes ago, the13bats said:

 

not sure how writers jumped this in contact and species, splice etc sci fi flicks

Because movies are a visual medium and seeing the aliens on screen gets people into the seats, I suppose.

[ThereWeAreThen 1,429]

I honestly wouldn't blame the government(s) for covering it up IF a signal was received. Have you seen the human race? People have known to die on Black Friday sales...

 

Maybe in a century or so, if we survive whatever problem it is we will inevitably create, the human race MIGHT have grown up a tad bit and be able to take such information.

 

 

[Essan 5,937]

Unless the signal involves talentless, nearly naked women with fake breasts fighting or snogging each other, I really don't think the public will be that interested.

 

[Hazzard 1,970]

15 minutes ago, Essan said:

Unless the signal involves talentless, nearly naked women with fake breasts fighting or snogging each other, I really don't think the public will be that interested.

 

 ... I have a feeling that lack of interest would change right quick depending on the distance of the signals origin.

Edited August 9 by Hazzard
im not saying

[stereologist 16,913]

Detection of a signal is one thing, but interpreting that signal would be more interesting of course. That would be the ability to understand some of the information in the signal.

 

I can imagine a show on an alien planet in which the aliens observe our shows, detected and interpreted old TV shows. Then the alien celebrities sit around and make funny comments about us.

They don't have to meet us to laugh at us.

[spud the mackem 5,380]

If we detect a signal it wouldn't be in any Earth language ,but probably a series of numbers ,then depending on how far away , and how long it took to get here we could reply but it could take years to answer ,but if N.A.S.A. received it ,they would with hold it (on Government instructions ) from the public as it maybe would cause mass panic or hysteria , but if an ordinary person received it ,would any one believe them. I believe that there has to be life out there , but the universe is so vast that we maybe will never know , for as Carl Sagan said " we are a small dot in a vast universe ". Unless of course a Government has already received signals which are being withheld.  

[XenoFish 86,698]

If true. I wonder how many would write it off as fake news?

[Earl.Of.Trumps 5,437]

2 hours ago, Hazzard said:

Holy ****, I cannot imagine releasing that information and having hordes of crazys going nuts,

I don't think so, Hazzard, seriously.  What drives people over the edge is thinking that ET's are here, in our biosphere. But 10 billion light years away is not going to get even the most ardent NeverUFOer jumping off of cliffs. My 2 cents

Edited August 9 by Earl.Of.Trumps

[XenoFish 86,698]

43 minutes ago, stereologist said:

Detection of a signal is one thing, but interpreting that signal would be more interesting of course. That would be the ability to understand some of the information in the signal.

 

I can imagine a show on an alien planet in which the aliens observe our shows, detected and interpreted old TV shows. Then the alien celebrities sit around and make funny comments about us.

They don't have to meet us to laugh at us.

Oh man. It would be hilarious if the first alien contact with have is one of their soap operas.

[Earl.Of.Trumps 5,437]

2 hours ago, the13bats said:

now more savvy than myself members will correct my flaws here but im under the impression that even we got a signal, a message from some alien race, it wouldnt matter much as it will still take so long for a reply to reach them its not like texting your bff

not sure how writers jumped this in contact and species, splice etc sci fi flicks

The whole thing is hilarious. If the signal was sent 100 million years ago, what are we going to do, send them a signal back  LOL
They may have died out as a civilization when the message got half way here. Oh, well.

[Earl.Of.Trumps 5,437]

 

I say, feed us porn or forgetabout'em 

[freetoroam 34,098]

2 hours ago, Hazzard said:

 if I was on the team that actually received intelligent signals that could only be from extraterrestrial life, even I might be inclined to keep it an absolute secret?!

Can you define "intelligent signals"? 

As explained,  problems are distance and time. Another is language.

A signal may be recieved, but we have to decipher it and even if we get any information from it like "hello, is anybody out there"  we may be too late to reply.

This is assuming 'they' are similar to us and speak a language which could be understood by us humans. We can not understand the vocal  language of animals  which we share this planet with, plus a signal may be just that - one single signal with no language behind it.

We will have no chance of reaching it and if an intelligent lifeform are sending a signal, chances are they have no chance of reaching us - hence a signal being sent because of distance.

 

[OverSword 43,408]

Quote

What happens if a signal is found?

Get ready for war.  The Holy Emperor of Humanity shall lead us to gloriously eliminating the xeno filth from our galaxy so that humanity may live in peace.  Praise Him

 

 

 

 

Edited August 9 by OverSword

[freetoroam 34,098]

1 minute ago, OverSword said:

Get ready for war.  The Holy Emperor of Humanity shall lead us to gloriously eliminating the xeno filth from our galaxy so that humanity may live in peace.  Praise Him

 

 

 

 

Can we all get one of those 'suits'? but i would like mine a bit smaller so I can at least walk in it.

[XenoFish 86,698]

5 minutes ago, OverSword said:

the xeno filth from our galaxy

Ouch, right in the ego. 

[OverSword 43,408]

3 minutes ago, freetoroam said:

Can we all get one of those 'suits'? but i would like mine a bit smaller so I can at least walk in it.

Yes you may, if you are worthy enough to join the Adeptus Astartes

[and then 36,110]

3 hours ago, Hazzard said:

To detect a signal from another planet be wondrous. It would show that the appearance of life that can comprehend their own existence is not some improbable miracle, but a frequent occurrence? 

I've never considered that it would be anything other than frequent.  I think some very intelligent people who have a deeper understanding than I'll ever have tend to urge caution against assuming any advanced intelligence would necessarily be some cuddly ET.  It's possible that they might be but it is also possible we'd be welcoming them like the natives welcomed Columbus into the New World.

[freetoroam 34,098]

5 minutes ago, OverSword said:

Yes you may, if you are worthy enough to join the Adeptus Astartes

I will have to give it a miss, I can not pronounce that without spitting. 

[XenoFish 86,698]

28 minutes ago, OverSword said:

The Holy Emperor of Humanity

You mean your corpse god.

[stereologist 16,913]

1 hour ago, spud the mackem said:

If we detect a signal it wouldn't be in any Earth language ,but probably a series of numbers ,then depending on how far away , and how long it took to get here we could reply but it could take years to answer ,but if N.A.S.A. received it ,they would with hold it (on Government instructions ) from the public as it maybe would cause mass panic or hysteria , but if an ordinary person received it ,would any one believe them. I believe that there has to be life out there , but the universe is so vast that we maybe will never know , for as Carl Sagan said " we are a small dot in a vast universe ". Unless of course a Government has already received signals which are being withheld.  

I think the evidence is pretty string that this will not happen: "as it maybe would cause mass panic or hysteria"

Films have us hanging out with aliens.

Reports of life on Mars caused little attention.

UFOs are reported often as are fake videos of alien autopsies. No mass panic or hysteria.

The War of the Worlds broadcast caused people calling in some concern but there was no mass panic or hysteria.

Good question: "if an ordinary person received it ,would any one believe them"

Sure because others would be able to verify that the signal exists.

[OverSword 43,408]

17 minutes ago, XenoFish said:

You mean your corpse god.

You have been infected by the warp.

[Hazzard 1,970]

1 hour ago, Earl.Of.Trumps said:

I don't think so, Hazzard, seriously.  What drives people over the edge is thinking that ET's are here, in our biosphere. But 10 billion light years away is not going to get even the most ardent NeverUFOer jumping off of cliffs. My 2 cents

Sure, but the real question is, how would they know about us at all? 

There is only one way that they can tell from interstellar distance that intelligent creatures inhabit this planet....RADIO.  There would have to be 10 billion technically sophisticated societies in the Galaxy to have a reasonable chance of finding one camped out among the nearest three dozen stars (our radio bubble) Thats optimism of a high level indeed. Its here that the UFO dudes always throw in some exotic propulsion like warp drive? Lightspeed? Maybe the aliens can create wormholes and get here in essentially no time? 

It doesnt matter. Ill worry about how they got here once Im convinced that theyve really made the scene.

To get here they need to know were we are.

Edited August 9 by Hazzard

[XenoFish 86,698]

1 minute ago, OverSword said:

You have been infected by the warp.