| Personal background |
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I am a computer technician working for a small computer store in Illinois, near Chicago. Before this job I spent six years in the US Navy as a nuclear reactor operator. I enjoy all aspects of working with computers; besides building and repairing them I also enjoy programming. Some other hobbies include reading, watching sports and listening to good music (preferably live).
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| Thoughts about SETI and SETI@home |
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I believe it is a mathematical certainty that other life exists in the universe. How much life and to what stage of advancement are much harder questions to answer without any solid evidence. Multicellular life has only existed on Earth for a few hundred million years, though the Earth is 4 billion years old. Intelligent life (specifically, H. Sapiens) has only existed for a few tens of thousands of years. How long will we last? IF we ever manage to get probes to other planetary systems, and IF those systems have habitable planets, I believe we will find life there. However, I seriously doubt we will ever encounter another sentient species, because I think they are too few and far between in space and time.
I believe that any other sentients we could manage to contact (in the near future, at least) must be more technologically advanced than we simply because of the magnitude of the task. It is not simply a matter of listening for ET's television broadcasts.
Is there danger in contacting extraterrestrial intelligence? Yes and no. I really don't believe there is any danger of invasion or intentional annihilation on the part of the aliens. There is a definite possibility of fatal culture shock on our part, though. Many conspiracy theorists hold this as their "reason" for why governments haven't revealed the "truth" they've been hiding. (NOTE: I am NOT one of the aforementioned conspiracy theorists.) The greatest danger to our survival is, as always, ourselves.
What of the SETI@Home project? I must say up front that I don't believe (this version) will find anything. However, I do support the project. First, it is scientific exploration. Second, it is a good experiment in computer science. Third, there is always the possibility we do find something. How can we expect to hear anything if we don't listen?
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