To expand the sum of human knowledge and our place in the universe is a noble cause. Far more respectable a venture than toiling to build transitory material wealth and power. This all-consuming pre-occupation which plagues American Society and enslaves the minds of millions around the globe enriches the few at the expense of the lives of the many. Sadly, it will be difficult for humanity to ever escape this reality as long as decadence and ignorance reign. Humanity requires a reminder of its place in the universe and only a sign that we are not alone can accomplish that great a magnitude of change in our societies' priorities.
Thoughts about SETI and SETI@home
A number of people will tell you that this is a fruitless and hopeless endeavor; an endeavor which must overcome astronomically small probabilities of success to produce a "positive contact." It is those same individuals which will be most affected by the kind of change that a "positive contact" would produce in our society. The existence of life off of Earth will have resounding consequences to human society. Regardless, those few visionaries who put projects like this together must continue to strive to expand the sum of our knowledge and keep alive the hopes and dreams of the minority of us whom desire a better existence for ourselves and our descendants through intellectual enlightenment.
SETI@home and Astropulse are funded by grants from the National Science Foundation, NASA, and donations from SETI@home volunteers. AstroPulse is funded in part by the NSF through grant AST-0307956.
