The SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Life) Institute has a new director of its Carl Sagan Centre for Study of Life in the Universe. Dr. David Morrison will take the reigns from his predecessor, Frank Drake, who pioneered the famous Drake Equation. Host Guy Raz speaks to Morrison about the ongoing search for intelligent life in the universe. Read more
setiQuest is an effort to tap into the global brain trust, harness the power of citizen scientists, and educate the next generation of Earthlings to improve current searches for extraterrestrial intelligence and better understand our place in the cosmos. We are creating a community - or if you prefer, a tribe - to actively involve the world in the ultimate search for cosmic company. setiQuest is the concretisation of Jill Tarter's 2009 TED wish to change the world. Read more
On a cold and misty morning in April 1960, a young astronomer named Frank Drake quietly took control of the 26-metre dish at the US National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia. Few people understood that this moment was a turning point in science. Slowly and methodically Drake steered the giant instrument towards a sun-like star known as Tau Ceti, eleven light years away, tuned in to 1,420 MHz, and settled down to wait. His fervent hope was that alien beings on a planet orbiting Tau Ceti might just be sending radio signals our way, and that his powerful radio dish would detect them. Read more
This week marked the 50th anniversary of one of the most ambitious, far-fetched and (at least so far) spectacularly unsuccessful undertakings in the history of science: the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, or SETI project. Read more
Independently of Cocconi and Morrison, Frank D. Drake, an astronomer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Green Bank, West Virginia, was formulating plans to conduct an actual search. Drake was 29 when, on April 8, 1960, he turned the 85-foot Howard Tatel telescope of the observatory toward the star Tau Ceti. Project "Ozma" had begun and for the first time man searched for signals of possible extraterrestrial intelligence. In this article Drake shares with you his feelings and emotions as the historic project progressed. It is a real-science thriller. Read more
If we are ever contacted by aliens, the man I'm having lunch with will be one of the first humans to know. His name is Paul Davies and he's chair of the Seti (Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Post-Detection Task Group. They're a group of the world's most eminent scientists and will be, come the big day, the planet's alien welcome committee. His is an awesome responsibility, and one he doesn't take lightly. Read more
Fifty years ago Frank Drake - then a young astronomer from Cornell University - began an experiment that would have profound implications for humanity's understanding of its place in the cosmos. He turned the newly constructed Green Bank radio telescope in West Virginia towards Tau Ceti, a nearby star that is similar to our own Sun. His purpose was simple: he wanted to pick up transmissions from any alien civilisations that might be flourishing on planets in orbit round Tau Ceti. Read more
Professor Paul Davies is to give a free public lecture at the Geological Society, London, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of SETI ( Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) at 18:00 GMT, 17th March, 2010.
This event is ticket only but free of charge to attend. Tickets are allocated on a first come first served basis.
For tickets, contact Alys Hilbourne on the details below.
He's absolutely convinced. Frank Drake has been scouring the sky for 50 years, looking for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence. He's heard nothing... but he's in no doubt they're out there. Drake was a founder-member of Seti, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. Read more
Alien invasions, four-armed ETs and the cosmic lottery New Scientist talks to the founder of Project Ozma and the inspiration for the modern search for extraterrestrial life.