The scientific method (and why I love it).
Skeptics often doubt scientists, usually thinking they have an agenda. In this article, we see a prime example of why that is not true and why the scientific method differs so strongly from other viewpoints.
If scientists had an agenda (like perhaps trying to convert everyone into being an atheist), then why would they be so open minded concerning their OWN research and ideas, as to say that yes, they have had a few radio hits from other planets, but that they turned out to be earth based.
Seems to me that if scientists really had an agenda, they would not make that kind of a statement. Seems only natural that since they have an agenda, they would only release information that backs up their theory, and thus proves their point. But here you can see that it is quite the opposite. The dont KNOW and that is why they are researching.
Non-scientific method is quite different. Typically, the non-scientist will already have an idea, then pick and choose whatever scientific evidence there is to back them up. They do this all the time.
Until recently, astronomers searching for signals from intelligent aliens have had to scan the heavens blindly. But now that's starting to change, as scientists are targeting newly discovered exoplanets beyond the solar system for their search.
Since the first alien planet was discovered in 1996, astronomers have found more than 700 worlds around other stars.
A leading player in this search is NASA's Kepler Space Telescope, which has discovered 2,326 exoplanet candidates since its launch in March 2009. Follow-up observations from the ground over the coming years hope to confirm most of these as the genuine article.
Now scientists involved in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) have analyzed their first data from radio telescope observations of Kepler planets. The researchers are searching for radio signals that aren't likely to be caused by natural phenomena, and thus could represent an extraterrestrial message.
Such signals are likely to be narrow in frequency, as known astrophysical phenomena such as black holes and exploding stars tend to release radio waves across a wider range of frequencies.
These signals will also probably show a gradual drift in frequency over time, which would be expected because of the Doppler effect caused by the relative motion between the planet broadcasting a signal and us here on Earth.
So far, the scientists have already found a few signals that fit the bill but don't get too excited just yet.
"(O)ur analyses have generated a few 'hits,' but all are undoubtedly examples of terrestrial radio frequency interference" caused by radio signals broadcast here on Earth, the researchers wrote in a statement. The study is being led by the University of California, Berkeley, and involves scientists from the SETI Institute in Mountain View, Calif., and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Charlottesville, Va.
The researchers can tell these signals were probably produced locally because they see the same pattern from two different alien planets.
"If we see a signal coming from multiple positions on the sky, like the ones below, it is very likely to be interference," the researchers wrote.
Skeptics often doubt scientists, usually thinking they have an agenda. In this article, we see a prime example of why that is not true and why the scientific method differs so strongly from other viewpoints.
If scientists had an agenda (like perhaps trying to convert everyone into being an atheist), then why would they be so open minded concerning their OWN research and ideas, as to say that yes, they have had a few radio hits from other planets, but that they turned out to be earth based.
Seems to me that if scientists really had an agenda, they would not make that kind of a statement. Seems only natural that since they have an agenda, they would only release information that backs up their theory, and thus proves their point. But here you can see that it is quite the opposite. The dont KNOW and that is why they are researching.
Non-scientific method is quite different. Typically, the non-scientist will already have an idea, then pick and choose whatever scientific evidence there is to back them up. They do this all the time.
Until recently, astronomers searching for signals from intelligent aliens have had to scan the heavens blindly. But now that's starting to change, as scientists are targeting newly discovered exoplanets beyond the solar system for their search.
Since the first alien planet was discovered in 1996, astronomers have found more than 700 worlds around other stars.
A leading player in this search is NASA's Kepler Space Telescope, which has discovered 2,326 exoplanet candidates since its launch in March 2009. Follow-up observations from the ground over the coming years hope to confirm most of these as the genuine article.
Now scientists involved in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) have analyzed their first data from radio telescope observations of Kepler planets. The researchers are searching for radio signals that aren't likely to be caused by natural phenomena, and thus could represent an extraterrestrial message.
Such signals are likely to be narrow in frequency, as known astrophysical phenomena such as black holes and exploding stars tend to release radio waves across a wider range of frequencies.
These signals will also probably show a gradual drift in frequency over time, which would be expected because of the Doppler effect caused by the relative motion between the planet broadcasting a signal and us here on Earth.
So far, the scientists have already found a few signals that fit the bill but don't get too excited just yet.
"(O)ur analyses have generated a few 'hits,' but all are undoubtedly examples of terrestrial radio frequency interference" caused by radio signals broadcast here on Earth, the researchers wrote in a statement. The study is being led by the University of California, Berkeley, and involves scientists from the SETI Institute in Mountain View, Calif., and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Charlottesville, Va.
The researchers can tell these signals were probably produced locally because they see the same pattern from two different alien planets.
"If we see a signal coming from multiple positions on the sky, like the ones below, it is very likely to be interference," the researchers wrote.
