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cover of episode Where Are We In The Quest To Find Alien Life?

Where Are We In The Quest To Find Alien Life?

2025/1/22
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Short Wave

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J
James Davenport
R
Regina Barber
我(叙述者)
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我(叙述者):我青少年时期参与了SETI@home项目,为寻找地外文明贡献力量,这让我觉得有机会参与到人类探索宇宙的伟大旅程中。 我(叙述者):参与SETI@home项目,让我觉得有机会为人类探索宇宙贡献力量,即使身处偏远地区也能参与到这项伟大的事业中。 James Davenport:现代SETI始于1960年,Frank Drake进行了首次尝试性的地外文明搜索,他的Project Ozma标志着现代SETI的开始。 到2000年左右,我们对宇宙的探索只相当于探索了海洋中的一小杯水,SETI主要关注了来自外太空的无线电信号,但还有更多的数据需要分析。 德雷克方程是一个用来估计地外文明概率的公式,它考虑了恒星数量、拥有行星的恒星比例等因素,但其中有很多未知因素,例如哪些条件才能孕育生命,而且它没有考虑时间因素,宇宙中可能存在过许多已经消亡的文明。 平均每颗恒星至少拥有一颗行星,这为寻找地外文明提供了巨大的可能性,但我们对宇宙的探索才刚刚开始,未来还有很多可能性。 我是一名光学天文学家,我正在尝试将光学天文数据应用于SETI研究,我希望通过结合不同领域的天文数据,更全面地进行SETI研究。 薇拉·鲁宾天文望远镜将极大地提高我们观测恒星的能力,它将使我们能够观测到数十亿颗恒星,这将是SETI研究的重大飞跃。 SETI的成功并不取决于是否找到地外文明,而是在于探索本身,公众的参与对SETI研究至关重要。 Regina Barber:我们如何才能更全面地搜索宇宙?几十年来我们都没有发现任何地外文明,你如何保持耐心和动力?薇拉·鲁宾天文望远镜将如何影响SETI研究?

Deep Dive

Chapters
This section traces the history of SETI, from its early days of using screensavers to analyze radio signals, to present-day efforts involving large-scale collaborations and advanced technology. It highlights the significant progress despite the lack of definitive results.
  • SETI at Home engaged millions in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence using personal computers.
  • Early SETI efforts focused on radio signals from outer space.
  • Despite decades of searching, progress has been made, though the search is still in its early stages.

Shownotes Transcript

Around the turn of the century, 3.8 million people banded together in a real-time search for aliens — with screensavers. It was a big moment in a century-long concerted search for extraterrestrial intelligence. So far, alien life hasn't been found. But for people like astronomer James Davenport), that doesn't mean the hunt is worthless — or should be given up. No, according to James, the search is only getting more exciting as new technology opens up a whole new landscape of possibilities. So today on the show: The evolving hunt for alien life.*Want more space content? Let your opinion be heard by dropping us a line at [email protected])! Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave).*Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)