Communication with Alien Intelligence - Is it a Possibility?

When we finally meet the aliens from outer space, will we be able to converse with them? Considering that we don’t speak the same language, is there a possibility that we will be able to decipher their language?

Well, these are questions that have been nagging people who have always had a fascination with trying to make contact with extraterrestrial beings.

It’s disappointing that all the messages that have been sent to the outer space have either gone unanswered or weird transmissions have been received. But what if researchers picked up an unmistakable communication from outer space tomorrow? Wouldn’t it be an intriguing dilemma?

Let’s find out….

Communication with Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Communication with Extraterrestrial Intelligence (CETI) is a branch of Searching for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), a branch involved with the transmission and reception of messages between humans and alien civilization.

Since the 60s, researchers and scientists have been trying to detect signals from alien intelligence with no luck.

This branch seeks to discover and solve challenges that may hinder communication with outer space intelligence.

Recognizing Incoming Alien Signal

According to CETI, recognizing incoming alien signal is one of the most challenging tasks as differentiating between natural and unnatural signals is easier said than done.

Researchers are however hopeful that advanced technology is highly capable of producing a fine time and frequency structure, through which natural and unnatural signals can be distinguished.

However, according to Andrew Siemion, the director of the Berkeley SETI Research Center, it could be possible that some natural sources could mimic the type of signals being investigated in SETI research. He further adds that discovering these processes would be incredible as well.

Possibility of Overcoming the Language Barrier

The second hardest challenge would be overcoming the language barrier, bearing in mind that aliens most certainly speak a totally different language.

Is there a possibility of coping with such a barrier?

Well, linguistic experts are already trying to unravel this mystery.

It would be practically impossible to decipher an unintentional alien message. However, according to SETI researchers, the situation would be totally different if their message was intentional.

According to Siemion, if alien civilization really wanted to contact us, they would most likely choose to base their communication on something we both have in common. Furthermore, given the fact that we live in the same physical universe and are pretty close to each other(40-50 light years away), they might actually know a lot about us.

Is the Effort Worth it?

Even as researchers continue with the struggle to come up with more suitable methods to get in touch with extraterrestrial civilizations, some people still feel it’s not a risk worth taking.

Some feel there is a high possibility of existential dangers to humanity- like biological weapons or asteroid impacts.

However, according to Siemion, there is no such evidence and on the contrary, extraterrestrial intelligence could actually be friendly possibly because their civilization is highly advanced.

Scientists strongly believe that alien intelligence might have already picked up the sent messages, only that they have no idea we are trying to contact them, possibly due to a language barrier.

They are strongly convinced that transmitting more powerful signals could possibly let them know of our desire to converse with them.

Well, we can only hope for the best!

The Phoenix Project Of SETI Institute

SETI (The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) - a non profit research institution which deals with exploring, understanding and explaining the source and form of life in the cosmos and applying the understanding gained to steer humanity carried out the Phoenix project from 1995 February to March 2004. The aim of the project was to look for extraterrestrial intelligence. It relied on analysis of observed radio patterns to make conclusions. The funds for the project were raised privately.

Where the project took place.

It started in Australia where the Parkes Radio Telescope (the biggest telescope in southern hemisphere) is located. About 200 stars that cannot be viewed from the northern hemisphere telescopes were observed in sixteen weeks.

From the September of 1996 to April of 1998, the Phoenix project observed from USA at the National Radio astronomy located in Green Bank of Pocahontas county in West Virginia. Project phoenix made use of the antenna that was used in project Ozma by Frank Drake since it is just a short distance away. Phoenix made fifty percent use of the telescope and fifty percent use of the antennae over the period.

Project Phoenix shifted to Arebico in August of 1988. It utilized the largest telescope in the world, being able to observe two times in a year (three to four weeks each time) due to the telescope's high demand. To minimize the high radio interference in daytime, the Phoenix Project team carried out observations at night. This also minimized interference of each star's line of sight by the storms of solar wind.

How the Search took place.

Project Phoenix focused on observation of nearby stars using some of the world's most powerful telescopes that guaranteed high sensitivity to weak signals for any indications of communication technology. Stars in the microwave region that lies in the electromagnetic spectrum of 1200-3000 MHz were analyzed. To examine as many as possible channels in each target star, the spectrum was broken into narrow channels that were 1 Hz wide. The collected data was processed immediately and follow ups made on candidate signals. To eliminate most terrestrial interference, two telescopes that are far apart were used. The project involved monitoring of millions of channels concurrently which was performed by computers while the astronomers made key decisions about signals of interest.

The phoenix Project by SETI analyzed 800 stars that are within 240 light years comprehensively. It is the most successful project that SETI has undertaken to date. The Phoenix project did not find any Extra-Terrestrial (ET) signal hence concluding that was no life in the surrounding stars that were examined.