First Published on March 4th, 2015
Is there life beyond Earth? Do we : even want to know?
An article by Joel Achenbach in The Washington Post dated February 28th mentions Green Bank, West Virginia first paragraph. It caught my eye. In 1960 Frank Drake began his search for extraterrestrial life at Green Bank, West Virginia.
SETI. Search for Extraterrestrial Life. Frank Drake, at age eighty four, is now considered the father of that discipline. For fifty five years scientists around the world have been listening for radio signals produced by intelligent life in other parts of the universe.
To date, nothing. Not a sound. Not a whimper. Nothing identifiable as probably intentionally produced by any sort of intelligence, whether from life as we know it or any other form.
Mr. Drake developed an equation, now widely used by other listeners, which might predict the number of life supporting planets out there. Life that might be sufficiently advanced to be broadcasting. Whether it be transmissions beyond our ability to understand their meaning or simple rudimentary signals not intended for communication purposes. Thus far we’ve detected nothing.
A new movement is beginning. Simply listening is passive activity. The new movement is active SETI. Instead of simply listening in general directions at frequencies we select to listen to, scientists have begun actively broadcasting signals toward groups of bodies where they feel life might be lurking. Now we’re calling, in case somebody else is out there simply listening much as we’ve done in the past.
A problem. Suppose there is someone out there listening. Suppose we give ourselves away to other intelligent beings. They know we’re here, where we are from our broadcasts.
Are they friendly? Are they placid little green men or are they great slavering monsters such as portrayed in modern monster movies? Who/what – might suddenly appear to check us out.
Thus far individuals in science all over the world are searching. Should these searchers be allowed to indiscriminately bring other intelligent forms down upon us? There’s no responsible world government to decide whether to contact other worlds and nobody to set up possible defense against any possible threats posed.
What’s the right temperature for the Earth?
An article by Andy Parker and David Keith in The Washington Post dated January 29 caught my eye too. No mention of West Virginia, but it seemed in line with my arguments concerning standards we’re expected to meet which have no basis in fact.
Geoengineering is the discipline which studies how to change earth’s climate. Solar geoengineering specifically studies solar emissions and searches for methods of mitigating their effects. The discipline already suggests the power to cool the earth in spite of all the greenhouse gas effects we worry about.
Scientists tend to agree that if the earth stopped producing greenhouse gasses today, no more carbon dioxide, no more methane, there is already enough out there to continue global warming into the distant future. Stop burning and breathing right this minute and warming continues indefinitely.
But we have the ability to cool the planet. It’s established science that volcanic eruptions cool the earth through blasting sulphur dioxide into the upper atmosphere. Sulphur
dioxide acts to block solar rays before they get to earth. Now we have technology to load sulphur dioxide on rockets and spray it as an aerosol into the upper atmosphere to produce
same cooling effect.
Therein lies the question the writers ask. Think of a family home from work and school. Mom is perpetually cold and wants the thermostat set at 72°. Dad thinks of the furnace bill and wants 67° Kids don’t really care because their activity warms them pretty well no matter.
So who decides and sets proper temperature for that home. Who decides and sets the proper temperature for earth? Who takes responsibility for all the problems associated with global warming or cooling? Should we leave decisions on next ice age or desert expansions to the United States or Russia, Argentina or Australia? Again, do we need a responsible world government to make decisions which effect everybody?
First thought, both contacting other intelligence and change world temperatures seem like no-brainers. Upon reflection both questions go much deeper and the answers much more complicated.
