Standards of Proof
for the Detection of
Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence
Dr. H. Paul Shuch,
Executive Director
The SETI League, Inc.
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© 2000 The SETI League, Inc.
Background © Lynette Cook
All Rights Reserved
A New Paradigm
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© 2000 The SETI League, Inc.
Background © Lynette Cook
All Rights Reserved
Hallmarks of Artificiality
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Sidereal Motion
Spectral Coherence
Doppler Signature
Frequency Selection
Information Content
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© 2000 The SETI League, Inc.
Background © Lynette Cook
All Rights Reserved
Project Argus Status
• Non-professional observers
• 1200 members
• 60 countries
• 100 active stations
• Hundreds under construction
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© 2000 The SETI League, Inc.
Background © Lynette Cook
All Rights Reserved
Project Argus Worldwide
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© 2000 The SETI League, Inc.
Background © Lynette Cook
All Rights Reserved
Basic Verification Steps
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Equipment Diagnosis
Self Diagnosis
Independent Confirmation
Open Communication
© 2000 The SETI League, Inc.
Background © Lynette Cook
All Rights Reserved
Twelve Step Program
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sound engineering practice
objective analysis
exact station location
verify proper operation
promptly report changes
time and frequency standards
© 2000 The SETI League, Inc.
Background © Lynette Cook
All Rights Reserved
Twelve Step Program
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calculate sidereal motion
test for terrestrial origin
record time, frequency, amplitude
report pertinent observations
attempt to verify signals
no premature announcements
© 2000 The SETI League, Inc.
Background © Lynette Cook
All Rights Reserved
Remember Cold Fusion?
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Pons and Fleischmann
Premature Announcement
Results Not Verified
Loss of Credibility
© 2000 The SETI League, Inc.
Background © Lynette Cook
All Rights Reserved
Experimental Error
• Type One: False Negatives
• Type Two: False Positives
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© 2000 The SETI League, Inc.
Background © Lynette Cook
All Rights Reserved
Signal detection
claimed by an
anonymous hacker
who broke into a
closed SETI League
signal verification
email list.
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The EQ Pegasi Hoax
© 2000 The SETI League, Inc.
Background © Lynette Cook
All Rights Reserved
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16 Argus dishes
2000 sq ft
Test Bed
FUDD
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Array2K
© 2000 The SETI League, Inc.
Background © Lynette Cook
All Rights Reserved
How To Reach Us
www.setileague.org
[email protected]
1 (800) TAU-SETI

© 2000 The SETI League, Inc.
Background © Lynette Cook
All Rights Reserved