The Politics Of SETI

The present tendency to produce spectral analysis systems with ever decreasing bin bandwidths in the hope of detecting those elusive monochromatic beacons is most likely misguided.  Indeed, what should be done is to increase the bin widths and move the spectral analysis up to the infrared or visible spectral regimes.

One might be tempted to ask "Why is it that convincing the established SETI research community of the efficacy of the optical approach is so hard?".   Clearly, the peer review system has not allowed the "obvious" superiority of free-space interstellar laser communications to come to the general attention of the scientific community and the public.  Einstein had it right before the laser was even invented, Charles Townes had it right a year after its invention and Monte Ross had it right a few years later, over three decades ago!  It is hoped that this Web site will redress this severe imbalance in terrestrial SETI.

For many in the SETI community, it is hard to accept that the underlining rationale that has supported their activities for the past 37 years may be in error.  Further, the notion that it might be possible for relatively low-cost amateur optical telescopes to have sufficient light grasp to yield detectable signals has to be mind-blowing for professional scientists used to big physics, big structures and big bucks!  Perhaps the notion that "small is beautiful" is most apt here.

More to come. . . .

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