The claims of visits from extraterrestrial beings have long
                               captured public attention. The Planetary Society assesses these
                               claims from a scientific perspective. Science does not accept
                               simple belief as adequate proof of a claim; it demands verifiable
                               evidence. As Carl Sagan, one of the founders of the Society,
                               said, "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." An
                               extraterrestrial visit is an extraordinary claim.

                               To date, there has been no evidence of such a visit that has
                               satisfied the demands of science: for reoccurrence, for
                               independent verification, and for access to all primary data by
                               disinterested scientists. Extraterrestrial civilizations may exist --
                               indeed, that is the motivation for SETI searches --but no claim of
                               an extraterrestrial visit has yet met the requirement of
                               independent scientific verification.

                               ********************

                               No branch of the United States Government is currently involved with or responsible for
                               investigations into the possibility of alien life on other planets or for investigating
                               Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO's). The U.S. Air Force (USAF) and NASA have had
                               intermittent, independent investigations of the possibility of alien life on other planets
                               however, none of these has produced factual evidence that life exists on other planets, nor that
                               UFO's are related to aliens.

                               Under Project Blue Book (1947 to 1969), the Air Force investigated UFO's then in 1977,
                               NASA was asked to examine the possibility of resuming UFO investigations. After studying
                               all of the facts available, it was determined that nothing would be gained by further
                               investigation, since there was an absence of tangible evidence.

                               In October 1992, NASA was directed by Congress to begin a detailed search for artificial
                               radio signals from other civilizations under the NASA Towards Other Planetary Systems
                               (TOPS)/High Resolution Microwave Survey (HRMS) program (also known as the Search
                               for Extraterrestrial Intelligence project). Congress directed NASA to end this project in
                               October 1993, citing pressures on the US Federal budget. The HRMS did not detect any
                               confirmed signal before it was stopped. However, similar work will continue in a more limited
                               manner through efforts of private groups and through academic institutions. The Search for
                               Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute (SETI Institute) in Mountain View, CA, effectively
                               replaced the Government project, borrowing the signal processing system from NASA. The
                               SETI Institute is a nonprofit corporation conducting research in a number of fields including
                               all science and technology aspects of astronomy and planetary sciences, chemical evolution,
                               the origin of life, biological evolution, and cultural evolution.

                               During several space missions, NASA astronauts have reported phenomena not immediately
                               explainable however, in every instance NASA determined that the observations could not be
                               termed " abnormal" in the space environment.

                               The 1947 to 1969 USAF investigations studied UFO's under Project Blue Book. The project,
                               headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, was terminated December 17, 1969.
                               Of the total of 12,618 sightings reported to Project Blue Book, 701 remain " unidentified."

                               The decision to discontinue UFO investigations was based on an evaluation of a report
                               prepared by the University of Colorado entitled, " Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying
                               Objects " a review of the University of Colorado's report by the National Academy of
                               Sciences previous UFO studies and Air Force experience investigating UFO reports during
                              the 1940s, '50s and '60s.

                               As a result of experience, investigations, and studies since 1948, the conclusions of Project
                               Blue Book were: (1) no UFO reported, investigated, and evaluated by the Air Force was ever a
                               threat to our national security (2) there was no evidence submitted to, or discovered by, the Air
                               Force that sightings categorized as " unidentified" represented technological developments or
                               principles beyond the range of modern scientific knowledge and (3) there was no evidence
                               indicating that sightings categorized as " unidentified" were extraterrestrial vehicles.

                               With the termination of Project Blue Book, the USAF regulation establishing and controlling
                               the program for investigating and analyzing UFO's was rescinded. Documentation regarding
                               the former Project Blue Book investigation was permanently transferred to the Modern
                               Military Branch, National Archives and Records Service, in Washington, DC 20408, and is
                               available for public review and analysis.

                               Since the termination of Project Blue Book, nothing has occurred that would support a
                               resumption of UFO investigations by the USAF or NASA. Given the current environment of
                               steadily decreasing defense and space budgets, it is unlikely that the Air Force or NASA will
                               become involved in this type of costly project in the foreseeable future.

                               Since neither NASA nor the Air Force is engaged in day-to-day UFO research, neither one
                               reviews UFO-related articles intended for publication, evaluates UFO-type spacecraft
                               drawings, or accepts accounts of UFO sightings or applications for employment in the field
                               of aerial phenomena investigation.

                               UFO Points of Contact

                                      For further information on the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, see
                                   The SETI Institute's Web Site.
                                      News media requiring Project Blue Book files should contact the National Archives
                                      Public Affairs Office, (202) 501-5525. Public queries should be addressed to the
                                      Project Blue Book archivist at (202) 501-5385. For queries not related to Project
                                      Blue Book, contact the National Archives receptionist at (202) 501-5400.
                                      Documentation is available from: Modern Military Branch, National Archives and
                                      Records Service, Eighth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
                                      20408.
                                      The Air Force publication, " The Roswell Report: Fact Vs. Fiction in the New
                                      Mexico Desert," a lengthy document providing all of the details available from the
                                      Air Force on the Roswell incident, is available for $52 from the US Government
                                      Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop: SSOP, Washington, DC
                                      20402-9328.
                                      There are a number of universities and professional scientific organizations that have
                                      considered UFO phenomena during periodic meetings and seminars. A list of private
                                      organizations interested in aerial phenomena may be found in Gale's Encyclopedia of
                                      Associations.
                                      Persons wishing to report UFO sightings are advised to contact law enforcement
                                      agencies.

Unidentified Flying Objects and Air Force Project Blue Book

The decision to discontinue UFO investigations was based on an evaluation of a report prepared by the University of Colorado entitled, "Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects;" a review of the University of Colorado's report by the National Academy of Sciences; previous UFO studies and Air Force experience investigating UFO reports during 1940 to 1969.

As a result of these investigations, studies and experience gained from investigating UFO reports since 1948, the conclusions of Project Blue Book were:

• No UFO reported, investigated and evaluated by the Air Force was ever an indication of threat to our national security;
• There was no evidence submitted to or discovered by the Air Force that sightings categorized as "unidentified" represented technological developments or principles beyond the range of modern scientific knowledge; and
• There was no evidence indicating that sightings categorized as "unidentified" were extraterrestrial vehicles.

Since the termination of Project Blue Book, nothing has occurred that would support a resumption of UFO investigations by the Air Force. Given the current environment of steadily decreasing defense budgets, it is unlikely the Air Force would become involved in such a costly project in the foreseeable future.

There are a number of universities and professional scientific organizations that have considered UFO phenomena during periodic meetings and seminars. A list of private organizations interested in aerial phenomena may be found in "Encyclopedia of Associations," published by Gale Research. Interest in and timely review of UFO reports by private groups ensures that sound evidence is not overlooked by the scientific community. Persons wishing to report UFO sightings should be advised to contact local law enforcement agencies.

Point of Contact

Requests for copies of records and general information about Project Blue Book should be sent to: Modern Military Records, National Archives, 8601 Adelphi Rd, College Park, MD 20740-6001, (301)713-7250

(Current as of June 2000)
 
 

                           Did NASA discover life in Jupiter's atmosphere?

                               No. That " story" was a hoax perpertrated by America Online as their " Story of the Day" for
                            April Fool's Day, 1996. For details, contact Ms. Kathy Johnson in AOL's PR deparment
                               (703/453-1899) or Ms. Margaret Ryan in the marketing department (703/918-1625). AOL's
                               toll free number is 800-827-6364 press 1, 2 or 6 to speak to an AOL representative. You can
                               also send e-mail to postmaster@aol.com.
 
 

What is SETI?

SETI is the acronym for the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. It is the search for astronomical signs of other civilizations in the universe. Several SETI projects currently operate at different observatories. The majority of SETI efforts search for radio signals, but a number of programs search for light pulse or band signals.
 

Who is doing SETI?

Today, SETI is primarily sponsored by two organizations, The Planetary Society and the SETI Institute. Members of the Planetary Society support three primary projects:

Project BETA: Harvard's   Billion-Channel Extraterrestrial Assay in Massachusetts;
Project META II: The Megachannel Extraterrestrial Assay (META II) outside Buenos Aires, Argentina; and
Project SERENDIP: The Search for Extraterrestrial Radio Emissions from Nearby Developed Intelligent Populations, based in Berkeley, California.
 

Why conduct SETI?

The detection of another civilization would be one of the most important discoveries in the history of humanity. Another civilization may have solved the problems that face us now -- war, disease, ecology, poverty. Even if we cannot understand their signals, the mere fact that we have detected alien beings will probably make it more difficult for humans beings to hate because of  physical and cultural differences.
 

Why use radio?

Radio signals travel  throughout most of our Milky Way galaxy with very little interference. They even pass through thick clouds of dust that prevent us from seeing many stars. Most scientists who have looked into the problem of communicating between stars believe that radio is the easiest and cheapest way to  search. Some think that light waves are better, and there have been a few searches looking for light signals -- optical SETI, or OSETI programs. But most SETI projects have looked for radio signals.
 

Wouldn't an extraterrestrial civilization use something far more advanced than radio with which to communicate?

It's entirely possible that there is some unknown method of communicating, and that radio may seem as primitive to aliens as smoke signals do to most of us today. However, we can only use the technology we know. Even if a more advanced method of intergalactic communication exists, an extraterrestrial civilization might choose to use radio because it is the most primitive method able to communicate across the galaxy, perhaps increasing their chances of contacting other civilizations.
 

Is there any evidence for life on other worlds?

As of yet, there is no convincing evidence that life as we know it (microbial or technologically advanced) exists anywhere else than on  Earth. Nor have radio signals ever been detected from planets around other stars. However, increasing evidence about life on our planet indicates that life originated on Earth quickly and easily some 4 billion years ago, and that life could originate on other planets just as easily. In our solar system, Mars and Europa seem to have (or have had) the possible conditions required for life as we know it to develop. The discovery of planets around other stars is beginning to demonstrate that Earth-like planets around  stars similar to our Sun could be widespread throughout the galaxy.
 

How could we possibly understand signals from another civilization?

Even though we and an alien civilization would not have a language in common, there are ways to communicate that should be understandable to intelligent beings. Mathematics, physics, chemistry, and astronomy contain fundamental laws that provide a common "language" throughout the universe. Television pictures are a way of communicating that do not even require great intelligence to understand.
 

Is NASA conducting SETI searches?

Not any more. On September 22, 1993, Nevada Senator Richard Bryan introduced an amendment to the fiscal year 1994 appropriations bill for NASA. The amendment proposed eliminating funding for NASA's High Resolution Microwave Survey. The program had been running less than a year but the amendment passed, and NASA's SETI effort stopped.
 

Is the government hiding proof of a Martian civilization discovered by the Mars orbiters?

This is one of the most absurd claims made by conspiracy buffs. NASA has a great deal of trouble convincing Congress to give it money for planetary research. If NASA had proof of alien artifacts on Mars, they would eagerly show it to all the TV networks, because then the agency would never have any more trouble getting funding from Congress.
 

Wouldn't the government cover up any detection of extraterrestrials?

Even if the government wanted to cover up the detection of extraterrestrial life, it  wouldn't be able to do so. The scientific searches, both for intelligent and microbial life  are being carried out by scientists around the world. The methods that scientists use to confirm their analyses and observations requires that the information be distributed to other scientists, making a cover-up extremely difficult.  Of course, this also begs the question of what the government would gain by covering up extraterrestrial life.
 

What do I study if I want to go into SETI?

The short answer is math, science, and engineering. SETI is unusual because it brings so many sciences together. SETI researchers include astronomers, physicists, electrical engineers, biologists and others. Mathematics is the basis of most sciences and engineering, so the more math you learn, the better. Courses in astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, and basic electronics are extremely useful for any SETI scientist. Computers are essential to virtually all research, so the ability to program computers will help greatly no matter what you do. If SETI is successful, some knowledge of linguistics would also be of great value, especially if you have learned how very different human languages (such as English, Chinese, and ancient Egyptian) have handled the problems of communication.
 

What is SETI@Home?

SETI@home is a search effort that will let personal computer users participate in processing data that might come from an extraterrestrial source. The SETI@home program is a screen saver that analyzes data captured by the Arecibo Radio Telescope in Puerto Rico. You can join the program by clicking here.
 

Why do SETI if UFOs are already here?

Although UFOs have been seen for decades, there is no convincing evidence that they represent visits by extraterrestrial beings.  Despite all the stories of alien abductions, alien autopsies, and the events at Roswell, no physical evidence has ever been shown to indicate we are truly being visited. On the other hand, the search for evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence is a scientific approach to understand what is in the world around us. SETI really has no connection to UFOs.
 

What do I study if I want to go into SETI?

The short answer is math, science, and engineering. SETI is unusual because it brings so many sciences together. SETI researchers include astronomers, physicists, electrical engineers, biologists and others. Mathematics is the basis of most sciences and engineering, so the more math you learn, the better. Courses in astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, and basic electronics are extremely useful for any SETI scientist. Computers are essential to virtually all research, so the ability to program computers will help greatly no matter what you do. If SETI is successful, some knowledge of linguistics would also be of great value, especially if you have learned how very different human languages (such as English, Chinese, and ancient Egyptian) have handled the problems of communication.
 

What's the truth about the Roswell incident?

The "truth" about Roswell depends on who you ask. Proponents of UFOs and alien abductions will tell you that an alien spacecraft crashed at Roswell in 1947. However, there is no relevant physical evidence to support this. The only evidence that this happened is the fact that the government denies that it happenned! The best determination of the actual events seems to be that a weather balloon crashed near Roswell. Diaries kept by the team of scientists doing balloon experiments in 1947 support this view, and all of the physical evidence that was described in reports at the time can be explained as coming from the balloons that were being used at the time.  This view is described in an excellent recent book, titled UFO Crash at Roswell--Genesis of a Modern Myth, by B. Saler and others.
 
 

We hope these questions and answers help you understand humankind's search for extraterrestrial civilizations. For more information, browse the Planetary Society's SETI site or any of the other sites listed in the links section of this web site.
Here's a list of some of the questions this page will try to answer in the future:

How far could Earth's signals be detected by another civilization?

How is SETI done?

What was the first SETI effort?

Why not look for light, instead of radio, signals?

What will SETI scientists do if they detect a signal?

How can I help SETI?

Does SETI investigate UFOs?

What is the Arecibo Radio Telescope?

What was the "wow" signal?

Thanks to Tom McDonough, SETI Coordinator for the Planetary Society, and Bruce Jakowsky, Professor of Geology and member of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado, for their input.
 
 

N = R*fs*fp*ne*fl*fi*fc*L

R is the average rate of star formation in the galaxy, equal to about 20 stars per year (i.e. recent HST observations of M16 showing star formation sites).

f_s is the fraction of stars that are suitable suns for planetary systems, approximately 0.1 (most stars belong to spectral type M and are probably too small, whereas a few, such as O and B stars, are too short-lived). The circumstellar disk around Beta Pictoris is evidence of planetary formation.

f_p is the number of suitable suns with planetary systems, now thought to be around 1/2 (i.e. 51 Pegasus discovery), a value that has made scientists optimistic about the possibility of intelligent life elsewhere in the galaxy

n_e is the mean number of planets that are located within the Continuously Habitable Zone (assuming liquid water is necessary for life)

f_l is the fraction of such planets on which life actually originates (given enough time primative organic substances will be synthesized into DNA and RNA, recent detection of the amino acid Glycene in the ISM by radio observations)

f_i represents the fraction of such planets on which, after the origin of life, some form of intelligence arises (evolution probably occurs wherever life arises, and intelligence has survival value

f_c is the fraction of such intelligent species that develop the ability and desire to communicate with other civilizations (they construct radio telescopes or laser systems)

L is the mean lifetime (in years) of a communicative civilization (because it depends on the NATURE of the race of intelligent beings it is the most uncertain factor in Drake's Equation)