Strange SETI Signal from ~1000 LY

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A recently detected signal named SHGb02+14a, observed by the SETI@home project, has sparked interest due to its frequency of about 1420 megahertz, associated with hydrogen emissions. Dr. Dan Wertheimer, the project's chief scientist, emphasized that while the signal is intriguing, it does not provide conclusive evidence of extraterrestrial communication. Seth Shostak noted that media interpretations may have exaggerated the significance of the signal, clarifying that it aligns more with natural noise than artificial sources. Concerns were raised about the signal's "drifting," which could indicate an Earthly origin rather than an extraterrestrial one. Overall, scientists urge caution and further investigation before jumping to conclusions about the signal's implications.
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...Dr Dan Wertheimer, a radio astronomer at the University of California (Berkeley) and the chief scientist for the project, said: "It is the most interesting signal from SETI@home. We are not jumping up and down, but we are continuing to observe it."

Named SHGb02+14a, the possible alien communication has a frequency of about 1420 megahertz - one of the main frequencies at which hydrogen, the most common element in the universe, readily absorbs and emits energy. [continued]

http://news.scotsman.com/scitech.cfm?id=1028302004

Seth Shostak is to discuss this on Coast to Coast AM at 10:00 PM pacific time - about ten minutes from now.

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/
 
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Dr Shostak reports that a journalist from New Scientist has blown this story out of proportion. A comment made that "it's consistent with the noise", was interpreted to mean noise made by an artificial source.
 
what you guys think? something to get excited about?
 
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. I think it is promising and worthy of more study.
 
I don't see Jill Tartar weighing in on this. I wonder what she thinks.
 
The New Scientist article talks a lot about the "drifting" of the signal which I don't quite understand.
 
Looks like CNN's picked up on the story:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/09/02/space.signals.reut/index.html

Sounds exciting, though I don't think the SETI folks should pop out the champagne just yet...
 
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plum said:
The New Scientist article talks a lot about the "drifting" of the signal which I don't quite understand.

I think it has to do with the idea that a signal from another star system would (1) be steady in its frequency and (2) be steady on those stellar coordinates. Drifting away from this may indicate an Earthly source of the signal.
 
i hope this turns out to be SOMETHING
 
  • #10
Mystery Radio Signal 'Not Aliens'

BBC News Online is reporting that a radio signal from deep space is not from aliens, according to astronomers. The scientists quelled rumors that spread across the web after New Scientist magazine reported that a signal picked up by a telescope in Puerto Rico might be from an alien civilization. But the Seti@home project's chief scientist, Dr. Dan Wertheimer, told BBC that, "It's all hype and noise…. We have nothing that is unusual." [continued]

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,64818,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_6
 
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