With the increase in the number of newly discovered exoplanets (planets outside the solar system), the hope of discovering alien life has increased as well. Since 1960, scientists and engineers from around the world have been searching the stars for any evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence. These activities, brought together under the designation SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), continue to this day. So far, no evidence has been found, but we must remember that only a small part of the sky has been explored. There remains a whole universe of unexplored territory out there for us to search.
This semester, the Bilkent University Astronomy Society began assisting the SETI project in its attempts to communicate with extraterrestrial intelligence. Members of the society participated in the search by lending their computers to SETI@home, and just **************** last week, despite poor weather conditions, members tried to send and receive signals to and from outer space (pictured above).
In order to hear the results of the Astronomy Society’s attempts as well as to learn more about SETI and its origins, everyone is invited to attend a presentation by the Society this Thursday, May 15, at FADA, FFB-06.
By Murat Alp Güngen (EEE/II)