| While many people have mixed feelings about | | | | today's digital transmissions are much weaker. |
| whether finding alien life would be a positive thing, | | | | Today's digital transmissions also generate much |
| SETI, or the Search for Extraterrestrial | | | | less wattage which is good for the old utilities bill, |
| Intelligence organization has come out with a | | | | but bad for contacting aliens. An old television |
| statement saying that today's communications | | | | transmitter was able to generate about 1 million |
| and entertainment technology here on Earth is | | | | watts, but a satellite signal generates about 20 |
| probably blocking us from being detected by | | | | watts. When these weak signals are continually |
| other intelligent life out there in outer space. The | | | | bounced out of space and back towards Earth by |
| founder of SETI, Dr. Drake, believes there is no | | | | satellite internet satellites and satellite television |
| doubt that intelligent life exists on other planets. | | | | satellites, far fewer escape into space. The ones |
| He also believes that without sending detectable | | | | that do are likely to not seem like much more |
| transmissions like those from analogue television | | | | than noise to intelligent alien life, even if they do |
| and radio out into space, the Earth will remain to | | | | make it out of the solar system. |
| intergalactic intelligent life 'invisible,' and alien life will | | | | All in all, these changes to the amount of wattage |
| be hard pressed to find Earth. With more Earthly | | | | the planet needs to operate, and streamlined |
| communication happening than ever before, why | | | | communications systems are good for everyone |
| does Dr. Drake think our chances of being 'seen' | | | | involved, except poor Dr. Drake. Now, as a |
| are worse than ever? The guilty parties are | | | | relatively 'invisible' planet, Earth and its scientists |
| modern digital technologies such as satellite radio, | | | | are going to have to think of new ways to make |
| satellite television, and of course satellite internet. | | | | contact. The technology required to do so is not |
| The planet in general has made a move in the | | | | easy to come by. As Earth-bound satellite |
| direction of digital communications, whereas in the | | | | broadband technology seems to be pushing our |
| past television and radio signals were prime for | | | | civilization farther into the future, Dr. Drake |
| transmission out of the Earth's atmosphere and | | | | believes it is setting us back in terms of |
| out into space. The final transmissions which will | | | | intergalactic relations. |
| make a big space impact have made it to a | | | | Instead of giving up your Earthly technologies for |
| distance of 50 light years away from the Earth | | | | the sake of finding extraterrestrial life, why not |
| forming a gigantic radiation 'shell' of detectable | | | | use that access to satellite internet broadband to |
| information around our planet. This 'shell' is made | | | | start studying. Anyone can start studying today |
| up of radiation from analogue TV, radio and radar | | | | and join the crew of SETI with Dr. Drake to help |
| transmissions. This extremely vast distance | | | | devise the next and newest form of |
| reaches even to separate star systems, but does | | | | interplanetary communications. After all, the less |
| not seem to have reached intelligent | | | | we pollute our environment, including outer space, |
| extraterrestrial life. Whereas in the past there | | | | the better things are for everyone! |
| were always more radiation signals not far behind, | | | | |