Dan Werthimer
Berkeley
“Is Anybody Out There? Radio Techniques to Search for Intelligent Life”
Abstract
What is the possibility of other intelligent life in the universe? Can we detect radio, infrared, or optical signals from other civilizations? Current and future SETI projects, including the new $100-million Breakthrough Prize Foundation Listen project, may provide an answer. Berkeley SETI Research Center chief scientist Dan Werthimer will describe the rationale for past and future searches and will show how new technologies are revolutionizing SETI.
Dan will also describe the SETI@home project, which analyzes data from the world’s largest radio telescope using desktop computers and cell phones from millions of volunteers. SETI@home participants have formed one of Earth’s most powerful supercomputers. Volunteers have the small but captivating possibility their computer will detect the first signal from a civilization beyond Earth.