# SETI thinks they found the aliens **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 30, 2016, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seti-thinks-they-found-the-aliens/764465 "2016-08-30T06:35:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seti-thinks-they-found-the-aliens/764465/1 "2016-08-30T06:35:23Z")
[Not a Drill: SETI Is Investigating a Possible Extraterrestrial Signal From Deep Space](http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/not-a-drill-seti-is-investigating-a-possible-extraterrestrial-signal-from-deep-space/ar-AAid9oY) [SETI release](http://www.seti.org/seti-institute/a-seti-signal) So, interestingly this “unusual signal” was detected first in Russia in May '15, but was kept under wraps and they’re just now breaking the news. Also note that the first article apparently contains a typo since it says it’s around a “65 billion year-old star” (universe believed to be 13-14 B years old, probably meant 6.5 billion). I’m not too hopeful of anything further coming from this (not because I have any expertise in the area but just due to general cynicism), but I think it’s cool enough that there’s even a chance it could be an actual extraterrestrial signal. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seti-thinks-they-found-the-aliens/764465/2 "2016-08-30T12:58:13Z")
Although scientists are giving low odds that the signal is of intelligent alien origin, it fires the imagination just thinking that there’s a possibility. For that reason, I kind of hope it takes a long time before the signal’s origin is positively identified (unless it is from an advanced civilization—then I want to know asap). What do you expect to be the most likely breaking headline in the event it is identified alien intelligent? Probably the boring, _“We’re Not Alone.”_ But, the headline I’d \*like \*to see is, _“Abyss Gazes Back.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seti-thinks-they-found-the-aliens/764465/3 "2016-08-30T13:09:25Z")
I would like to see more information about what specifically this signal is doing? Pulses? Recording? Visual oscilloscope images of the signal? Etc. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seti-thinks-they-found-the-aliens/764465/4 "2016-08-30T13:15:27Z")
> [@Me\_Billy](#): > > I would like to see more information about what specifically this signal is doing? Pulses? Recording? Visual oscilloscope images of the signal? Etc. Some type of remote anal probing I expect. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seti-thinks-they-found-the-aliens/764465/5 "2016-08-30T13:18:18Z")
If it turns out to be Hitler’s opening remarks from the '36 Olympics I’m going to shit. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seti-thinks-they-found-the-aliens/764465/6 "2016-08-30T13:25:55Z")
[Wikipedia Entry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_164595) As cool as it would be to detect ET, this is pretty low on the probability scale. One detection (for two seconds) out of 39 observations, plus it’s in a signal range known to be used by the military? I mean, it’s better than the time people thought the signal from the microwave in the break room was ET, but it’s still a non-story for a slow news day. ---
**Author:** ![TwoCarrotSnowman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twocarrotsnowman/32/15879_2.png) [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seti-thinks-they-found-the-aliens/764465/7 "2016-08-30T13:35:29Z")
“…people of Earth, this is Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz…” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seti-thinks-they-found-the-aliens/764465/8 "2016-08-30T13:36:45Z")
Whenever I hear people talk about aliens, I can’t help but think of [Rimmer’s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YskhRbGPt2k) obsession with them. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seti-thinks-they-found-the-aliens/764465/9 "2016-08-30T14:25:15Z")
ObSagan: “Either we are alone in the universe, or we are not, and either way it’s a staggering thought.” ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seti-thinks-they-found-the-aliens/764465/10 "2016-08-30T14:26:35Z")
> [@Tibby or Not Tibby](#): > > What do you expect to be the most likely breaking headline in the event it is identified alien intelligent? Probably the boring, _“We’re Not Alone.”_ But, the headline I’d \*like \*to see is, _“Abyss Gazes Back.”_ _“Send More Chuck Berry”_ ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seti-thinks-they-found-the-aliens/764465/11 "2016-08-30T14:28:28Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > [URL=“[MSN](http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/not-a-drill-seti-is-investigating-a-possible-extraterrestrial-signal-from-deep-space/ar-AAid9oY)”] > So, interestingly this “unusual signal” was detected first in Russia in May '15… Not to sidejack, but just how does that Russian RTS work? I"ve never seen one flat on the ground. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seti-thinks-they-found-the-aliens/764465/12 "2016-08-30T14:29:38Z")
_You have no chance to survive, make your time._ ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seti-thinks-they-found-the-aliens/764465/13 "2016-08-30T16:46:46Z")
> **[Aliens Are (Probably) Not Broadcasting a Signal from Space](https://www.snopes.com/news/2016/08/29/alien-signal-from-space/)** > > A supposed signal originating from a star about 95 light years from Earth is causing excitement -- but it's highly unlikely ET is behind it. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seti-thinks-they-found-the-aliens/764465/14 "2016-08-30T17:16:13Z")
SETI does not think it has found aliens. Why do you hate science? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seti-thinks-they-found-the-aliens/764465/15 "2016-08-30T17:17:45Z")
> [@beagledave](#): > > [Aliens Are (Probably) Not Broadcasting a Signal from Space | Snopes.com](http://www.snopes.com/2016/08/29/alien-signal-from-space/) Why do you have to Snope our buzz, man? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seti-thinks-they-found-the-aliens/764465/16 "2016-08-30T17:40:19Z")
> [@beagledave](#): > > [Aliens Are (Probably) Not Broadcasting a Signal from Space | Snopes.com](http://www.snopes.com/2016/08/29/alien-signal-from-space/) That’s just like those damned aliens! They’re sending bogus signals from HD 164595 so that we point all our our radio telescopes in that direction. Meanwhile, they actually live on the opposite side of the galaxy, and are planning to swarm our planet with attack spaceships through the back door while our attention is diverted. There’s no way we can compete with that level of super-intelligence! Might as well cash in your stocks and bonds and spend it on hookers and blow before they get here. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seti-thinks-they-found-the-aliens/764465/17 "2016-08-30T17:48:16Z")
Me, I’m gonna cultivate that bacteria from Mr. Wells’ book. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seti-thinks-they-found-the-aliens/764465/18 "2016-08-30T17:53:52Z")
What, no comment from Kent Brockman, or would that be too easy? “I, for one, welcome our new alien overlords.” ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seti-thinks-they-found-the-aliens/764465/19 "2016-08-30T20:14:34Z")
> [@Tibby or Not Tibby](#): > > That’s just like those damned aliens! They’re sending bogus signals from HD 164595 so that we point all our our radio telescopes in that direction. Meanwhile, they actually live on the opposite side of the galaxy, and are planning to swarm our planet with attack spaceships through the back door while our attention is diverted. There’s no way we can compete with that level of super-intelligence! Might as well cash in your stocks and bonds and spend it on hookers and blow before they get here. I’m too smart for 'em. I keep my back door locked. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seti-thinks-they-found-the-aliens/764465/20 "2016-08-30T21:08:20Z")
> [@beagledave](#): > > [Aliens Are (Probably) Not Broadcasting a Signal from Space | Snopes.com](http://www.snopes.com/2016/08/29/alien-signal-from-space/) Well, even that Snopes article acknowledges some possibility that it _could_ be an alien signal > [@](#): > > In an e-mail, Korpela told us that “It is possible that this could be a signal from an alien civilization. But it is incredibly unlikely.” Ah well, it’s at least worth noting. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seti-thinks-they-found-the-aliens/764465.md?page=2)