Speaker 1: Okay, ready to dive into something pretty wild.
Speaker 2: I'm all ears, let's do it.
Speaker 1: Let's say, just for fun, there are alien astronomers out
there right now looking at us, checking out our planet.
Would they even know we're here? Like? What would tip
them off that there's intelligent life on Earth?
Speaker 2: That's a great question to kick things off with. You know,
it's funny, but we've actually been sending signals out into
space for over a century now, completely by accident at first.
Speaker 1: So we've been kind of broadcasting our existence without even
meaning to.
Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly, like a cosmic message in a bottle. But
we didn't even know we were throwing the bottle into
the ocean.
Speaker 1: Wow. You know, it makes you wonder what those first
signals must have sounded like to anyone out there listening,
if anyone was listening, that is right, And.
Speaker 2: Get this, between nineteen hundred and World War two or
radio technology, it wasn't very refined, you know, So those
early radio transmissions to even work on Earth, they had
to be super powerful.
Speaker 1: Uh huh. So we were blasting out these strong, probably
pretty messy signals into space.
Speaker 2: Yeah. Basically it's kind of ironic, right, Our first hello
to the universe might have just sounded like a jumble
of noise, static and random radio shows, and who knows
what else.
Speaker 1: It's mind boggling to think that our earliest, clumsiest technology
might be the first impression we give to some alien civilization.
Speaker 2: I know, right, talk about a first impression.
Speaker 1: But even today, with more sophisticated technology, we still have
some incredibly strong signals going out right.
Speaker 2: Oh. Absolutely. A great example is the Deep Space Network.
It's a system of huge radio dishes we use to
communicate with spacecraft that are super far away, like Voyager one,
billions of miles away.
Speaker 1: Voyder one is still out there sending back data right
after all these years.
Speaker 2: It is still going strong. It's amazing. And to talk
to Voyager one, we have to send out these incredibly
powerful signals from those Deep space Network dishes.
Speaker 1: So it's not just old school radio waves leaking out.
We're actively beaming these powerful signals out there.
Speaker 2: We are. And those signals don't just stop it or
wana either. They keep traveling, rippling out into the galaxy.
Speaker 1: Wow. I never thought about it like that. So potentially
those signals could be picked up by other star systems.
Speaker 2: It's definitely possible. An astronomer calculated that by the year
twenty three hundred, over one thousand nearby stars could be
in range of those signals.
Speaker 1: One thousand stars, that's a lot of potential listeners tuning
into our cosmic broadcast. So we've got the radio waves,
but what about visually? Are there other ways we might
be noticeable from afar?
Speaker 2: There is Think about this, When a planet passes in
front of its star from our viewpoint, it causes a
tiny dip in the star's brightness. We use this to
study exoplanets. Well, alien astronomers could do the same with Earth.
Speaker 1: Oh yeah, I see what you're saying. It's like a
mini eclipse exactly.
Speaker 2: And just like we analyze the light passing through those
exoplanet atmospheres to learn about them, they can analyze the
light passing through Earth's atmosphere.
Speaker 1: So they wouldn't just see a dot. They could actually
figure out what our air is made of.
Speaker 2: Absolutely, things like oxygen, nitrogen, water, vapor. Those would be
a big clue that Earth is a habitable world, a
place where life might exist.
Speaker 1: It's crazy to think our atmosphere itself could be a signal.
Speaker 2: Right, It's like we're breathing out a message to the cosmos.
Speaker 1: But I guess it's not just the good stuff we're
breathing out right. Our pollution might be given us away too.
Speaker 2: Oh you got it, some of the byproducts of our technology.
Those are what we call techno signatures, and yeah, pollution
is definitely one of them.
Speaker 1: Like leaving fingerprints at a crime scene, but on a
planetary scale.
Speaker 2: Perfect analogy. For example, nitrogen dioxide, which comes from burning
stuff that's detectable. It would tell any aliens watching that
we're a species that relies on combustion for energy.
Speaker 1: So not the most environmentally friendly image we're projecting.
Speaker 2: Out there, not exactly. And then there's an even more
specific giveaway. It's something that pretty much screams, this is
from technology.
Speaker 1: I'm on the edge of my seat. What is it?
Speaker 2: Chlorofluorocarbons CFCs.
Speaker 1: Oh, yes, they were in all those old aerosols and refrigerators, right,
the things that mess with the ozone layer.
Speaker 2: Right. And because CFCs are basically artificial, meaning they don't
exist naturally, detecting them would be a big sign to
an alien civilization that hey, there's tech on that planet.
Speaker 1: Like finding a discarded smartphone on a deserted.
Speaker 2: Island, exactly, a clear sign someone was there using technology.
Speaker 1: Okay, so maybe we are kind of shouting our presence
into the void, even if we don't realize it. But
then we've also sent some deliberate messages too, right, Like
I'm thinking of the you Recibo message.
Speaker 2: Ah, yes, the Acibo message a very intentional attempt to
reach out to other intelligent life. In nineteen seventy four,
we beamed this pictorial message out from the Aercibo telescope.
It was like a cosmic postcard, right.
Speaker 1: I had info about our solar system, DNA, even a
little human figure like, Hey, Universe, this is us, come
say hi.
Speaker 2: Exactly. But it also brings up this big question should
we be trying to be louder or should we be
more cautious.
Speaker 1: It's like shouting hello into a dark forest, right, you
don't know who or what might be out there to
hear you. So do we shout hoping someone friendly responds
or do we whisper just in case?
Speaker 2: It's a tough question and there's no easy answer.
Speaker 1: This is blowing my mind already. We've just scratched the
surface and I'm already hooked. But we got to take
a break. We'll be back to explore even more ways
we might be detectable and dive into the ethics of
trying to make contact stick with us.
Speaker 2: So before the break, we were talking about how alien
astronomers might actually be able to map Earth just by
looking at how the light changes as our planet spins.
Speaker 1: It's wild, right, It really makes you think about all
the information that's hidden in plain sight or in this case,
plane light. But it also made me wonder are there
scientists out there who are trying to make us even
more obvious to the universe, Like if subtle clues aren't enough,
why not just go big?
Speaker 2: You know you're reading my mind. Some scientists think that
if we really want to announce our presence to the cosmos,
we need to do something dramatic. They've suggested building these
huge structures in space, structures that are so obviously artificial
that there's no way they could be mistaken for something natural.
Speaker 1: Okay, now we're talking giant space billboards, Like what are
we picturing here?
Speaker 2: Well, imagine a massive shape like a giant triangle or
a square made out of some kind of reflective material,
maybe even planet sized. It would be like a beacon
shining out across the galaxy, impossible to miss.
Speaker 1: That's bold. I love it. It's like we're saying, hey, Universe,
we're here, Come say hi. But I bet not everyone
thinks that's a good idea. It seems kind of risky.
Speaker 2: You're right. There's a lot of debate about whether it's
wise to intentionally try to contact other civilizations. Some people
say it's too dangerous, like what if we attract the
wrong kind of attention.
Speaker 1: I could see that. It's like those sci fi stories
where humans reach out to aliens and it all goes
horribly wrong.
Speaker 2: It's a valid concern. It comes down to this question,
do we risk making contact with potentially dangerous aliens or
do we play it safe and keep quiet.
Speaker 1: It's a tough one. On one hand, imagine the incredible
things we could learn from an advanced alien civilization. But
on the other hand, yeah, there's that whole potential for
disaster thing.
Speaker 2: It's definitely a gamble. But some scientists argue that the
potential rewards are just too big to ignore. They think
contact with an advanced species could help us solve some
of humanity's toughest problems, like climate change and energy shortages.
Speaker 1: I see their point. I mean, who wouldn't want a
shortcut to solving those problems. But let's be real, even
if we wanted to stay hidden, we've probably already blown
our cover, haven't we.
Speaker 2: Yeah, you could say that we've been leaking radio waves
for ages. Our atmosphere is full of signs of industrial activity,
and our cities are getting brighter all the time. We
might think we're being sneaky, but to any aliens watching,
we're probably pretty obvious.
Speaker 1: There's no hiding at this point. So it's more about
how we manage that, right. Do we embrace the fact
that we might be visible to others civilizations or do
we try to I don't know, blend in somehow, which
doesn't even seem possible.
Speaker 2: That's the big question. Maybe it's not about choosing one
or the other, but finding a way to balance both.
We can be more aware of the signals we're sending
out intentionally and unintentionally, while also keeping an open mind
about contact.
Speaker 1: It's like we're figuring this all out as we go along.
There's no rule book for how to handle first contact
with an alien civilization.
Speaker 2: Exactly, and those choices we're making, they're not just about
big projects like building giant space structures. They're about the
everyday stuff we do here on Earth, how we use energy,
how we take care of our planet. It all affects
how we appear to anyone who might be watching.
Speaker 1: Oh that's heavy. Every decision we make has this potential
ripple effect that reaches out into the cosmos.
Speaker 2: It really puts things into perspective, doesn't it. But while
we're talking about our own detectability, it made me wonder
are there other civilizations out there accidentally revealing themselves leaving
behind their own techno signatures.
Speaker 1: That's a great point. While we're busy figuring out if
we should build a giant space triangle, maybe some alien
civilization already has we I've noticed yet.
Speaker 2: Exactly our search for extraterrestrial intelligence. It's limited by our technology, sure,
but it's also limited by our imagination. We're looking for
signs of intelligence that makes sense to us. But what
if alien technology is so different that we don't even
recognize it as technology.
Speaker 1: Like we're looking for a needle in a haystack, but
we don't even know what the needle looks like.
Speaker 2: Yeah, and that's what makes us whole search so fascinating.
We have so much to learn, not just about the universe,
but about ourselves and what it means to be intelligent.
Speaker 1: This whole conversation has been a mind trip. But let's
try to sum up what we've learned so far. We've
covered a lot. What are the key takeaways for our listeners?
Speaker 2: I think the biggest takeaways that we're not as invisible
as we might think. We're sending out all these signals
and there's a good chance other civilizations could be picking.
Speaker 1: Them up right, and that means we have to think
about how we want to present ourselves to the universe.
Are we being good galactic citizens?
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a great way to put it. It's not
just about exploring space. It's about responsibility, about the impact
we're having on the universe around us.
Speaker 1: It's a big responsibility. But it's also exciting to think
that we're part of something so much bigger than ourselves.
Speaker 2: It really is. It makes you wonder how many other
civilizations might be out there going through the same things
we are, asking the same questions. Are we alone in
this or are we part of some vast cosmic community.
Speaker 1: It's a humbling thought. This whole conversation has been about
expanding our perspective, hasn't it. We started by wondering if
anyone's out there, and now we're questioning whether we'd even
recognize them if they were right in front of us.
Speaker 2: That's exactly it the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. It's not
just about finding aliens. It's about pushing the boundaries of
our own knowledge and understanding.
Speaker 1: And that's pretty amazing in itself. Don't you think even
if we never find definitive proof of alien life, the
act of searching and questioning is already changing how we
see ourselves and the universe.
Speaker 2: Couldn't agree more. It makes us think bigger, be more
open minded, and appreciate just how diverse and complex the
universe truly is.
Speaker 1: This has been such an eye opening discussion. I want
to thank you for being here and sharing your insights
with us.
Speaker 2: My pleasure. It's been a great conversation.
Speaker 1: But before we wrap up, there's one question that I've
been thinking about this whole time. We've been focused on
how we might be detectable, but what if it's the
other way around. What if they're out there sending out
signals or building those massive structures and we're the ones
who are missing it.
Speaker 2: It really makes you think, doesn't it, Like, what are
we missing our search for alien intelligence? It's limited by
our technology, sure, but it's also limited by our own imagination.
Speaker 1: We're looking for something that makes sense to us based
on what we know, but alien technology, who knows. Maybe
it's so different that we wouldn't even recognize it.
Speaker 2: You hit the nail on the head. It's like we're
trying to find a radio signal using a telescope. The
signal might be right there, but we're just not using
the right tool to detect it.
Speaker 1: So we could be surrounded by alien signals, alien technology
and we just don't have the ability to see it yet.
Speaker 2: It's totally possible, and that's kind of a humbling thought,
but it's also incredibly exciting.
Speaker 1: It's like the universe is full of these hidden wonders
and we're just starting to scratch the surface.
Speaker 2: That's a great way to put it. And it's not
just about aliens either. It's about how much we don't
know about the universe in general.
Speaker 1: This whole deep dive has been about challenging our assumptions,
hasn't it. We started by wondering if anyone's out there,
and now we're realizing that we might not even know what.
Speaker 2: To look for exactly. The search for extraterrestrial intelligence, it's
not just about finding aliens. It's about pushing the boundaries
of our understanding.
Speaker 1: It reminds you that Carl Sagan quote, you know, if
it's just us, seems like an awful waste of space.
Speaker 2: Carl Sagan always a great perspective. He really got it.
Speaker 1: It's about more than just finding aliens. It's about understanding
our place in the universe.
Speaker 2: And that search, that quest for understanding, that's what's really transformative.
Even if we never find definitive proof, absolutely.
Speaker 1: Just the act of searching, of questioning, of wondering, it
changes us. It makes us more curious, more open minded.
Speaker 2: Couldn't agree more, and it reminds us that there's still
so much out there to explore and discover.
Speaker 1: Well, this has been an amazing journey. Thank you so
much for being here and sharing your expertise with us.
Speaker 2: It's been my pleasure. Really enjoyed the conversation.
Speaker 1: And to our listeners, thank you for joining us on
this deep dive into the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. We
hope you've learned something new and that it sparked your
own curiosity about the universe.
Speaker 2: Remember, keep looking up, keep asking questions, and never stop
exploring the possibilities.
Speaker 1: Who knows, maybe someday we'll finally get the answer to
that big question are we alone?
Speaker 2: Until then, keep wondering, keep searching, and keep the cosmic
conversation going.
Speaker 1: Thanks for listening everyone. This is the Deep Dive signing off.