SETI in front of the Congressional Committee on Astrobiology
This is maaaaagic. Mr. Collins just asked the SETI guys about Ancient Aliens, to get it on the record that no, we weren't visited by aliens in the history of the planet.
They are having a really interesting talk here on CSPAN, if you guys find scientists talking to politicians about life in outer space amusing, as I do.
Also discussing the open-source SETI software. Rep. Edwards loved CONTACT and is a little sad that things are not more exciting right now.
Also, apparently the New York Times will be reporting when we get contact with aliens first, 'cause the reporters always call first when there's a false lead, and Congress never does. There is no plan for outer space contact. We'll all get to freak out at once!
Congressman Posey: Your thoughts on Thorium?
Dan Werthimer, SETI Director: Um what? I have no idea what you're talking about.
Seth Shostak, SETI Sr. Astronomer: Well we don't care about radiation in space, but yeah, we'd try to reduce radiation on the ground while building ships.
Rep. David Schweikert: So, aliens don't like the Beatles, and CONTACT is the best movie?... somehow I thought that would be funnier.
: So, if we have a nuclear holocaust, would our DNA infect the rest of space?
Seth Shostak: Well, we tried this out (various experiments on space)... could a rock from Mars have 'seeded' the Earth? Sure, but not very likely. If you're talking other solar systems, though, no.
Rep DS: The Chairman asked earlier about 'give me a percentage' of life out in the universe. We were using the concept of 'higher math' as a benchmark. Is it unknowable?
DW, SETI: Intelligence has emerged several times on Earth... there will be pressures in the universe where it's advantageous to be smarkt.
Rep DS: but how would you calculate how many?
DW, SETI: too hard to estimate, because we just have this one example on Earth. We have to keep searching.
SS, SETI: It's a reasonable hypothesis, and we can't get you a number so you can fund us. We can sit around and drink and speculate, but in the end we have to go looking.
Science.house.gov - info about this hearing!