by Edna DeVore - Deputy CEO
Science is a fundamental human endeavor, a way of seeking to comprehend the natural world. We look up and see the vast universe that surrounds us and ask, "Are we alone?" We look more closely at the Earth, populated with elephants and fleas, with redwoods and fungi, with bacteria and us, and know that here we are not alone but surrounded by life. We strive to understand life here on Earth and consider the possibility for discovering life beyond Earth at Mars, Europa, or inhabiting a watery world circling some distant star.
Again, we ask, "Are we alone?"
As the scientists at the SETI Institute pursue this fundamental question, they explore the Earth from the world's highest lakes in the Andes to the polar environment of Houghton Island, seeking life in extreme environments. They seek to understand the origin of the complex carbon chemistry that is present in every living thing: did comets and meteors deliver this material to Earth? There are many questions at the core of our research: How can we know that we have found life if it is not like "us," if it is not based upon DNA? Where can we seek life beyond the Earth? Are there other places in our solar system that nurture life? And, if we need to look for life in distant planetary systems, what sort of evidence will convince us that we have, indeed, found life beyond Earth? And, the question at the core of SETI searches using radio and optical systems: can we detect evidence of intelligent extraterrestrials by eavesdropping on their communications, by finding the faintest hint of technological signals from ET amidst the noise of the universe?
Once again, we ask, "Are we alone?"
Thanksgiving is a good time to reflect upon family and togetherness, and the value of the extended network of friends and colleagues that all contribute to our success. At the Institute, we work together to pursue answers for scientific questions, to fulfill the fundamental human curiosity about our place and our space in the universe. As colleagues at the SETI Institute, we are grateful for the special environment that shapes our workdays; the exceptional projects on which we work, and the inquiring minds and broad vision of the people that guide these projects.
On Thanksgiving, we especially wish to express our gratitude to our many supporters, both private and public, who make our work possible. From the generosity of major donors like Paul Allen and Nathan Myhrvold, who support the design and development of the Allen Telescope Array (add link), to each individual member of TeamSETI (add link) and others whose donations are helping to build the "New Search System" of high-speed equipment to analyze the data from the Allen Telescope Array. All these friends and contributors help us to achieve our goals. And we thank NASA, the NSF, and others for supporting our scientists at SETI Institute's Center for the Study of Life in the Universe, (add link) and for funding our innovative educational projects (add link). The generosity of many people unites us in our ambitious search to explore our universe, and better know the full context of this lovely blue sphere in space we call home.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, and thank you for gazing at the universe with us and asking "Are we alone?"
Links:
Center for the Study of Life in the Universe
Educational projects