The SETI Observer

Dear SETI enthusiasts:

Science is collaborative and cumulative. One brilliant insight from a scientific pioneer today will surely be the springboard for many equally brilliant ideas tomorrow, and the gracious (and honest) scientific luminary will credit the contributions of peers and acknowledge that she (or he) has stood on the shoulders of giants.

At the SETI Institute, two such luminaries have joined the Institute’s Board of Trustees since the beginning of the year. Dr. Baruch Blumberg, a Nobel Prize winning biologist accepted a Board seat in February, a logical addition that reflects the importance of our Center for the Study of Life in the Universe. This month Dr. Blumberg is joined by fellow Nobel laureate and noted physicist, Dr. Charles Townes, whose invention of the laser has impacted innumerable facets of modern life and broadened the methods we use for our SETI search.

What does this mean for members of the public who are interested in SETI and the other astrobiology research projects conducted by the Institute? It means that two of the best minds in their respective fields will enrich the scientific oversight of our work, perhaps guiding us in interesting new ways or adding their insight to the many intriguing scientific questions probed by our principal investigators. It means you can expect the Institute to remain a leader in signal detection and the search for biomarkers on Earth and in the cosmos.

SETI and Life in the Universe science are multidisciplinary endeavors that build upon the hard work and discoveries of countless researchers. We are fortunate to stand upon the shoulders of many giants, some of whom are now within our midst. I am grateful and proud of our incomparable team. I am also grateful and pleased that people like you follow our work. Without the interest and financial support of the public, the formation of such a creative group would not be possible.

I invite you now, to learn more about our team and their work as you follow the links in this month’s SETI Observer.

Thomas Pierson
CEO, SETI Institute

Be one of the first five to answer the following question correctly and get a cool SETI Institute t-shirt. We'll post the answer in next month's e-newsletter. Choose the phrase that best completes this statement and send your answer to newsletter@seti.org.

Which one statement is correct?

1. Bell Labs, Dr. Charles Townes’s employer at the time he developed the laser was eager to patent the invention as they recognized how important it could be for medicine.
2. According to Dr. Jill Tarter, the Allen Telescope Array is best described as a ‘dual-use’ rather than a ‘multi-tasking’ tool for astronomical observations.
3. Dr. Nathalie Cabrol and Edmond Grin began their studies of Martian paleolakes in the United States after working with Dr. Chris McKay at NASA.
4. Dr. Charles Townes received the 1963 Nobel Prize in biology.

In the last SETI Observer, we asked readers to:

Which statement about planetary protection is NOT true?

1. The Outer Space Treaty was passed by the United Nations in 1967.
2. Ethical issues are considered in planetary protection studies.
3. The first Apollo mission was subject to Environmental Protection Agency rules and regulations.
4. Forward contamination and back contamination are two concerns for scientists planning sample return missions.

The “NOT true” statement, and therefore correct answer is C. The first Apollo mission flew in 1968, predating the establishment in 1970 of the Environmental Protection Agency.