Posthuman Blues

Latest SETI signal not even 'promising'

"What cosmic listeners would love to hear is a repeat signal or a signal that says, in effect, 'I'm an intelligent lifeform -- are you, too?'"

Of course that's what they want. But probability strongly suggests that SETI's best get is to eavesdrop on a stray transmission -- something the program is presently unwilling to consider. And we probably don't even have the technology to search for stray signals anyway. SETI as it is now envisioned will only succeed if and when an extraterrestrial civilization takes an exclusive interest in our solar system.

Meanwhile, who knows how many actual transmissions we might miss out on because our criteria are so depressingly slim and anthropomorphic. A venture like this can only work if we follow up on everything; we can't afford to wait for a greeting intended for us.