E.T. Talk

Although we have done extensive studies of the Solar System and thus far found over 300 extrasolar planets - planets outside our Solar System - we have not yet found life, even primitive life, on any planet other than Earth. Might there be life on some of these newly discovered extrasolar planets? Not likely, as most are gas giants or are too close or too far from their sun. However, of late we are finding more and more Earthlike planets. It is now estimated that about 15 percent of the planets in the galaxy are Earthlike, and many of these will likely orbit their suns at the right distance to support life as we know it. No one knows yet if radio searches or other means of detection will reveal that we are not alone in the universe. But if we do discover intelligent life elsewhere, how will we communicate with it? Are there some "universal" methods of communication we can use? Is music or mathematics a universal language? Are there alien intelligences right here on Earth we can use to help us figure out ways of communicating? The answers may surprise you. All of these issues and more are covered in this exciting, readable, and authoritative book on a subject that is not mere idle speculation anymore. We are certainly getting closer to finding out who, if anybody, is out there. This book will not only inform you about the search and the likelihood of finding life, it will also actually teach you how to talk to aliens!

Auteur
Fernando J. Ballesteros earned his Ph. D. in physics from the University of Valencia, Spain, where he is now a practicing researcher and astronomer. He is a long-time popularizer of science in Spain, including acting as coauthor of the radio program "The Sound of Science," in Radio Nacional de España (Spain's national public radio service). He is also the author of the book Astrobiology, A Bridge Between the Big Bang and Life (Akal, 2008). He was a member of ESA's space telescope INTEGRAL team and researcher at the Spanish Astrobiology Center (CAB). The present volume is a translation of the Spanish version from Bromera, which was the winner of the European Award "Estudi General" given for popular science.

Résumé
For a long time I have been giving scientific lectures in different countries and on diverse topics, generally related to astronomy and to my work at the Arecibo Observatory. No matter which parti- lar topic I am talking about, the same question always comes up: Have we had any contact at Arecibo with them? My negative answer does not satisfy anyone. In fact, the answer either confirms their suspicions that there is a conspiracy afoot by higher autho- ties not to release information or their intentions to deceive the general public. The reasons for the deception have to do with the idea that, as in the movie Contact, the received messages contain important and useful information that will bring great advantage to whoever gets it. Many of us want to believe that extraterrestrial creatures can talk to us, that perhaps they are even living among us, as UFO fans believe. It would be fascinating if it were true, a more than extra- dinary discovery, the answer to an eternal question. There is p- sibly a deep psychological motive in this desire to know if we are alone in this huge universe, and the need to believe in something beyond our limited world, in space and time. There is no doubt, then, that this topic brings with it many scientific and philosophical discussions, as well as speculations that, on many occasions, fall into pure pseudoscience because of the lack of a reference framework.

Contenu
With Whom? Finding Life In The Universe.- A Place for Life.- The Miracle of Life.- Life in the Solar System?.- With What? The Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence.- The Search Starts.- Where to Look.- Searching Strategies.- How? The Language Of Communication.- Different Languages.- Different World Views.- How Do We Know If There's a Message?.- Searching for a Common Language.- Is Anybody Out There?.