Scientists in UK hunt for ET
05 Jul 2013 University of Manchester scientists are at the heart of a UK network promoting research into the Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence (SETI). The UK SETI Research Network (UKSRN), which brings together academics from 11 institutions across the country, including Manchester, will present current activity and consider future strategy in a session and panel discussion at the National Astronomy Meeting in St Andrews today (Friday, 5 July). UKSRN , whose Patron is the Astronomer Royal, Professor Martin Rees, covers a broad spectrum of research topics, including potential methods for detecting signals, the linguistic challenge of deciphering messages, the probability of an extraterrestrial civilization interacting with Earth and the longevity of civilizations. Dr Tim O'Brien, from Manchester's Jodrell Bank Observatory, described the capability of the UK's recently commissioned e-MERLIN array of seven radio telescopes for SETI projects and reported on progress in initial test observations at today's meeting. He said: "The first proposal to search for radio signals from extraterrestrial civilizations was actually inspired by the construction of the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank. We went on to take part in the SETI Institute's Project Phoenix from 1998 to 2003, searching for signals from about a thousand nearby stars. At that time the equipment required to sift through the data was expensive and unusual, but our modern telescopes are potentially capable of conducting these type of observations as a matter of course.
