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SETI Disrupted By Cell Phones in Airplanes?
Iphtashu Fitz writes "If, as recently mentioned, the FCC does allow wireless access on airplanes, could it effectively mean the end of the search for ET? NewScientist has a new article that explains how radio interference from airborne cellphones could drown out faint radio signals from space. Among other concerns astronomers have is that the second harmonic of many cell phones falls in a frequency band that reveals the molecular signature of newborn and dying stars, which is among the 2% of frequencies in this part of the electromagnetic spectrum reserved for use by radio astronomers. Michael Davis, director of projects at California's SETI Institute, stated that a single cellphone on an airplane 100 miles from a radiotelescope could exceed recommended radio noise levels by 10 times. A potential solution that astronomers have suggested is to install a miniture cell transceiver on each airplane, called a picocell, that would act as a relay using a frequency that wouldn't interfere with their work."
A mini cell on each plane that could play back a message saying something like "We told you not to use your cell phone, so turn it off!"
~Ilyanep
To get message, take amount of carrier pigeons at each stage mod 2. Then decode binary.
Still no intelligent life eh?
crazy dynamite monkey
ET: "Can you hear me now?"
SETI Scientist: "Damn cell phone interference."
this is one more reason not to have cell phones on airplanes during flight. I worry about the public's lack of concern for science especially given the extreme right wing movements going on
That's complete and total BS. Cell phone use on aircraft has never been proven to cause uncommanded wing or rudder movements -- on either side of the aircraft.
I worry about the public's lack of concern for science especially given the extreme right wing movements...
We had better secure that then. It's difficult to stay in the air without wings.