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."

Comments

Re:No cell phones on aircraft!

[timle]

Nope sorry SETI doesn't get default ownership of the sky. They must be equally weighed. Oh yeah, get and wear headphones if people talking bothers you. They have a right to talk though yelling should be frowned upon.

Re:Nothing against SETI

[Moofie]

In other words, you think your priorities are somehow better than mine?

There are more of me.

The solution is not clear just because you say so.