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SETI@Home Adds New Search Method

Posted by Soulskill on from the look-for-interstellar-torrents dept.

Adam Korbitz writes to point out that SETI@Home has added a new algorithm for use in evaluating signals from outer space. It's called "Astropulse," and they've made the scientific details available. Quoting: "The original SETI@home is narrowband, meaning that it is listening for a particular radio frequency. That's like listening to an orchestra playing, and trying to hear when anyone plays the note "A sharp." Astropulse listens for short-time pulses. In the orchestra analogy, it's like listening for a quick drum beat, or a series of drumbeats. Since no one knows what extraterrestrial communications will 'sound like,' it seems like a good idea to search for several types of signals. In scientific terms, Astropulse is a sky survey that searches for microsecond transient radio pulses."

4 of 191 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Yes but by Joebert · · Score: 1, Funny

    Well this is my universe & I say the Earth needs to warm up so I can keep my pet dinosaurs there again.

    --
    Wanna fight ? Bend over, stick your head up your ass, and fight for air.
  2. Re:Surprising by Ilgaz · · Score: 4, Funny

    Broadband wasn't common in 1999. Now they figure aliens must have upgraded too. ;)

  3. Based upon human usage by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I would guess, based on human usage, that if SETI intercepted an alien signal it would have a 50% chance of being alien porno.

  4. Re:Erm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    There's a difference?