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How Paul Allen Saved the American Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence (vice.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the never-forget dept.

dmoberhaus writes: Paul Allen died on Monday evening at the age of 65. Motherboard spoke with SETI researchers about how the Microsoft co-founder single-handedly saved the American Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence by building the first dedicated SETI radio telescope and its legacy one decade later. Less than a year after NASA's SETI program started, it was shut down by members of Congress who didn't want to spend money on the "great Martian chase." In order for the program to continue, it needed private funding. "Fortunately, one of the earliest SETI Institute supporters was Barney Oliver, who founded and directed Hewlett Packard laboratories," reports Motherboard. "So in 1993 Oliver called Bill Hewlett and David Packard of Hewlett Packard, Intel founder Gordon Moore, and Paul Allen to ask for their support." They supported Project Phoenix, a SETI program that ran from 1995 to 1998.

SETI astronomers then realized that they needed a dedicated SETI radio telescope, or array of small telescopes, if the search were to have any chance of success. Allen was able to foot the $25-million bill required to build this array of telescopes. The telescope array was built in northern California, "the first facility specifically built for SETI in the U.S.," Motherboard notes. "The cost of building a 350-telescope array ended up being far more expensive than anyone at the SETI Institute had anticipated, however. By the time the Allen Telescope Array came online in 2007, only 42 telescopes had been built and Allen's donation had largely been consumed." The report notes that the Allen Telescope Array "has analyzed 200 million signals from thousands of stars, studied unusual high-energy radio emissions, and even scanned the "spliff-shaped" Oumuamua asteroid for signs of intelligent life."

48 comments

  1. Waste of money ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    Isn't science supposed to **find** something ?

    sounds like a trivial question but is it really ?

    1. Re:Waste of money ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Not finding something is a valid result in the pursuit of furthering science. It makes us ask more questions and come up with better theories.

    2. Re:Waste of money ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

      Isn't science supposed to **find** something ?

      sounds like a trivial question but is it really ?

      According to your Theory of Pure Fucking Effort, we should have **found** the cure for cancer, AIDS, Ebola, world peace, and a dozen other things we've spent millions of man hours on.

      Seems it's a bit harder than that in the real world. Go figure.

    3. Re:Waste of money ? by religionofpeas · · Score: 1

      A couple of strange things have been found by people just scanning the skies. None of them any sign of ET, but still interesting.

    4. Re:Waste of money ? by nukenerd · · Score: 1

      Some of the greatest discoveries have resulted from finding nothing. The Michelson-Morley experiment for example. Often quoted in discussions on logic and reasoning is the instance of The Dog that did not Bark in a Sherlock Holmes story.

    5. Re:Waste of money ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Isn't science supposed to **find** something ?

      Science looks for stuff, finding nothing is a possible outcome.

      If you find what you were looking for, it can help validate your theory. If you don't find what you're looking for, you figure out if your theory needs work, or if your experiment/equipment is lacking.

      It took almost 100 years to actually directly confirm the gravity waves Einstein predicted in 1916.

      Since we don't know if we'll find alien life, there's no guarantee we'll find anything. But if we don't look, we'll find nothing.

      When I was in university, the way you'd find an exoplanet was still theoretical. Now we've found a crapload of them.

    6. Re:Waste of money ? by MiniMike · · Score: 1

      Often scientific experiments reveal something unexpected and yield advances not originally sought. Has the SETI project provided any such benefits?

    7. Re:Waste of money ? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Not finding something is a valid result in the pursuit of furthering science. It makes us ask more questions and come up with better theories.

      OK, but in this area we could achieve the same level of progress (or even more!) by not building anything. Just have a virtual experiment. "Okay, you didn't find anything, what do you try next?" At the point at which we have the technology to actually investigate an alien signal in a timely fashion, then we can start looking for alien intelligence. Unless you're expecting the plot of Contact to come true, with some alien intelligence sending us the instructions to build a machine that transcends what we currently know of physics, SETI really is a waste of time and money and that money would better be spent in a myriad of other ways, like building a meaningful asteroid defense.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    8. Re:Waste of money ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Isn't science supposed to **find** something ?

      sounds like a trivial question but is it really ?

      SETI has helped narrow the parameters for the Drake Equation and reduce the overly optimistic numbers pundits keep spewing. Of course rather than admit they're fuck'n wrong, they invented the paradox.

  2. If they do manage to find by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    creimer's home planet, do we risk contacting them to come pick him up? Instead they might end up sending us more!

  3. A total waste of energy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    In the age of global warming, wasting resources should not be tolerated.

    1. Re: A total waste of energy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      What litterly everything should be shut down to put all resources into global warming prevention? Presumably you are going to apply that philosophy to yourself? Here is a bolt gun you can use, dig your own grave first please, we wouldn't want to put extra resources into burying you.

    2. Re: A total waste of energy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "What litterly "

      Yes, litter is a problem too.

    3. Re:A total waste of energy by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 1

      In the age of global warming, wasting resources should not be tolerated.

      At any given time when you propose Project X, there is always some public expenditure that can be deemed more important than your own.

      This is the primary reason why speculative and edgy projects not directly related to $HIGHEST_PRIORITY_PROJECT should be privately funded. Taking a project private makes the whole stupid 'priorities' argument go away.

    4. Re: A total waste of energy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In our current administration, the aim is to shut down anything that doesn't immediately contribute to the war machine.

      "Our military is too big! We can't maintain it!"
      "Buy a new military!!"

    5. Re:A total waste of energy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Have you scrapped your car yet? It wastes 70% of the energy you put in. Surely that can't be tolerated.

    6. Re: A total waste of energy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No that's bitcoin

  4. His greatest creation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    His greatest creation was still the FliipStart. What mobile computing should have been

    1. Re:His greatest creation by quenda · · Score: 1

      His greatest creation was still the FliipStart.

      Or his business card. It even had a watermark.

    2. Re:His greatest creation by squiggleslash · · Score: 1

      One of the things about his death is it looks like Bateman's totally in the clear, nobody will ever suspect him now.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
  5. He saved ? by Crashmarik · · Score: 2

    People have been searching for evidence of other intelligent life in the universe pretty much as long as anyone has been able to conceive of the concept. There will undoubtedly be people looking as long as we haven't found any or ruled out their existence.

    If you actually care, you can do it yourself.

    21 cm Antenna and Receiver

    https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/~n...

    If you want bonus points you can go through the design process yourself

    1. Re:He saved ? by 50000BTU_barbecue · · Score: 1

      "People have been searching for evidence of other intelligent life in the universe pretty much as long as anyone has been able to conceive of the concept"

      Except that the concept of the "universe" as you think of it is barely 100 years old. People thought the Milky Way (that thing in the sky you could see at night before cheap light everywhere) *WAS* the *ENTIRE* universe.

      Then they figured out those little patchy clouds of light are other galaxies, millions of light years away.... Uh oh.

      So it depends entirely on what "concepts" you are referring to. Finding angels in the celestial spheres?

      https://saint-lucy.com/essays/...

      --
      Mostly random stuff.
    2. Re:He saved ? by Crashmarik · · Score: 1

      Are you trying to say that they were looking for intelligences other than ours before they could properly frame the concept ?

      If so I have to agree but I really didn't want to go there because. It just raises minutiae about terminology. While we would call them alien, and they would call them angels or heavenly visitors we are both talking about intelligences not of the earth, and the recurring desire to explore and find the new.

    3. Re:He saved ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Find a life for yourself here, on Earth. Get a life.

    4. Re:He saved ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

      The only thing that Paul Allen fella 'saved' was his money

      Instead of putting his money into good use, like donating it to OPEN SOURCE MOVEMENT or EFF, he kept all his mullah and then croak.

      Fuck him and his mullah !!!

    5. Re:He saved ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As I've read, he donated billions to charity, etc.

  6. He died, so let's lionize everything "like we do" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    "Allen was able to foot the $25-million bill" - Oooooh, what a fucking VISIONARY. He was able to make that much off TICKETMASTER MONOPOLY MONEY? Einstein, move over, we've got a new Ghandi in town.

  7. As BAAB Sang by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Money Money Money
    Gets You Honey
    From The Sunny Bunny

  8. Crashmarik = fake name massive human fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    See subject: Your MASSIVE FAIL in this life is you're nothing more than a chattering little do-nothing "ne'er-do-well" online & you know it...

    * Is that the best your "phantasyland FAKE NAME" (for your fake lie of a so-called 'life') can manage?

    When a FAKE NAME do nothing like YOU does better than I have? Then talk (you're all talk & no action)...

    You can't help you're an immature little BUTTHURT no-mind, lol! I blew you away in TONS OF PLACES and easily dust your no-mind bullshit blatherings.

    APK

    P.S.=> The TRUE PRICE of your UNIDENTIFIABLE FAKE NAME do-nothing selves like you that I can ALWAYS CASH IN ON (lol) is that I can use FACT/TRUTH on them to SHATTER their all TOO fragile delusional egos that they actually know A DAMN THING in computing, lol... apk

  9. Crashmarik needs to STOP IMPERSONATING ME... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    See subject: You're IMPERSONATING me (as you can't ever get the better of me, especially on my points on hosts files). I am God's gift to Slashdot and my hosts file engine provides full protection from Spectre & Meltdown. No other software protects against speculative execution vulnerabilities. That's a fact even FAKEname trolls lie you can't deny.

    Where's your house fully paid for all bills & taxes current TROLL? It's not - trolls like YOU live under a bridge (hence WHY you HIDE from me STALKING ME by your UNIDENTIFIABLE anonymous and FAKENAME posts like the 'brave guy' you are(n't)).

    * How many times have I utterly DUSTED YOU in tech debates under your DOUBTLESS many SOCKPUPPET 'fakename' accounts you use here, hmmm?

    TONS (& you doing what you do proves it).

    APK

    P.S.=> You're a fool - a DO-NOTHING "ne'er-do-well" troll loser, nothing more... apk

  10. Cryptocurrencies have hampered SETIs efforts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Now that people know that they can "make money" using their CPUs during downtime, they are less inclined to give their CPU cycles away for free,

    1. Re:Cryptocurrencies have hampered SETIs efforts by dohzer · · Score: 1

      If only people could keep their eyes on the prize; with ET comes great wealth.

  11. He also.. by 110010001000 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ...he also was a patent troll who sued others for creating software. But I am sure he was a great guy.

    1. Re: He also.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

      So surprised your brain fails in this instance. You correctly identify Musk as a piece of shit but demonize Allen despite his position attributes.

  12. Needed more CPU and GPU cycles. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "SETI@home" versus "Cryptocurrency Mining"

  13. "It's not religion. I swear." by DalM · · Score: 1

    Oh the amounts of money 21st century rich people will spend on an endless effort to prove they aren't religious.

    1. Re:"It's not religion. I swear." by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      How is the belief in the possibility of alien life comparable to the belief that there is one/multiple gods?

      They are two unrelated topics.

    2. Re:"It's not religion. I swear." by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Religion is the belief in a god or gods with specific properties like omnipotence, benevolence, talking to prophets, sending messiahs... If one of these properties is to have created life only on Earth, then finding alien life will disprove that particular religion.

    3. Re:"It's not religion. I swear." by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I was raised catholic, but am not very religious and don't go to church, etc.

      I don't think the bible ever really said "only on Earth", Actually, it might be a justification for a universal god if we discovered an alien race with similar stories, beliefs, and physical characteristics as people on Earth. (blah blah in his image)

      I'm sure if the aliens were nothing like us, then the religions would adapt and say they were made int he image of god's pet, or his best friend, or his high school crush

  14. No evidence of God found? by trevc · · Score: 1

    How surprising.

  15. Seti never was effective by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    Seti never lasted long enough to provide any useful data. When you consider how long it takes for a signal to reach Earth from any sort of distant galaxy. We need to spend decades trying to receive such signals. Maybe the lack of congressional funding was a signal they already knew about ET's so why search for it?

  16. c6gunner IMPERSONATING me again? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject: his FAKEname on a post impersonating me https://linux.slashdot.org/com... & altering /.er's words.

    c6gunner tried to mock me 1st https://linux.slashdot.org/com...

    So I challenge c6gunner to show he did better work than mine & he CAN'T!

    YOU DEMAND PROOF of others here?

    "I've yet to see you provide any evidence of that." by c6gunner on Monday March 15, 2010 @10:02PM (#31490942) ?

    So now I DEMAND IT OF YOU & YOU FAIL!

    c6gunner = "Run, Forrest: RUN!!!

    * c6gunner's LYING saying I did a MacOS X one - I haven't yet & c6gunner's LYING impersonating me hosts work vs. Intel CPU issues (spectre/meltdown).

    APK

    P.S.=> You say hosts = shit here https://slashdot.org/comments.... ?

    FACTS: /.ers & security pros + RESULTS say DIFFERENT:

    1st: /.ers https://slashdot.org/comments.... https://slashdot.org/comments.... https://slashdot.org/comments.... https://slashdot.org/comments.... https://slashdot.org/comments.... https://slashdot.org/comments....

    2nd: SECURITY PROS https://slashdot.org/comments....

    3rd: REAL RESULTS w/ hosts vs. threats https://slashdot.org/comments....

    EAT YOUR WORDS!

    1. Re:c6gunner IMPERSONATING me again? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your software is just crap - written in crayon, fictional... I'm going to continue using the Host File Engine as a punchline to a joke by mmell February 17, 2017

      Your premise that hostfiles are a good way to deal with advertising and malvertising is fucking insane - by JazzLad April 20, 2016

      his hosts "program" is actually a broken batch file by xenotransplant August 10 2015

      his hosts tool is actually useful for those cases in which one does indeed want to be a laughingstock while consuming excessive amounts of alcohol by alexgieg September 25 2015

      I do use APK's host file in all my memes at home by OrangeTide December 01 2017

      I've never tried to belittle (APK's work), I've flat out said it's crap - by BronsCon (927697)

      I like your tinfoil hat by Karmashock September 09 2015

      that APK nut, I can't get him to stop talking about his piece of shit file by rogoshen1 Tuesday March 03, 2015

      I personally never would use a HOSTS file blocker produced from a retard called APK by 110010001000 October 27 2017

      APK

      P.S.=> When YOU do better than THAT by our /. registered peers, then talk (from behind your FAKE NAME for your FAKE LIE of a "so-called" WASTED life) - ok? apk

  17. c6gunner IMPERSONATING me again? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject: his FAKEname on a post impersonating me https://linux.slashdot.org/com... & altering /.er's words.

    c6gunner tried to mock me 1st https://linux.slashdot.org/com...

    So I challenge c6gunner to show he did better work than mine & he CAN'T!

    YOU DEMAND PROOF of others here?

    "I've yet to see you provide any evidence of that." by c6gunner on Monday March 15, 2010 @10:02PM (#31490942) ?

    So now I DEMAND IT OF YOU & YOU FAIL!

    c6gunner = "Run, Forrest: RUN!!!

    * c6gunner's LYING saying I did a MacOS X one - I haven't yet & c6gunner's LYING impersonating me hosts work vs. Intel CPU issues (spectre/meltdown).

    APK

    P.S.=> You say hosts = shit here https://slashdot.org/comments.... ?

    FACTS: /.ers & security pros + RESULTS say DIFFERENT:

    1st: /.ers https://slashdot.org/comments.... https://slashdot.org/comments.... https://slashdot.org/comments.... https://slashdot.org/comments.... https://slashdot.org/comments.... https://slashdot.org/comments....

    2nd: SECURITY PROS https://slashdot.org/comments....

    3rd: REAL RESULTS w/ hosts vs. threats https://slashdot.org/comments....

    EAT YOUR WORDS

  18. Let's hope that they don't find the Trisolarans. by sconeu · · Score: 0

    That would not be good.

    --
    General Relativity: Space-time tells matter where to go; Matter tells space-time what shape to be.
  19. Leave the ETs be... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...you dumbshit fucktard humans. Fuck off.

  20. Refusal of the truth by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What is Winter Sunlight?

    For this reason, God sends them a powerful delusion(operation of wandering)(planet) so that they will believe the lie.
    ipfs

  21. My actual post not your impersonation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Your software is just fine - well written, functional... I'm going to continue using the Host File Engine by mmell February 17, 2017

    his hosts program is actually pretty good by xenotransplant August 10 2015

    I've tried his hosts file generating software. It works. - by bmo (77928) on Thursday October 15, 2015

    I do use APK's host file on all my systems at home by OrangeTide December 01 2017

    I've never tried to belittle (APK's work), I've flat out said it's good - by BronsCon (927697)

    I like your host file system by Karmashock September 09 2015

    I would like to note that I find your hosts file admirable - by vel-ex-tech (4337079) on Tuesday November 24, 2015

    I personally use a HOSTS file blocker produced from a genius called APK by 110010001000 October 27 2017

    FROM https://news.slashdot.org/comm...

    APK

    P.S.=> YOU wish you could manage users liking & using + praising work you did but you're too UNSKILLED to EVER do it yourself... apk