Eamonn KerinsNov 12, 2022

Great to have so much interaction from the thread I did yesterday about #GameTheory strategies for the detection of #ExtraTerrestialIntelligence.

https://astrodon.social/@eamonn_kerins/109327400145858571

Maybe every Friday should be #AlienFriday!

Thought it'd be useful to get to know the views of people tuning into these posts. So, below, a thread of 7 polls of your views on #SETI.

They'll stay up for a week. If you'd like them to have a statistical rigor that #ProfJohnCurtis would be proud of then please #boost to others.

Eamonn Kerins (@[email protected])

So, it's time to talk about #aliens. Is the search for #intelligent #life just an impossible search for a microscopic pin within a mountain-sized haystack? Or is there a way to try and be smart about how we search? A thread about some work I've been involved with that addresses this question... (1/n) If you enjoy the thread, and you think others may do too, then please #boost it!

Astrodon - The Astro Community
Show threadEamonn KerinsNov 12, 2022
Do you think there is, or ever has been, life on other worlds that we would recognise as intelligent?
Yes, surely there has to be
81.9%
No way
2.4%
I'm on the fence
14.2%
Really not bothered
1.6%
Poll ended at .
Show threadEamonn KerinsNov 12, 2022
Is it worthwhile listening out for the possibility of signals transmitted by an alien civilisation?
Yes, we'll learn something
90.3%
No, it's a waste of time and/or money
6.3%
Don't really care
3.4%
Poll ended at .
Show threadEamonn KerinsNov 12, 2022
Do you think evidence for alien life of some kind will be discovered within the next 50 years?
Yes!
39.7%
I doubt it.
53.8%
No chance!
6.5%
Poll ended at .
Show threadEamonn KerinsNov 12, 2022
If scientists become sure that they have received a genuine signal from an intelligent extraterrestrial civilisation, how would you wish them to communicate this news?
Full public disclosure ASAP
52.9%
Prepare in advance how best to break the news
41.4%
Inform government agencies and let them handle it
4.8%
Keep it secret. There's enough bad news around.
1%
Poll ended at .
Show threadEamonn KerinsNov 12, 2022
Would you consider an announcement of contact with an intelligent extraterrestrial civilisation to be
Good news
46%
Bad news
6.3%
Neither. I'd reserve judgement
47.7%
Poll ended at .
Show threadEamonn KerinsNov 12, 2022
How do you feel about the idea of humans deliberately sending their own signals into space so that they could be discovered by another alien civilisation?
Great idea. Do it!
27.7%
Sure, why not
33%
I'm uneasy about the idea
31.7%
It's a huge mistake
7.6%
Poll ended at .
Show threadDr. Fred Calef III
@eamonn_kerins after reading the “Three Body Problem”, I don’t know how to respond to this question. I’d normally be pro-signal, but is that just me being overly optimistic? I’m still pro-signal, but that book did make me think.
Nov 13, 2022 at 7:05pmWeb