Is the SETI project waste of goverment money?

Answer 1

Others have pointed out that it's not a waste of government money, but is it a waste of other folks' money? I will say probably not.

First of all, if we do detect intelligent signals that we wouldn't otherwise have detected, I don't suppose anyone could call it a waste of money, even if very large sums had been spent.

But even if we continue to not find anything, the project will not have been completely useless. We'll still have learned a lot about our universe! Namely, that there aren't any radio signal emitting civilizations within our ability to detect them. That will, as is often the case in science, raise new questions. Mainly, why don't we detect any other civilizations? This is the Fermi Paradox. See the attached article for information, I think it'll interest you.

Of course, if the money and resources (radio telescope time, etc) spent on SETI could have gotten us more information about the universe if invested in other ways, then, yes, SETI would end up not having been worth it. But it's difficult to say that unless we already know what we'll find (or fail to find). And I'm not equipped to evaluate what use of science resources is best. In the meantime, I'll enjoy what SETI has already told us about the universe and will eagerly await more data, whether that confirms that we are still alone in the known universe or whether we have company.

Answer 2

Not at all! I think SETI is pretty darn cool and very interesting. The problem is that the vastness of space will give us some grief in finding anything interesting... and even if we did detect something the odds are that the species who emitted it is already dead. For example if we detected radio waves and found out that it came from the Andromeda Galaxy (the closest galaxy to our own Milky Way galaxy) then the radio waves would have been emitted at least 2.5 million years ago. In 2.5 million years, their planet may have already been engulfed by their sun... and be long since dead. So SETI is only really useful in searching for intelligent life in our own Galaxy... and given the rarity of life, I would say that the odds of finding an 'intelligent' neighbour in the Milky Way alone is quite slim.

Answer 3

First off, SETI is not funded by the goverment as stated by our fellow answerers. But is SETI a waste of money? I would say not. After all, the idea of extraterrestrial intelligence is facinating though I'm not sure what we would do if we found another life form.

Answer 4

Well I say SETI is a big waste because After almost half a century of intergalactic eavesdropping, Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) has yet to report any signs of contact. SETI aiming at a dead spot in the universe.

1. "They are counting on the aliens using communication technology (radio, light) that’s oh-so-last century. They will be far beyond this."
2. "If hi-tech societies or thinking machines were out there, they’d have colonized the Galaxy by now. Clearly, we’re alone… lone… lone."
3. "The aliens don’t want to communicate with us. Look at what we’re doing to the planet! they probably visited way before we were existed in this planet and they left."
4. "SETI types are just looking in the wrong places. We know where the extraterrestrials are: on a planet in the Zeta Reticuli system."

Answer 5

Of course not! The universe is so ridiculously huge that it is silly to think we are the only thing of interest in the whole place. There has to be intelligent life out there somewhere. The Drake Equation practically proves it! http://www.pbs.org/lifebeyondearth/listening/drake.html

And even if you are a total pessimist, remember that very unlikely is not the same as impossible. My laptop is running SETI@home right now, and although I doubt I will ever see a "match found" message it could happen.

You can help find other technological life-forms at this website:
http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/

It also makes a cool screensaver!

Answer 6

The SETI project doesn't get any money from the US government, so no, it's not a waste of government money.

Answer 7

The SETI project receives no government funds.

Answer 8

Though SETI may never produce any results it is a very worth while endeavor.

Answer 9

It's my understanding that the cofounder of microsoft (Paul Allen) is funding the search. I think it's a good project.

Answer 10

Since it's privately funded and recieves no money from the gov't, no.