Interesting papers to read 8
Piero Giacomelli
CIO | Group IT Manager at Fidia Farmaceutici SpA | Packtpub Book Author | Manning Publication Reviewer | Passionate about math
Today I propose the reading of an interesting papers of 1959 by Giuseppe Cocconi (https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuseppe_Cocconi) with the explicit name of
Searching For Extraterrestrial Communication
Before the publication of this paper in 1959, there had been some speculation about the possibility of extraterrestrial life, but there had been no serious scientific effort to search for it. Cocconi and Morrison's paper changed all that. They laid out a realistic and scientifically sound strategy for searching for interstellar communications, and they inspired a generation of scientists to take up the search.
The paper was groundbreaking in several ways. First, it argued that the search for extraterrestrial life should be focused on the microwave spectrum. This was a radical departure from previous thinking, which had focused on optical wavelengths. Cocconi and Morrison argued that microwaves were a better choice because they are less attenuated by interstellar dust and gas.
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Second, the paper proposed a specific set of frequencies that should be targeted. They argued that these frequencies were likely to be used by extraterrestrial civilizations for communication, because they are relatively free of interference from natural sources.
Third, the paper identified a specific set of stars that should be targeted. They argued that these stars were likely to have planets that could support life, because they are similar to the Sun in terms of their mass and temperature.
The publication of Cocconi and Morrison's paper was a major turning point in the search for extraterrestrial life. It galvanized the scientific community and led to the launch of several major SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) projects. The work of Cocconi and Morrison continues to inspire and guide the search for extraterrestrial life today. Their paper is a classic of SETI literature, and it is still cited by scientists today. The strategies and techniques that they proposed are still being used by SETI researchers around the world.
In addition to its scientific significance, the paper "Searching for Interstellar Communications" is also significant for its cultural impact. It helped to raise public awareness of the search for extraterrestrial life, and it inspired a generation of science fiction writers and filmmakers.