Treading on the Edge: Practicing Safe Science with SETI

DONALD E. TARTER

or those of us in the diverse entourage of individuals who have worked to promote Fthe search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI), October 12, 1992, the five hundredth anniversary of the first voyage of Columbus to America, represented a step into a new age. On that day, two of Earth's great hearing aids, the giant radio telescopes at Arecibo, Puerto Rico, and Goldstone Tracking Station, California, turned on to begin the most powerful search When you search yet mounted to find out if we are alone in the universe. This NASA-sponsored search joins for aliens with other searches, such as those by the Planetary public money, Society and the University of California, good mental Berkeley, to give a massive boost in search space and sensitivity. hygiene is The megachannel extraterrestrial assays essential. (META) searches sponsored by the Planetary Society, which began in 1985, were extremely powerful for their time. Now, however, these searches are dwarfed by the capacity and sensitivity of the NASA search. The opening ceremonies at Goldstone were given an added air of excitement by Carl Sagan's revelations that the META searches have revealed a small number of tantalizing signals that meet all the criteria of an ETI signal except the absolutely essential necessity of repeatability. The coor- dinates of these events have been given to the NASA team to investigate with their far more sensitive instruments. The path to this point for the NASA search has been long and frustrating. SETI stands at the edge of established physical and biological

288 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 Radio telescope at Goldstone Tracking Station, California NASA sciences. SETI's recent history has discovered would be "H-R-M-S Posi- been one of fighting for scientific tive." In a slight act of rebellion against respect and then fighting for funding. NASA authority, in my writing I shall Right up until the most recent budget continue to refer to the program by was passed, budget-cutting congres- its better-known acronym SETI. sional members hunted for a federal SETI's credibility within the scien- program they thought could be elim- tific community has steadily increased inated. SETI has been so frequently over the past few decades, but it still ridiculed and singled out as such a has many outspoken detractors. Even program that officially SETI no longer the detractors, however, seeem to exists. Shortly before NASA's current have a basic fondness for the program. search began, the space agency Zen Faulks, a University of Victoria announced that the program's name biologist, in a dismal assessment of the had been changed to the High Reso- prospects of a SETI discovery recently lution Microwave Search (HRMS)— stated in the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER: a mumbling sort of acronym that can't be pronounced. NASA has often been . . . The incredible improbability of described as the agency that made the alien intelligence should be taken greatest human adventure in his- into account when deciding how tory—going to the moon—boring. It much of our effort SETI should seems they may be trying for that occupy, but I would be disheartened to see the search stopped. . . . The distinction again. At the dedication fallout for all the sciences, especially ceremonies, Sagan quipped that he the biological sciences, would be so hoped some of the signals META gargantuan if we did contact an

Spring 1993 289 alien intelligence . . . that it seems Abstinence foolish to abandon the entire affair. SETI remains an intellectual game Just as with abstaining from sex, worth playing, even if only on a abstaining from interest in aliens does small scale. (Faulks 1991) not seem to be very popular. The quest to answer the question "Is there other Among the general public, little is intelligent life in the cosmos?" is a known about this exotic electronic primal intellectual interest. In earlier endeavor; and of those who express decades, abstinence from the search interest, many are from fringe groups. for alien life-forms was easier for Among the knowledgeable general astronomers. Outside of the limited public there exists a strong tinge of visual abilities of their optical tele- skepticism that such an enterprise is scopes, there was simply no way to serious, and there always is a common deal with the issue scientifically. questioning as to whether the endea- In the early 1930s, Karl Jansky, of vor is worth funding with public Bell Laboratories, began to develop money. radio telescope technology. With this We in the SETI community often technology a new means of assessing feel our marginal status, even in our the cosmos came into being. It was closest personal relationships. My not until 1959 that serious sugges- own mother, for instance, steadfastly tions were made to use this technol- refuses to discuss my professional ogy to search for extraterrestrial life. interest with her friends, lest they In that year, the seminal article in think something is wrong with me. Nature, by Giuseppe Cocconi and I have colleagues who smile and nod Philip Morrison, titled "Searching for tolerantly but keep their intellectual Interstellar Communications" was to distance when the subject is men- begin modern SETI. As is often the tioned. If you are actively engaged in case in science, without knowledge of the SETI enterprise the burden is on Cocconi and Morrison's suggestion, a you to demonstrate that you are a young radio astronomer named Frank responsible member of the scientific Drake used the 85-foot dish at the community. National Radio Astronomy Observa- Many in the scientific community tory in Greenbank, West Virginia, to regard SETI as similar to AIDS, as a search for signals from two nearby potentially lethal infection. I maintain, stars, Epsilon Eridani and Tau Ceti. however, that the SETI virus is not In SETI lore this is known as the necessarily fatal to one's scientific famous project "Ozma." standing. SETI scientists, recognizing Two decades later, the develop- the risks of their passions, have taken ment of modern computerized multi- great care to practice "safe science." channel analyzers made possible In many ways they have been more large-scale attempts to monitor radio scientifically cautious than colleagues emissions from space. As the number in other disciplines. The unwritten of channels available for analysis rules that have emerged in the SETI became greater, the search became enterprise bear a striking resemblance more credible in terms of the prob- to the rules for safe sex. Just as with ability of discovery. By the 1980s, the safe sex, these rules may be hard to scientific and technological ground- follow; but when you are hunting for work for sophisticated SETI was aliens, being careful is the only way available. to ensure your scientific survival. The cultural groundwork had also

290 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 been established for the project. In the international astronomical Scientists like Carl Sagan, Arthur C. community, interest continued to Clarke, and Philip Morrison stirred grow. In 1982, Commission #51, the interest with their talks and writings. Bioastronomy Commission, was Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. established in the International Astro- Clarke's 2001: A Space Odyssey, nomical Union (IAU). Boston Univer- Stephen Spielberg's ET: The Extrater- sity astronomer Michael D. Pappagian- restrial, and Sagan's science series nis led this effort. From its initial size Cosmos on television are but a few of of about 150 members, it has grown the major media events that helped to nearly 300, making it one of the shape cultural interest in the subject. largest commissions within IAU. Meanwhile, in NASA, diligent Unfortunately, there is a sad sim- work by John Billingham, Barney ilarity between the SETI revolution Oliver, Sam Gulkis, Mike Klein, Jill and the sexual revolution. Just when Tarter (no relation to the author), and we thought we were about to learn other scientists, helped overcome the "joys of sex" in a sexually eman- internal resistance to a SETI program. cipated society, the pandemic of AIDS The same individuals, with the help appeared. In the SETI revolution, just of many others, later led efforts to as SETI scientists were beginning to secure funding from Congress. learn the joys of being a federally - hx*^/ 1 *

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Spring 1993 291 funded program, one of the greatest animals . . . the contemporary rein- budget crises in the history of America carnation of phoenixes and unicorns" appeared. Tax-supported scientific (Swift 1990:323). programs are coming under increas- The radio astronomer Charles ingly harsh scrutiny. The slightest Seeger, longtime SETI advocate, has indiscretion may produce ominous stated a more moderate position with results. Sex and SETI are no longer respect to UFOs: "I don't . . . call it just fun and games—they are poten- nonsense, because I think it is a tially lethal if not practiced with great fascinating aspect of humanity. But care. Safe science with SETI is not just there is no reasonably respectable desirable, it is essential. evidence that we are being visited by extraterrestrials. . . ." (Swift 1990: Be Careful with High-Risk Groups 302). Jill Tarter, chief project scientist at SETI and the Air Force have a common NASA Ames, perhaps best summed problem—UFO enthusiasts. Before up the tough-minded approach to the the days of sophisticated SETI UFO subject taken by most SETI searches the Air Force was the prime scientists when she said: "I have an target for UFOlogists. The continuing open mind on whether anyone has insistence that the Air Force "knows seen anything that has a reality to it; something," or is "hiding something," a closed mind on the idea that what with respect to alien life-forms has a has been seen is a manifestation of life of its own. Proving the negative extraterrestrial visitation, and an case is impossible. Now that SETI is absolute demand that people who are getting serious, it is likely that this pursuing this subject attempt to treat type of annoying attention will shift this the way we would any other toward the international radio- scientific investigation, and that is to astronomy community. arrange for hard, reproducible, believ- In order to be "politically correct" able evidence" (Swift 1990:371). (i.e., fundable), the last thing in the This sort of hard-nosed, no- world SETI scientists want is to be nonsense approach has made the task identified with UFO interests. The of keeping distance from the high-risk suspicion that SETI was somehow UFO groups easier. According to Seth part of the "UFO thing" led former Shostak, public programs scientist at Senator William Proxmire to give the the SETI Institute in Mountain View, 1979 SETI budget request the great California: "UFO groups almost never Congressional "booby prize," his ask us to speak to them. They avoid famous "Golden Fleece" award. Even us. They know our approach to the though Carl Sagan was eventually issue and leave us alone." able to enlighten Senator Proxmire, leading him to withdraw his opposi- Avoid High-Risk Behavior tion to SETI, many would-be Prox- mires have staged a perennial In recent years there has been much procession of similar charges in vir- ado about new-age science and tually ever budget hearing since. Is insights based upon emerging new there any wonder that SETI scientists paradigms. Supposedly, these new are touchy about the UFO issue? developments will rattle traditional Freeman Dyson, one of the many science to its roots. The framework prominent figures associated with of theoretical discussion in SETI, SETI, dismisses UFOs as "mythical however, remains firmly rooted in the

292 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 Interstellar Contact Will Enrich Our Lives

"Now, after all our efforts over the nurture people's yearning curiosity past three decades, I am standing about the beings who will no doubt with my colleagues at last on the contact us. At the same time, I want brink of discovery. ... I see a to quell the misleading myths about pressing need to prepare thinking extraterrestrials, from the mis- adults for the outcome of the taken belief that they have visited present search activity [NASA's us in the past, to the terrifying idea new formal SETI mission, scanning that they will wrest the future from for signals from a million stars or our hands." more at a time]—the imminent detection of signals from an extra- terrestrial civilization. This discov- —Astronomer and SETI pioneer ery, which I fully expect to witness Frank Drake, in Frank Drake and before the year 2000, will pro- Dava Sobel, Is Anyone Out foundly change the world. . . . There? The Scientific Search for Interstellar contact will enrich our Extraterrestrial Intelligence lives immeasurably. ... I want to (Delacorte Press, 1992) classical tradition, and those roots of physical forces as we understand haven't been rattled yet. Speculations them here on Earth (naturalism). If of a quasi-mystical nature among life exists elsewhere in the universe, SETI scientists are rare. its course of evolution may be deter- Classical science rests upon three mined by forces similar to those that basic assumptions about the universe. have shaped our own evolution (deter- First, the cosmos can be explained minism). Our own biological and without reference to supernatural or technological evolution has led us to mystical entities or forces that occupy the point that we are able to use a realm different from and inaccessible electromagnetic energy to send signals to occupants of physical reality as we over vast cosmic distances. Other know it. This is the principle of intelligent beings might do the same. naturalism. A second basic assump- Such signals, if they exist, can be tion is that we live in a determined detected and perhaps interpreted universe where cause and effect are (empiricism). operative at all levels, except perhaps The naturalistic, deterministic, and the subatomic one. This is the prin- empirical perspective of the SETI ciple of determinism. Finally, through enterprise is tempered by the classic careful observation of the physical caution of William of Ockham, who world, we can come to know and, in in the fourteenth century insisted that many cases, predict and control its "entities must not needlessly be dimensions. This is the principle of multiplied"—the famous scientific empiricism. dictum of Occam's Razor. This is SETI has traditionally rested firmly interpreted in modern science as on these three cornerstones of clas- saying that if two theories have equal sical science. If intelligent life exists explanatory power, the one based on elsewhere in the universe, it is prob- the fewer assumptions is given pref- ably the natural evolutionary outcome erence. In reference to SETI, this

Spring 1993 293 means that we need not assume that Even in the remote possibility that any unusual or exotic conditions (at with our present generation of radio least no more unusual or exotic than receivers we are able to detect the exist here on Earth) are necessary for noise of knowing beings, we should the formation and evolution of life. be prepared for the possibility of Likewise, it also means that in the success and the possibility of human process of examining interstellar radio error. Of great concern to the SETI emissions, those of an interesting but community is the possible erroneous nonrepetitive nature are chalked up announcement of a discovery of an as not being indicators of other extraterrestrial civilization that turns intelligence. Occam's Razor surgically out to be either a natural cosmic removes the joys of single strange phenomenon, a hoax by pranksters, signals from the tedious work of radio or a hitherto unknown source of radio astronomers. frequency interference (RFI). It is precisely because the SETI In just over 30 years of small-scale enterprise is on the edge of established radio searches, radio astronomers science that its practitioners have been have thus far avoided the embarrass- extremely careful to play within the ing spectacle of announcing nonexist- rules of accepted scientific assump- ent aliens. There were times when it tions and procedures. Quasi-mystical was sorely tempting to scream, "We speculation is the luxury of well- Found Them!" Frank Drake's first established and securely funded scien- search in 1960 produced obviously ces. SETI enjoys neither distinction. intelligent emissions, which at first The assumptions on which SETI seemed to be from the star Epsilon rests can be, and have been, debated Eridani. After repeated checks over ad nauseam; but, as the director of the several weeks, it turned out to be Planetary Society's SETI Project, earthly radio interference. In 1965, META I (Megachannel Extraterres- Soviet astronomers discovered the trial Assay #1), Paul Horowitz has pulsating signals of CTA-102. Tass, said: ". . . You can argue yourself blue the official Soviet news agency, in an in the face, but if you want to answer attempt to claim another first for this question you are going to have Soviet science, claimed them to be to do the experiment" (SETI Institute signals from distant civilizations. The 1990). Soviet astronomers, however, took With the dawn of the NASA pro- the courageous step of rebuking Tass gram, this exotic cosmic experiment for this interpretation. In 1967, the is now beginning on a massive scale. clear identification of rapid and pre- It is being conducted well within the cisely timed high-energy signals by prudent practices that have thus far Jocelyn Bell and Anthony Hewish at successfully guided the human scien- the Mullard Radio Astronomy Obser- tific adventure. vatory, Cambridge, seemed, at first, to be of intelligent origin. After careful investigation and several months Gel the Safe Science Message Out delay, they turned out to be pulsars— If safe sex is to be effective, people one of nature's most unusual physical must know what it means. If SETI's objects. All of these incidents indicate safe science is to work, the public must that the astronomical community has learn to apply its rules to their own a long track record of responsible thinking. Public information policy is behavior in such matters. The ques- critical for SETI. tion is: Will this responsible behavior

294 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 continue under modern and more well-verified announcement of signal complex circumstances? acquisition. "Acquisition Day," as The growth of the tabloid media, Philip Morrison likes to call it, would an increasing tendency to conduct be one of the most significant days science by press conference rather in human history. The SETI commun- than by peer review, and the growing ity would be announcing one of the competition for funds and recognition great discoveries of science, perhaps among scientists could threaten a the greatest discovery in scientific cautious and deliberate researching of history. This would be a discovery that a potential discovery. The SETI com- lies close to established cultural munity definitely wants to avoid what mythologies, sensitivities, hopes, and has been called the "cold-fusion fears. It is not likely that announce- confusion." That famous debacle ment of a discovery would come with within the fusion-energy community clear and complete answers as to the damaged the reputation of individuals, origin and meaning (if any) of the institutions, and to some degree message. It is precisely this vacuum science itself. of information that public reaction Recognizing the potential problems would seek to fill. In the absence of with announcing a discovery of extra- complete scientific information, terrestrial intelligence, several rumor, speculation, and exploitation members of the SETI community, would very likely occur. How should myself included, have struggled to find the SETI community respond? solutions. A post-detection protocol The unknowns of the post-contact has been drafted ("Declaration of period could be a public information Principles . . ." 1990). This effort has nightmare for SETI scientists. The been spearheaded by Michael A. G. SETI community is only beginning to Michaud, of the U.S. Department of think through these issues (Tarter State, and Jill Tarter. That protocol 1992). A great deal of planning must has now been adopted by the major be done, even if such planning is for scientific organizations involved in the an event that is only remotely SETI enterprise. The post-detection probable. protocol is an effort to steady the SETI In the meantime, the public should community's step in case it does come be informed of the difficulties in up with some very interesting signals. identifying and interpretating an alien It is a complicated—some say "Byzan- signal. They should realize that mis- tine"—procedure of checks, double takes could be made. If a discovery is checks, and notifications to be carried made, the public should understand out before announcement is made. the deep commitment that scientists The protocol is voluntary, as it must in the SETI community have shown be, and in practice it may be difficult to careful and open science. One to carry out. The protocol agreement, should exercise extreme caution about however, does stand as an official accepting conspiracy theories that recognition of the responsibility of claim the government or scientific science to the integrity of its own community is hiding something. One enterprise and to the orderly notifi- should expect and tolerate a great deal cation of officials and the public that of confusion, rumor, and nonsense. a discovery of potentially enormous Indeed, the public should, for its own consequence has been "made. mental hygiene, remember the mes- A more difficult task is to try to sage of safe science. If you can't envision what might happen after a abstain from your interest in aliens,

Spring 1993 295 be careful about joining risky groups, University of Arizona Press. avoid high-risk thinking, and ask for Tarter, Donald E. 1992. "Interpreting and more information. Reporting on a SETI Discovery: We Should Be Prepared." Space Policy, May, pp. 137-148. Note Donald E. Tarter (591 Sharpes Hollow This paper derives from lectures given at the 1992 Summer Session of the International Rd., New Market, AL 35761) is a Space University, Kitakyushu, Japan. I would lecturer at the International Space like to thank my colleague John Elder for University and a member of the Inter- suggesting the title. national Academy of Astronautics SETI Committee. References

"Declaration of Principle Concerning Activ- Editor's Note ities Following the Detection of Exterres- trial Intelligence." 1990. Acta Earlier discussions of SETI issues have Astronautka: journal of the International appeared in the following SKEPTICAL Academy of Astronautics, 21, no. 2: 153- 154. INQUIRER articles: Carl Sagan, "The Fauiks, Zen. 1991. "Getting Smart About Burden of Skepticism," Fall 1987; Getting Smarts," SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Thomas R. McDonough, "Searching 15: 263-268, Spring. for Extraterrestrial Intelligence" "Quest for Contact." 1990. A videotape, (interview), Spring 1991; Zen Faulkes, narrated by Jill Tarter, SETI Institute: Mountain View, Calif. "Getting Smart About Getting Swift, David W. 1990. SETI Pioneers. Tucson: Smarts," Spring 1991.

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