Have We Been Visited?Bracewell ProbesUnmannedOrbit around another starWait for civilization to appearEstablish contactRadio results to EarthIs there a Bracewell Probe in Solar System?Long-delayed echoes (1- 30 sec)Duncan Lunan 1973→ Epsilon Boötes (Binary star)→ Contact attempednow discountedIf use Daedalus technology (fusion)RM = 150 (need to decelerate)Visits in the Past?• In historical times?• Erich von Daniken is most famous promoter– Pyramids, precision stone work– Drawings on Nazca plain– Easter island statues– Note western bias• No need for aliens to help with StonehengeOngoing visits?• Flying saucers (after WWII)• Neutral term: Unidentified Flying Objects(UFOS)• Evidence is primarily anecdotalReliabilitye.g. Night advertising aircraft< 10% correctly described these⇒ Unreliable witnesses ⇒ some ordinaryobjects will fall into UFO categoryStatistics of UFO cases90% of UFOs eventually identified (IFO)No difference between UFOs and IFOsin time of day, duration, age or gender ofwitness, occupation, or UFO interestBoth UFO and IFO incidents involve peoplewhich, on average, are much more interestedin UFOs.Statistics of UFO belief“UFOs are extraterrestrial visitors”40 - 50% of people nationallyThis class Yes (before class) Yes (after class)UFOs exist? 68% (65%) 40 - 50%If Yes, controlled by E.T.? 76% (50%) 45 - 55%Expect this class to attract more believers, BUTAustin also seems more credulousStudent polls 1983, 1995~ 80% Believe in UFOs High School or Less Doctorate orEducation: Working on it62% 88%50% believe Government covers up UFO evidenceWhat we Believe1. ETs are friendly 84% 53%19952. ETs are friendly males females 47% 58%3. By ethnicityAsian-Am African-Am Hispanic WhiteBelieve in UFOs 35% 61% 77% 81% 1983 1995Attitudes of Scientific CommunityGenerally much more skepticalRepeated studies found no evidence of alienConnection2 studies suggested UFOs worthy of further research1. Allen Hynek→ Categories2. Stanford Panel 1997Peter Sturrock, von Eshleman, Thomas Holzer“Deserves Scientific Study” but no evidence of“involvement of an extraterrestrial intelligence”Categories of UFOs1. Nocturnal lightsClear weather, usually 8-11 PM2. Daylight DisksUsually disks, some cigar shaped3. Radar-visualsDetected by radar as well4. Close encountersFirst Kind - UFO seen closer than 500 feetSecond Kind - Physical effects - burnt vegetation,electrical problemsThird Kind - Observation or encounter with AliensA. HynekDetection of Alien SpacecraftMatter-antimatter annhilation → γ-raysWe have γ-ray detectors on satellites1. Military - to watch for nuclear testsreported γ-ray bursts from space2. NASA satellite: Gamma-ray observatory (GRO)was in orbit from 1991 to 2000could detect annihilation 0.02 grams R sec 1AU⇒ No spacecraft decelerating within 1 AU with massof ship exceeding 90 grams since 1991.2Assumes electron-positron annihilation for specific numbers⇓Case Study: The Roswell Incident1947 Rancher finds strange debrisRumors of “flying saucer”Attributed to weather balloon1978 Marcel (Intelligence officer at AFB in 1947)Talks to Inquirer → big UFO interestClaims of Exotic Matter (originallybalsa wood, tin foil, rubber, tape, paper)Claims (& movies) of Alien AutopsyClaims of a Government cover-upCase Study: The Roswell Incident~ 1994 -1995 Congressional inquiry → GAO ↓ USAF finally tells the story Project MogulHigh altitude balloons to “listen” for nuclear bombdetonations (it did detect 1st Soviet bomb - 1949)But winds → pushed balloons out of range →discontinued in 1950One tracked to near where debris found - then contact lostPhotos of debris match description of Mogul balloonsSecrecy → Conspiracy
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