SETI and radio waves

[Krice]

I must be missing something but why seti people are trying to find e.t. life by detecting radio waves? What I know about radio waves is that they stop and/or reflect at pretty much any obstacles there is (including atmosphere). Not only that, we are barely able to detect astronomical radio sources like supernovas and quasars which are emitting stupendous powers compared to any man made radio sources. Radio waves also decay like other forms of waves, right? And even more the star of solar system can emit more radio waves than any artificial sources, masking out them. Why do we then think we could detect artificial radio waves from other stars?

[Aleksanderus]

I must be missing something but why seti people are trying to find e.t. life by detecting radio waves? What I know about radio waves is that they stop and/or reflect at pretty much any obstacles there is (including atmosphere). Not only that, we are barely able to detect astronomical radio sources like supernovas and quasars which are emitting stupendous powers compared to any man made radio sources. Radio waves also decay like other forms of waves, right? And even more the star of solar system can emit more radio waves than any artificial sources, masking out them. Why do we then think we could detect artificial radio waves from other stars?

Maybe we think that aliens are stupid enough to use radios...

ayy lmao

[Krice]

What I was trying to say is that even they did use radio we wouldn't be able to catch the signal. So why are seti even trying? It's like a conspiracy to "prove" that no one is there: "Look, scientists didn't find any radio signals, so no one is there."

[Aleksanderus]

What I was trying to say is that even they did use radio we wouldn't be able to catch the signal. So why are seti even trying? It's like a conspiracy to "prove" that no one is there: "Look, scientists didn't find any radio signals, so no one is there."

"Yeah, only OUR planet has conditions to life and only OUR race is intelligent."

And also that's tottally not sarcasm...

[LazyCat]

"Yeah, only OUR planet has conditions to life and only OUR race is intelligent."

You don't seem to be reading what is he saying.

[LazyCat]

What I was trying to say is that even they did use radio we wouldn't be able to catch the signal.

I think that's right, which would make your question valid. So then, why indeed.

- "Shostak calculates that Nasa's recent broadcast of Beatles music towards Polaris, the North Star, using a 210ft antenna and 20kw of power, would require any potential aliens to have an antenna seven miles across to be aware of it. To actually receive it as music, this would need to be increased to a 500-mile wide antenna."

[Aleksanderus]

But really not only we but also they wouldn't be able to catch the signal if this is long ranged transmission

[Krice]

But really not only we but also they wouldn't be able to catch the signal if this is long ranged transmission

Exactly. Yet seti people occasionally bring some news about signals, like the russian detected signal couple of days ago. I guess they just get funding from somewhere in search of ET life, but they have realized it's just not possible yet. But they need money, so they just lie about detecting radiowave signals.