The Search For Extraterrestrial Life

I love the SETI project. It looks for the signals that are sent through the universe that could show that there is life on other planets .  Whether you believe in aliens  or not, the search for them is still something that is interesting.  The SETI project uses radio telescopes to help find the radio waves that could be transmitted on the bandwidth of 1,420 MHz and 1,666MHz (Which is considered the “waterhole frequency” as it is the frequency that is used the least amount of things broadcasting on it).  

As with most technology, there are always spill over effects that affect other areas as well.  The biggest thing that the SETI project came up with was BOINC which works thing out on your computer when you are not using the computer. Clever, eh?  Now the thing is that Boinc has been helpful in working out Malaria strategies, Protein structures, and even old Enigma codes. This is great isnt it?  

Why am I bringing this up to you?  Do Welsh Universities have any Radio Telescopes OR use anything that uses Boinc?  The reason is because is shows what sorts of innovation, and projects, that they are working on. It also shows how Welsh Universities are innovating and developing (In my opinion).  Here are the results:

Name	Useage of Boinc
Bangor University	No
Cardiff University	No
Swansea University	No
Cardiff Metropolitan University	No
Aberystwyth University	No
University of South Wales	No
UK Space Agency	No

So what about Radio Telescopes

Name	Amount	Spent	Developing
Bangor University	None	NA	NA
Cardiff University	2 (Only one is working)	None	None
Swansea University	None	NA	NA
Cardiff Metropolitan University	None	NA	NA
Aberystwyth University	None	None	None
University of South Wales	None	None	None
UK Space Agency	None	None	None

I asked the UK space Agency purely because, again, this is based about SETI.

So what does this tell us?  Well, I am slightly disappointed.  With respect to everyone here, this is a slightly silly thing to write about. The SETI is a bit pie in the sky, but then again, strip this request away and you find something else.   I have asked what astronomy equipment they have and what plans that have to look at major issues. These are things that Universities should be looking at.  Wouldn't it be a great thing to think that a Welsh University had set up a project looking at Malaria, AIDS, poverty measures or ANYTHING?

There is one thing that I forgot to mention. The SETI project works on scanning signals sent in the radio bandwidth 1GHz to 10 GHz. The reason is that it is the least active part of the radio spectrum (Isn't this fun kids!).  So what about different signals being sent on that frequency? When I asked Ofcom about the legality of broadcasting on this frequency they sent me to their interactive spectrum map. Isnt this fun, kids!