SETI member believes we will soon know if extraterrestrial life exists

There has long been debate whether or not extraterrestrial life exists. And in a recent story, we soon may find out if alien activity is merely a thing of science fiction and film, or a reality.

SETI (search for extraterrestrial intelligence) senior astronomer, Seth Shostak, believes that if alien species exist in the universe, us earthlings will find out within the next two decades thanks to advancements in technology that makes computers searching for star systems extremely fast.

Since 1984, SETI has searched for alien life through radios and optical telescopes and hasn’t come up with anything. However, Shostak believes that they have never been able to cover a wide variety of star systems like they will be as the speed of the computers continue to become faster and faster.

In a recent interview conducted with Popular Mechanics, Shostak said he believes they will be able to succeed in finding the answer to the mystery within two decades, as the more efficient computers will allow them to shift through the sky faster. When the program first started, the technology that was being used will not even begin to compare with the continued improvements in computers and digital electronics in the modern society. Something that leaves Seth Shostak ecstatic about.

And while the technology is advancing and the next two decades may proove that alien life exists, don’t fret that you’ll soon be visited by a martian, as light years may separate you from them, causing a very long delay in communication.

Sources:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/space/deep/the-search-for-aliens-is-just-getting-started-16584156?click=pp
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/10694445/Faster-computers-will-find-aliens-in-20-years-says-SETI.html