What is Digg?81 Comments
- holesome, on 08/14/2008, -0/+21NOT A NEW DISCOVERY...
It should be noted that this is not an intelligent source, i.e. it is not a source that could be considered as having been transmitted by alien intelligence. Furthermore, it is certainly not a new discovery. The electromagnetic radiation emanating from Sagittarius A is well documented and an entirely natural phenomenon. A similar signal, although of a much larger magnitude, would be received by simply pointing the telescope at the Sun.
However, to put this achievement into perspective, the energy gained by a grain of rice falling 2 cm in the earth’s gravity to a plate is more than the total energy received by all the radio telescopes in the world operating since 1960. This means that very sensitive radio receiving equipment is required to detect these faint sources. - FulcrumVitesse, on 08/14/2008, -8/+25They were more than a little vague, they were intentionally obscuring the facts to get more attention. Pure linkbait.
- Smokeydabear, on 08/14/2008, -3/+17When the aliens really do come there will be no warning folks! (Unravels aluminum foil and begins to construct hat.)
- Innisskillin, on 08/14/2008, -1/+14That's just what the aliens want us to think.
- speedk0re, on 08/14/2008, -1/+12... for me to poop on
- BlackJackJester, on 08/14/2008, -1/+11TK-421! Do you copy??? TK-421, why are you not at your post?
- sock2828, on 08/14/2008, -7/+16They were a little vague on the announcement. No wonder people thought it was an alien signal
- shutaro, on 08/14/2008, -2/+11So they got Jodie Foster on the phone for nothing, then?
- inactive, on 08/14/2008, -1/+9Pizowned.
- leetninja, on 08/14/2008, -0/+8for great justice
- BeardDob, on 08/14/2008, -0/+8“On the evening of 28th July 2008, at 21h14 local time the Indlebe Radio Telescope, situated on the Steve Biko campus of the Durban University of Technology (DUT), successfully detected its first radio source from beyond the solar system. A strong source was detected from Sagittarius A, the centre of the Milky Way Galaxy, approximately 30 thousand light years away,”
This was not even close to vague. Do not make excuses for those who jump to conclusions based on a lack of understanding of terminology.
Also that comment about Digg is GOLD BABY! - IphtashuFitz, on 08/14/2008, -1/+9Heh. My dad worked on some cold-war missile defense systems like BMEWS (Ballistic Missile Early Warning System). It was one of those radar nets that was supposed to detect launches from within the Soviet Union. Apparently within the first few hours of turning it on for the first time it detected launches from the USSR with targets in the USA. Oddly enough the pattern of launch sites was crescent shaped and both the launch points and targets kept moving from east to west (I think). It took them a few hours to eventually realize that they built the system to be so sensitive that it was detecting the moon rise.
- FonzsXe, on 08/14/2008, -1/+8shame on you diggers
- inactive, on 08/14/2008, -0/+6The original story seemed pretty forthcoming as I recall. I seriously doubt that every astronomy-related press release needs to have a "no, it's not ET" clause added to it to for the sake of the over-excitable.
It's not the folks' at DUT's fault that Diggers fail basic reading comprehension, jumped to conclusions and creamed their collective pants. - RogerStrong, on 08/14/2008, -2/+8No they didn't
The link that came through here and made the front page made it clear that they were testing a new radio telescope on a known radio source.
It's whoever linked to in on Digg who obscured the facts, along with everyone who read the headline but didn't read (or think about) the story. - pradvan, on 08/14/2008, -1/+6I dugg you down because everyone knows that aliens don't use oil as a source of power, they use human brains
- Mockylock, on 08/14/2008, -6/+11*****.
- Cerialthriller, on 08/14/2008, -0/+5Aliens would obviously be listening to Sirius now since they can get howard stern.
- inactive, on 08/14/2008, -0/+5The funny thing is, we detect radio signals from beyond our solar system all the time. There is one star in our solar system, the sun, and so every _other_ star we see from the earth exists outside of our solar system. The light we see from those stars is just electromagnetic radiation (photons), but not in the radio frequency range. But they all emit in the radio range of the EM spectrum just as well, which is how we have the entire subfield of radio astronomy. The vast majority of radio waves we observe originate from beyond our solar system.
- norman619, on 08/14/2008, -2/+7I'd love to know how they would know an artificial source from a natural source. We don't know very much about what's out there and we are aware of at least one natural source which looks artificial and where there is one there are bound to be other natural sources that appear to be artificial. This is the main reason why I have always felt projects like SETI are a colossal waste of time, money, and resources.
- AlphAssassin, on 08/14/2008, -1/+5Stupid Diggers are always making a big deal out of everything.
The Digger that cleans my house always says I never buy enough dish washer soap.
The Digger across the street is always complaining about the economy.
And the Digger down the road is always trying to steal my Nike's because their 1998 Scottie Pippins. - DiggasWAttitude, on 08/14/2008, -1/+5Fortunately many very intelligent people working on this project don't agree. While they could not confirm with 100% certainty whether a source is artificial or natural, they can make educated guesses and continue to study the signal for signs of intelligence.
Since our ability to find Earth-like planets is greatly improving (with new more light sensitive telescopes), SETI will be able to pinpoint star systems capable of carrying life. This will dramatically improve our chances of detecting ET life.
Of all the crap that we pour money into, I think this is one where the payoffs far outweigh the costs. I am happy to have what little tax money that does go to this project continue to do so. I only wish it were more. - inactive, on 08/14/2008, -6/+10A great achievement.
- Fjosnisse, on 08/14/2008, -0/+4"Although this should be the focus of attention, it looks like social bookmarking may have struck again. The DUT announcement was picked up by Digg and the Internet population drew their own conclusions."
Fail - Belin, on 08/14/2008, -0/+4Dugg for being an article about the effect of digg on media.
The telescope was being tested, they knew they were gonna get a signal from the middle of Sagittarius. - BigManOnCampus, on 08/15/2008, -0/+3Completely agreed. The announcement was not vague. Digg users understanding of radioastronomy, now that's a little murky.
- ThatDeadDude, on 08/14/2008, -0/+3Cape Town kicks Durban's ass :p
- ThatDeadDude, on 08/14/2008, -0/+3Well, so far as I know they generally figure that natural sources will be either random noise, or a very simple pattern (like pulsars - a source that just seems to turn on and off at regular intervals). It's felt that an artificial signal will have the hallmarks of some form of encoding/modulation - that is; something approaching a regular pattern, but with subtleties indicating data may be encoded. I can't guarantee it, but it's probably statistically differentiable from white noise.
- ChstrCopperpot, on 08/14/2008, -0/+3It's assumed any intelligent lifeform trying to get noticed would broadcast a signal that would be blatantly obvious, like transmitting pulses representing the prime numbers or something.
- humperdeath, on 08/14/2008, -0/+3Sure, they blame it all on Digg.. . . .
"OK, lets find the origin of this story. Very easy, right near the top of the “popular” list on Digg. So what is this Digg"
A little bit of selective editing can make anything sound like something else. - TomustPain, on 08/14/2008, -0/+3I hope this comment saves a lot of people a lot of time... here is a direct quote from the article:
"It should be noted that this is not an intelligent source, i.e. it is not a source that could be considered as having been transmitted by alien intelligence. Furthermore, it is certainly not a new discovery. The electromagnetic radiation emanating from Sagittarius A is well documented and an entirely natural phenomenon. A similar signal, although of a much larger magnitude, would be received by simply pointing the telescope at the Sun. - Stuart MacPherson, DUT. "
I don't understand how this posting could have gotten so many diggs! BTW people... news flash!!! two-thirds of the world's surface is covered with this amazing compound (H2O) Hurry now go be the first to post it on Digg!!! - kjax82, on 08/14/2008, -1/+4"Interestingly, the Russian mainstream media was listening and interpreted the Internet buzz as proof that an alien radio signal had been detected in the centre of our galaxy…"
Hillarious! - thegrantman, on 08/14/2008, -1/+4It fooled almost no one on this site.
- FutureGuy, on 08/14/2008, -0/+2Damn, I had already packed my bags and moved them to the roof.
- MoistVonLipwig, on 08/14/2008, -0/+2Buried for the hype of a fking radio signal out of our solar system..get your astronomy 101 books and search for "pulsar"
- sering, on 11/22/2008, -0/+2that's nice
http://ekkei.com
http://forexposed.com
http://tembol.freehostia.com/ - sb66, on 08/14/2008, -1/+3It was obvious to anyone who paid attention and actually read the release. At no point did they say it was not a natural signal.
DUH - chrisemc, on 08/14/2008, -1/+3James Woods is gonna be pissed...
- jdhammer, on 08/14/2008, -0/+2Jeez I thought more people knew.......
let me make it nice and simple for everyone who is trying to make it more complicated than it is. All natural radio sources, like pulsars, stars, planets, trees and people emit BROADBAND radio waves, meaning that they can be detected over a broad range of frequencies (let's say 730-1150 AM all picked up the same station, that would be a broadband signal)
NARROWBAND signals do not come from any known natural source. That would be like your radio station, or walkie-talkie frequency, or cell phone transmission. As far as we know, narrowband signals can only be produced artifically. Therefore, any narrowband signal determined to be coming from anywhere not in our neighbourhood would be suspected to be evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence. - eeron, on 08/14/2008, -0/+2If you have another marketing strategy, let me know.
- chrissku, on 08/14/2008, -2/+4Great. Now what are we supposed to do?
- ManiacX, on 08/15/2008, -0/+2An alien signal has been discovered!!!!
/jk - Culyt, on 08/15/2008, -0/+2You know foil would actually increase your susceptibility to mind control...
- inactive, on 08/14/2008, -1/+3I'm not, not, on the internet.
- grneye53, on 08/14/2008, -1/+3Are you sure you turned on all the "ALUMINUM HATS" !
- Niightwitch, on 08/15/2008, -0/+2What I don't understand, and what the article doesn't explain, is if this doesn't indicate another civilization sending the signal, then what is the significance of detecting a radio source outside of our solar system?
- TomustPain, on 08/14/2008, -0/+2OK genius, How can you tell that a radio frequency that is picked up by your clock radio where a man is giving you the morning traffic report is not from a natural source? Let's see... Maybe because when the intelligence frequency is demodulated from the carrier frequency and then amplified, it becomes obvious that someone purposely modulated the two signals so that it could be propagated over the airwaves for the purpose of a broadcast!! See? There you go! Now that wasn't so hard, was it?
- vagarach, on 08/15/2008, -0/+2Awwww it is a nice place, but only if you are there on holiday. I lived there for 14 years, so I have seen it from both perspectives.
- inactive, on 08/14/2008, -1/+3...if you're already HIV positive.
- Her3t1k, on 08/14/2008, -0/+2The comments on that article made me lol. hard. I think it does a good deal to prove what people will digg/comment on without reading the article. When you comment it should put a flag on the side showing whether you've clicked on the link or not, just so people might click it, see how short it is, feel stupid for thinking what they thought, and go on without commenting to some other stories that they can comprehend.
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