This lifted a seven-year embargo on federal funding for extraterrestrial research
The scientists investigating the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligent life, accepted
encouragement from members of Congress, seven years after some lawmakers rejected the
The efforts in the search for "little green people".
In a hearing held on Thursday at the congressional subcommittee on science and space,
Lawmakers encouraged scientists to look for evidence of life in the universe and search
Other worlds similar to Earth.
"The discovery of life in the universe will be one of the most important discoveries
in human history," says Republican Congressman Lamar Smith
From Texas.” The funding must correspond to the public interest." Smith said that
Since then, funding for the ST program (English acronym for the search
After foreign intelligence in 1994, ST's credibility increased.
Four scientists appeared as witnesses and said that in the last five years, the perception
that there is life outside the earth has gained momentum through discoveries
which were made both on Earth and in space.
Among the developments, the scientists included:
&#;8226 At least 50 planets have been found around distant Jupiter-like planets
sun in the last five years, and scientists now believe that solar systems are
A common thing in the universe. Finding the planets is considered an important step on the way to discovery
Haim. All of these planets were the size of Jupiter or larger,
says Ed Weiler, NASA's deputy administrator for space science. "We didn't find any stars
Earth-like sect, but that's simply because we don't have the necessary technology
To find Earth-sized planets orbiting a distant star. in all
Case in point, Weiler says floaters are now being built for that and they'll be able to locate the
The chemical signatures of life in the atmospheres of distant planets
50 light years from us.
&#;8226 Liquid water, which is considered the chemical necessary for the development of life
Found in abundance on Jupiter's moons and in the orbit of at least one distant planet
There is also strong evidence that water was once common on Mars, and marble
Plans to search for water beneath the surface of Mars. Mars is a planet
A walk that seems the most likely that life has ever existed.
&#;8226 Detailed studies suggest that the creation of planets and solar systems
may be common. The Hubble Space Telescope has taken many pictures of
Stars surrounded by clouds of dust and gas, which are considered to be the raw materials
to make planets.
&#;8226 The researchers found bacteria that live in very cold water and water
Very salty, under tremendous pressures and in the heat of volcanoes at the bottom
the oceans, as well as in the most acidic environments. since life
Possible in such hostile environments on Earth, they may evolve
in extreme conditions that may exist on other planets.
In 1994, some members of Congress mocked the ST Institute and its efforts to find out
Radio signals from alien civilizations. They called these efforts "searching".
After little green people.”
The idea of searching for intelligent life in the universe has so far fallen out of favor
The priorities of the US National Science Institute (NSF), published on the website
His website is a notice that research proposals on STI are not welcome.
Christopher Chyba (Chyba), who heads the Sty Institute in Calpioremia says
Because since the loss of federal funding, the program has been supported by private donations,
It employs 120 people and is constantly looking for signs of life
in two million radio channels, using a large radio telescope in Porto
Rico.
Chiba says that ST, in collaboration with the University of California at Berkeley, is building
An array of radio telescopes that can listen to signals from the million stars
The closest to us in many channels.
According to Chiba, the NSF removed the restrictions on STI research and now they can
Such studies compete for research budgets on the same playing field as studies
others." he added.
Democratic congressman from California, Zoe Lofgren, said that the survival of
The ST project despite the loss of government funding is impressive, and that on
The federal government did not oppose the study. "We need to allow the authorities
Science and research because the bias against ST studies is no longer a priority.
Lofgren said. "None of the members of the committee wants to tip the scales
against good science.” Concluded.
