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What do we do if SETI is successful?

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174 points leephillips | 5 comments | 20 Oct 25 17:13 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source
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ricksunny ◴[21 Oct 25 22:07 UTC] No.45662340[source]▶
former chairman of the board of the SETI Institute John Gertz:

'In fact, the author has heard from serious U.S. SETI researchers that they are convinced that “men in black suits” will appear at their laboratory door the moment a detection is confirmed.'

Source: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1701.08422

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1. johncolanduoni ◴[21 Oct 25 22:36 UTC] No.45662611[source]▶
This seems like romanticizing. I don’t get the impression that maintaining a constant watch on SETI researchers is something any intelligence agency is incentivized to do.
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2. ricksunny ◴[22 Oct 25 00:12 UTC] No.45663443[source]▶
As it sounds like you know, it would be great if you can articulate the boundaries of a prototypical intelligence agency mandate. Because then it should be a cinch to describe why ‘communication from a foreign power of as-yet indeterminate technology advancment relative to modern day superpowers to (checks notes) members of any of the 200 some odd nation-states on the planet who can afford operating a radio telescope’ doesn’t fall within that mandate
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3. tbrownaw ◴[22 Oct 25 02:51 UTC] No.45664414[source]▶
I'd expect them to monitor SETI to intercept any first contacts the same amount as they monitor Miss Cleo to make sure her crystal ball isn't showing state secrets.
4. johncolanduoni ◴[22 Oct 25 15:27 UTC] No.45670602[source]▶
Sure, right after they write up plans for a color revolution in Atlantis. You’re assuming that intelligence agencies/governments believe that contact with aliens is likely enough to actively plan for, which seems unlikely.
5. psunavy03 ◴[22 Oct 25 22:16 UTC] No.45675859[source]▶
The remit of an intelligence agency is to collect information on foreign entities which have first been proven to exist. The CIA almost certainly isn't trying to recruit agents in the Seelie Court either.