The Scientific Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence (S.E.T.I.): Selected Resources

Are we alone in the universe? Has life evolved elsewhere -- perhaps even in our solar system? If there are other intelligent beings, can we communicate with them? These ancient questions touch upon some of the deepest thoughts and feelings of the human experience. They continue to fascinate, inspire, and to capture the public's imagination. Until recently, though, the answers were sought only within the realms of religion and philosophy. Today, however, leading scientists at major universities, observatories, and research institutes across the world are using sophisticated, high-tech equipment to explore the skies for signs and signals of life elsewhere in the universe. Most notable among the efforts is being done at the non-profit SETI Institute in California. The discovery of even a single microbe would drastically alter our views of ourselves, our planet, and our place in the cosmos. What are techniques that scientists use to search for extraterrestrial life? Who are the scientists dedicated to this quixotic search? What are the chances of success? Above all, what would it mean to us if we found extraterrestrial life? The following are some recommended resources where answers to these, and other questions can be found. They were selected by Yolanda Hollingsworth, the Science Library's Electronic Information Coordinator, and by students in the Robert McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program participants during Summer, 2000.

Web Sites In The News

ABC News: Are We Alone? Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence  ABC's latest Report has an enormous amount of background information which is comprehensive and very interesting. Sections include How it Works, Seeking Contact, SETI History, Odds of Success and Alien Speculation. The site also has an interactive link which includes Introduction, Sounds of Space, The Drake Equation, Interstellar Messages, and more. By Joel Diaz, Abdulabasit Luke, Eduardo Marte, Evandy Rodriquez

SETI Institute Online   A searchable site for general information on the SETI Institute and life in the universe, news, educational links and FAQs.

SETI Australia Centre   An Australian Center dedicated to educating and disseminating information on SETI and other associated projects. By Jaclyn Waldon, Ruth Kansinally, Akindele Majekodunmi, Michael Phillip, Melinda Forrester; Amanda N. Bolden, Karima Fitzgerald, Lolita Small and Faith Williams

SETI @home   FAQs, what they cover and what was found, newsletters and related web sites are all here. By Tenelle Jones and Ikenna Masuako

Columbus Optical SETI Observatory   This organization's site includes recent talks and powerpoint presentations which are downloadable, viewable in html and real video. There is also photo galleries and information on conferences. By Amma Agyemang, Natanya Gayle, Wellington Guzman, Onieka Randall

The Planetary Society—Austrialian Volunteers A good place for collections of other newsbreaking events and links to information on current projects and mars missions. By Nekesha Williams, Sherlyne Paret, Mirja Laroche

Other Sites of Interest

Carl Sagan.com   Website Dedicated to Dr. Carl Sagan by The Carl Sagan Foundation and his work on the possibilities of extraterrestrial life.

HSF-Exploring Mars (NASA)   Covers a list of details such as goals, disciplines, equipment, ancient life studies and items on evidence including discovery, exploration, meteorites and FAQs.

Life on Mars? (NASA)   Discussion of facts regarding the Meteorite study led by NASA's David McKay of NASA's Johnson Space Center.

Center for UFO Studies   An international group site for the J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies with links to case reports, books, journals and a UFO 2000 database.

National UFO Reporting Center   "Dedicated to the Collection and Dissemination of Objective UFO Data." Case briefs, historical reports, hotline, information and policies are found at this site.

Space.com   A site with various topics associated with space which has many up-to-date links dedicated to the search of extraterrestrial life under the linked section entitled, "Search for Life."

Selected UA Books

Alien life : the search for extraterrestrials and beyond / Author: Parker, Barry R. New York:Plenum Trade,c1998. UALB SCIENCE  QB 54 P33 1998

Extraterrestrial life / Author: Sammons, Vivian O. Publisher: Washington, D.C. :Science Reference Section, Science and Technology Division, Library of Congress,1981. UALB ULIB GOVDOC J 85 LC 33.10:82-4 BldgOnly

Exobiology : a research guide / Author: Sable, Martin Howard. Publisher: Brighton, Mich. :Green Oak Press,1978. UALB ULIB GOVDOC J 85 LC 33.10:82-4 BldgOnly

Life on Mars? : the case for a cosmic heritage / Author: Hoyle, Fred, Sir. Redland, Bristol,  [Eng.] :Clinical Press,c1997. UALB SCIENCE QH 325 H65X 1997

Other worlds : the search for life in the universe / Author: Lemonick, Michael D., New York :Simon & Schuster,c1998.  UALB SCIENCE  QB 54 L43 1998

The Search for life's origins : progress and future directions in planetary biology and chemical evolution / Washington, D.C. :National Academy Press,1990. UALIB SCIENCE  QH 325 S418 1990

SETI : search for extra-terrestrial intelligence. Pasadena, Calif. :Washington, D.C. :National Aeronautics and Space Administration ;Ames Research Center, SETI, 1990 UALB ULIB GOVDOC J 85 NAS 1.83:114/990

Searching for evidence of life beyond earth. [Greenbelt, Md.?] :National Aeronautics and Space Administration,[1993?] UALB ULIB GOVDOC J 85 NAS 1.2:ED 8/6

Selected Journal Articles

Glausiusz, Josie. Alien investigator. Discover v. 21 no8 (Aug. 2000) p. 22

Crawford, Ian. Where are they?. Scientific American v. 283 no1 (July 2000) p. 38-43

Tarter, Jill C., and others. Is there life elsewhere in the universe?. Scientific American v. 281 no6 (Dec. 1999) p. 118-23

Reichhardt, Tony. A million volunteers join the online search for extraterrestrial life. Nature v. 400 no6747 (Aug. 26 1999) p. 804

Eicher, David J. Are we alone?. Astronomy v. 27 no11 (Nov. 1999) p. 60-3.

Ray, C. Claiborne. Hello, out there!. New York Times (Late New York Edition) (July 6 1999) p. F2

Livio, Mario. How rare are extraterrestrial civilizations and when did they emerge?. Mercury (San Francisco, Calif.) v. 28 no2 (Mar./Apr. 1999) p. 10-13

Schmiedeskamp, Mia. Learning to look for life. Astronomy v. 27 no2 (Feb. '99) p. 26

Fountain, Henry. Downloading data, in search of intelligent life. New York Times (Late New York Edition) (Dec. 8 '98) p. F3

Shostak, Seth. Religion, science, and E.T. Mercury (San Francisco, Calif.) v. 27 no3 (May/June '98) p. 31

Broad, William J. Astronomers revive scan of the heavens for signs of life. New York Times (Late New York Edition) (Sept. 29 '98) p. F1+

Hecht, Jeff. Mission impossible. New Scientist v. 159 no2149 (Aug. 29 '98) p. 20

Mosley, John E. Life in the Universe. Sky and Telescope v. 95 (Jan. '98) p. 77-8

Broad, William J. The cosmic search for signs of alien life. New York Times (Late New York Edition) (Aug. 26 '97) p. C1+

Looking for life, any size. Astronomy v. 25 (Sept. '97) p. 6

Pendleton, Yvonne J., and others. Life: a cosmic imperative?. Sky and Telescope v. 94 (July '97) p. 42-7

Hively, Will. Looking for life in all the wrong places. Discover v. 18 (May '97) p. 76-85

Chown, Marcus. The alien spotters. New Scientist v. 154 (Apr. 19 '97) p. 28-31

Broad, William J. Scientists widen the hunt for alien life. New York Times (Late New York Edition) (May 6 '97) p. C1+

Chyba, Christopher F. Life on other moons. Nature v. 385 (Jan. 16 '97) p. 201

Crawford, Ian. Where are all the extraterrestrials?. New Scientist v. 152 (Oct. 5 '96) p. 52

Tyson, Neil De Grasse. Is anybody (like us) out there?. Natural History v. 105 (Sept. '96) p. 70-2+

Chyba, Christopher F. Life beyond Mars. Nature v. 382 (Aug. 15 '96) p. 576-7

Naeye, Robert. OK, where are they?. Astronomy v. 24 (July '96) p. 36-43

Angel, J. Roger P., and others. Searching for life on other planets. Scientific American v. 274 (Apr. '96) p. 60-6

Kerr, Richard A. E.T. search finds noise, no signal. Science v. 271 (Feb. 23 '96) p. 1055-6

Chown, Marcus. Are ETs playing hide and seek?. New Scientist v. 148 (Nov. 4 '95) p. 11

Goldsmith, Donald W., and others. Should we discount the extraterrestrial hypothesis for UFOs?. Mercury (San Francisco, Calif.) v. 24 (Jan./Feb. '95) p. 8-9

Sagan, Carl. The search for extraterrestrial life. Scientific American v. 271 (Oct. '94) p. 92-9

Drake, Frank., and others. Extraterrestrial intelligence. Science v. 260 (Apr. 23 '93) p. 474-5

Is anybody out there?. Sky and Telescope v. 84 (Nov. '92) p. 512

SETI: should earthlings tackle it?. Physics Today v. 41 (Sept. '88) p. 13+

Apsi-Ridolfo, Frank. The primal fear: are we alone?. Astronomy v. 15 (Dec. '87) p. 34+

Papagiannis, Michael D. Bioastronomy: the search extraterrestrial life. Sky and Telescope v. 67 (June '84) p. 508-11