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E.T. Talk

How Will We Communicate with Intelligent Life on Other Worlds?

  • Book
  • © 2010

Overview

Authors:
  1. Fernando J. Ballesteros

    1. Quart de Poblet, Spain

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  • Presents a highly readable and entertaining overview, and thoughtful investigation of theories concerning potential methods of communication with intelligent extraterrestrial civilizations
  • Makes accessible to the general reader some difficult scientific concepts without the use of math or equations
  • Appeals to astronomy buffs who are also interested in zoology, linguistics, and deciphering codes (cryptology)

Part of the book series: Astronomers' Universe (ASTRONOM)

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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xix
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  2. With Whom? Finding Life In The Universe

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
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    2. A Place for Life

      • Fernando J. Ballesteros
      Pages 3-16

    3. The Miracle of Life

      • Fernando J. Ballesteros
      Pages 17-30

    4. Life in the Solar System?

      • Fernando J. Ballesteros
      Pages 31-50

  3. With What? The Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 51-51
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    2. The Search Starts

      • Fernando J. Ballesteros
      Pages 53-62

    3. Where to Look

      • Fernando J. Ballesteros
      Pages 63-71

    4. Searching Strategies

      • Fernando J. Ballesteros
      Pages 73-91

  4. How? The Language Of Communication

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 93-93
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    2. Different Languages

      • Fernando J. Ballesteros
      Pages 95-121

    3. Different World Views

      • Fernando J. Ballesteros
      Pages 123-131

    4. How Do We Know If There’s a Message?

      • Fernando J. Ballesteros
      Pages 133-152

    5. Searching for a Common Language

      • Fernando J. Ballesteros
      Pages 153-180

    6. Is Anybody Out There?

      • Fernando J. Ballesteros
      Pages 181-196

  5. Back Matter

    Pages 207-212
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Keywords

About this book

For a long time I have been giving scientific lectures in different countries and on diverse topics, generally related to astronomy and to my work at the Arecibo Observatory. No matter which parti- lar topic I am talking about, the same question always comes up: Have we had any contact at Arecibo with “them”? My negative answer does not satisfy anyone. In fact, the answer either confirms their suspicions that there is a conspiracy afoot by higher autho- ties not to release information or their intentions to deceive the general public. The reasons for the deception have to do with the idea that, as in the movie Contact, the received messages contain important and useful information that will bring great advantage to whoever gets it. Many of us want to believe that extraterrestrial creatures can talk to us, that perhaps they are even living among us, as UFO fans believe. It would be fascinating if it were true, a more than extra- dinary discovery, the answer to an eternal question. There is p- sibly a deep psychological motive in this desire to know if we are alone in this huge universe, and the need to believe in something beyond our limited world, in space and time. There is no doubt, then, that this topic brings with it many scientific and philosophical discussions, as well as speculations that, on many occasions, fall into pure pseudoscience because of the lack of a reference framework.

Reviews

From the reviews:

“E.T. Talk, the latest book … look like a computer studies guide, but its contents are well researched. … a wide range of disciplines are covered, from geology, biology to statistics and technology. A highly readable book for anyone interested in the debate about alien intelligence.” (Kulvinder Singh Chadha, Sky at Night Magazine, January, 2011)

“Ballesteros (Univ. of Valencia, Spain) is an astrophysicist and a long-time science popularizer. This book is a clear translation of the original Spanish version, which received the European ‘Estudi General’ award for popular science. … book is useful because of its unusual insight into the nature of language and the challenges that would have to be met in attempting to communicate with an extraterrestrial civilization. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates and general readers.” (T. Barker, Choice, Vol. 48 (9), May, 2011)

“The most interesting and informative book … covers the key aspects of the subject in three parts. … This forms the main thrust of the book and makes fascinating reading. … it does lead on to a truly excellent analysis of language and its form and structure that I found really illuminating. … this book will give its readers an up-to-date and insightful study of the many aspects of the subject. I recommend it highly.” (Ian Morison, The Observatory, Vol. 131 (1224), October, 2011)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Quart de Poblet, Spain

    Fernando J. Ballesteros

About the author

Fernando J. Ballesteros earned his Ph. D. in physics from the University of Valencia, Spain, where he is now a practicing researcher and astronomer. He is a long-time popularizer of science in Spain, including acting as coauthor of the radio program "The Sound of Science," in Radio Nacional de España (Spain's national public radio service). He is also the author of the book Astrobiology, A Bridge Between the Big Bang and Life (Akal, 2008). He was a member of ESA's space telescope INTEGRAL team and researcher at the Spanish Astrobiology Center (CAB). The present volume is a translation of the Spanish version from Bromera, which was the winner of the European Award "Estudi General" given for popular science.

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