OAF@MIT-MC@sri-unix (10/27/82)
From: Oded Anoaf Feingold <OAF at MIT-MC> I think searching for evidence of intelligent life would pay off in other ways than finding it - we'd learn new engineering and likely new science. A similar effect - Penzias' and Wilson's (and Best's?) discovery of big-bang residue while looking for noise sources that might screw up Telco microwave transmissions. Besides which, we might find something after all, or discover interesting/profitable things serendipitously. Furthermore, SETI-type activities keep physicist and astronomer types off the streets - very beneficial socially and cheap at the price. Hence my attitude would be to go for it, for some level of funding within an order of magnitude of $10E7/year. Apologies to all for a simplistic and perhaps Pollyannnaish message. Yours, Oded