Since 1984 a group of scientists have been working on a special project to detect signs of alien life. They formed the SETI institute to Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. Using radio telescopes they have been listening for communication signals created by intelligent beings on other planets. But now one of their scientists has raised an interesting dilemma.

He suggests that we have been listening to the wrong types of signal and looking in the wrong parts of the universe. What Dr. Seth Shostak is suggesting could come out of the pages of a science fiction novel. His idea is that intelligent life may have evolved into or created artificial intelligence. These 'robot' forms of life may have different forms of communication and could be living in parts of the universe inhospitable to organic life forms like us.

So what do his ideas mean for the search for extraterrestrial life; and is anybody or anything out there?

Ni hao, you're listening to  People In the Know, bringing you insights into the headline news in China and around the world, online at CRIENGLISH.com, and here on China Radio International. I'm Nigel Ballard in Beijing. In today's program we'll discuss the search for extraterrestrial life. So let's get started.

First we'll speak to Dr. Seth Shostak, who is the Senior Astronomer at the SETI Institute.

And after a short break we'll talk to a Chinese astronomer who believes aliens have already visited out planet.

 

Ni hao, you're listening to  People In the Know, bringing you insights into the headline news in China and around the world, online at CRIENGLISH.com and here on China Radio International. I'm Nigel Ballard in Beijing. 

 

Chinese astronomers are also working to detect signs of alien life. The country is building a radio telescope that has a diameter of 500 meters. For more we are joined by the eminent Chinese Astronomer Wang Sichao. He is a researcher and planetary astronomer at the Purple Mountain Observatory at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

 

And with that we conclude this edition of  People In the Know, online at CRIENGLISH.com and here on China Radio International.

 

The SETI scientist Seth Shostak has asked an interesting question. It's not the first time scientists have suggested the idea that aliens could be sophisticated forms of artificial intelligence. Having raised the issue Dr Shostak has now made some of us reassess our views about aliens. He has also given the scientific community a fresh impetus to ask more questions and keep looking for extraterrestrial life.

Questions or comments for us can be sent to people@cri.com.cn. You can also listen to our show on your mobile by logging onto m.cri.cn. The Programme Producers are Xu Yang, Chen Mo, Lu Yuan and interns Xu Xiao Jie and Xie Si Si; I'm Nigel Ballard in Beijing, We'll talk again tomorrow.