Interstellar Communication as a Common Horizon for Humanity

Dr. Douglas Vakoch describes international efforts to contact aliens and explains the difference between METI (Messaging to Extraterrestrial Intelligence), or intentionally transmitting signals to nearby stars, and SETI (the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), which uses powerful radio telescopes and other devices to listen for intelligent life on other worlds and helps us understand our place in the universe. Vakoch argues that efforts to understand what the universe is made of, or search for life or advanced civilization on other worlds. provides us an opportunity to understand ourselves better and study what it is that makes humans unique.