Since the beginning of our existence, many humans find themselves gazing off into space asking a simple question: Are we the only ones out there?  Although most people see this as a silly question, one organization, SETI, or Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, researches this question professionally.  Previously funded by NASA, and a recent recipient of a two-hundred-million-dollar donation from Franklin Antonio, a cofounder of the widely successful chipmaker Qualcomm, they have access to the latest technology and use it to search for strange signals and aliens.

Unfortunately, no signal has been detected from extraterrestrial intelligence, but this doesn’t stop people from hoping.  In fact, in 2019, Penn State started PSETI, which hosts speakers from similar fields, publishes research articles, and promotes funding opportunities for this research, which no longer receives government funding regularly.  Using this funding, SETI researchers monitor radio telescopes, which can detect signals from more than ten-thousand light years away.  Most recently, SETI began development of a scientific instrument that senses laser pulses from outer space—just in case our neighborhood alien prefers to signal with light.

Due to the lack of evidence and apparent humor that SETI researchers present, fighting and reasoning to keep the mission ongoing largely prevents SETI from receiving respect and attention.  The public and government representatives often see the SETI mission as a fad and become impatient when funding is dedicated to them with no results.  Astronomists and other professionals’ reason that SETI has not received a signal due to the fact that the scale at which SETI needs to search is massive.  Even though modern radio telescopes demonstrate extraordinary power and ability, they need to be aimed at a start for a certain amount of time for monitoring, and then move onto the next.  Since SETI researchers cannot monitor the entire cosmos at once with great enough detail, it is unlikely that they will be listening at the right time, not to mention the vast expanses they haven’t monitored yet.

Some scientists and thinkers share other causes why alien contact has yet to be received.  Namely, intelligent life is extremely rare, although given the size of space, many think it would be a “waste of space” for us to be the only intelligent life.  Even if intelligent life existed, would they have the same technology available to them.  Furthermore, if they did, would they have an interest in us, especially if they are far away and have no reason to visit or signal us.  It is often we see ourselves as worthy of something more.  Is continuing this mission a manifestation of our desire for attention?  Should we keep spending money and our interest on the infinitesimally small chance we receive a signal from life?