Why Your Support Matters
Thirty-three years ago, we didn’t know if planets beyond our solar system existed. Today, we’ve confirmed nearly 6,000—and we’re only beginning to explore the vastness of the cosmos.
At the SETI Institute, we are leading the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and advancing the science of life beyond Earth. With cutting-edge research and technology, we’re pushing the boundaries of discovery to answer one of humanity’s biggest questions: Are we alone?
We’re using groundbreaking tools to detect potential signals from intelligent life across the universe:
🔭 Allen Telescope Array (ATA) – A network of 42 radio antennas scanning for narrowband signals—potential hallmarks of intelligent life. Unlike traditional telescopes, ATA is built for SETI, monitoring multiple targets simultaneously across a wide frequency range to track exoplanets and detect faint, artificial transmissions.
✨ LaserSETI –The first project designed to monitor the entire night sky for fleeting laser flashes—potential beacons from extraterrestrial civilizations. Its global network of instruments can detect nanosecond-scale bursts of light, signals so brief they could easily be missed yet bright enough to outshine a star in an instant.
📡 COSMIC (Commensal Open-Source Multimode Interferometer Cluster) – A next-generation SETI experiment leveraging the Very Large Array (VLA) to passively scan the sky for extraterrestrial signals while astronomers conduct other research. Using cutting-edge digital processing, COSMIC continuously monitors a vast range of radio frequencies with exceptional sensitivity.
💡 GNU Radio for SETI – Finding extraterrestrial intelligence requires advanced signal processing. GNU Radio, an open-source software toolkit, helps us develop algorithms that sift through massive datasets, filtering out noise to identify potential artificial signals. From detecting anomalous radio bursts to spotting structured patterns in cosmic transmissions, these techniques are revolutionizing how we analyze SETI data.
With your support, we can continue breaking new ground, refining our search techniques, and bringing the universe’s greatest mysteries within reach.
Join the search. Donate today.