A recent paper in the European Physical Journal highlights a case in 1967 in which mysterious radio signals were discovered by radio astronomers. The possibility of the signals being of extraterrestrial origins caused the astronomers to seriously consider how they would release the information to the public, or if it would be best to bury the information in fear of the temptation to contact potentially hostile ETs. In fact, they were so intrigued by the idea of the signal being ET in origin they dubbed it the LGM signal for “little green men.”
The LGM case was unique in that it sparked discussion amongst SETI scientist to set protocols for how to release the discovery of potential ET signals to the public, and how to verify they are indeed ET in origin. It was also unique in that although the signals were mysterious and lead to an important discovery, the discovery was not of a message from extraterrestrials, but instead the group had discovered pulsars for the first time.
The paper, titled, The SETI Episode in the 1967 Discovery of Pulsars, is authored by Alan Penny from the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. In the abstract, Penny writes, “Although their investigations lead them to a natural explanation (they had discovered pulsars), they had discussed the implications if it was indeed an artificial source: how to verify such a conclusion and how to announce it, and whether such a discovery might be dangerous.”
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