Meti scientists intend to spam nearby alien civilisations with laser signals by 2018

A group of scientists are gearing up to send repeated messages to exoplanets, in an effort to elicit a response from alien civilisation. The organisation, known as Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence (METI) is a response to the decades long unsuccessful search for aliens by the Search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) program, mostly funded by Nasa. While Seti passively listens to potential signals from space, Meti hopes to initiate contact by sending messages to planets that are likely to host alien life, using highly targeted lasers or radio signals.