Image Credit: Ben Paul and UCLA SETI

On February 14, 2023, UCLA SETI launched its citizen science collaboration to “crowdsource the search for extraterrestrial civilizations” (UCLA Newsroom). Spearheaded by EPSS Professor Jean-Luc Margot and EPSS Graduate Student Megan Li, the project, titled Are we alone in the universe?, provides “members of the public an opportunity to help scientists find signs of extraterrestrial intelligence by classifying radio signals that may have been emitted up to tens of thousands of light-years away and collected by a radio telescope.”

The public and media response has been remarkable. Are we alone in the universe? was featured in the LA Times (making the front page of print on Wednesday, February 15th!), as well as Yahoo News, KTLA, LAist, and NASA. Additionally, since its February launch, over 10,000 SETI volunteers (1/3 registered, 2/3 unregistered) have collectively submitted nearly half a million classifications of radio signals. In the process, they are identifying the most promising signals and assembling a rich data set to train artificial intelligence tools that will accelerate the search for life in the universe. The UCLA SETI science team has also diligently reviewed and answered questions and comments about over 6,000 signals, helping the project’s volunteers along on their extraterrestrial mission.

Read the UCLA Newsroom story to learn more about the project and how to get involved!

UCLA SETI is grateful to The Planetary Society, NASA, and Robert Meadow and Carrie Menkel-Meadow for the seed funds that helped launch the collaboration.