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Amount Quote by Jill Tarter

“The space that we're looking through is nine-dimensional. If you build a mathematical model, the amount of searching that we've done in 50 years is equivalent to scooping one 8-ounce glass out of the Earth's ocean, looking and seeing if you caught a fish. No, no fish in that glass? Well, I don't…” quote by Jill Tarter
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“The space that we're looking through is nine-dimensional. If you build a mathematical model, the amount of searching that we've done in 50 years is equivalent to scooping one 8-ounce glass out of the Earth's ocean, looking and seeing if you caught a fish. No, no fish in that glass? Well, I don't think you're going to conclude that there are no fish in the ocean. You just haven't searched very well yet. That's where we are.”

Jill Tarter

About This Quote

Source Interview: Public talk on SETI, date unknown

Our search for extraterrestrial life is minuscule compared to the vastness of the cosmos, so current null are limited

In simple terms: Search efforts are tiny compared to the universe

Key Takeaway

Expand search methods and increase resources

Themes

exploration humility science

Mood

hopeful inquisitive

Type

inspirational scientific

When to use this quote

  • astronomy research
  • funding proposals
  • public outreach

Key Concepts

probability sampling bias technological limits

Questions to Reflect On

  • What new technologies could improve detection?
  • How can we allocate more resources?
A Different Perspective

Overreliance on current tech may miss signals

2.8 out of 5 (4 ratings)

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