(单词翻译:单击)
Suppose one day scientists pick up a transmission they think isgenerated by aliens.
假如有一天,科学家收到到外星人发来的信号该怎么办呢?
Now what? Do we build a landing strip andbreak out the welcome wagon?
我们有建造飞碟起落跑道来欢迎它们吗?
Well here's the thing about picking up alien broadcasts.
关于接收到外来广播的事情是这样的 。
The receivers scientists are currently using to listen to space noise are designed to find constant signals,or signals that are pulsing at regular intervals.
科学家接者收目前会听航天噪音,然后找出不变信号或者找出那些常规跳动的信号 。
But any message carried by these signals wouldprobably be lost because the receivers can't pick up the modulation, or rapid variations, in thebase signal.
但是任何携带信息的信号都可能丢失,因为接收者在信号基地不能收集到变调或快速变化的信号 。
The SETI institute, which searches for extra terrestrial life, has compared picking up asignal's modulation to picking up the sound of a flute when it's masked by the noise of a waterfall.
对外星智能的探索研究院,专门寻找外星生物 。它他们对接受到信号的变调和被瀑布声掩盖的笛声做了比较 。
Luckily, scientists would still have enough data to pinpoint where in the sky the transmission iscoming from.
幸运的是,科学家们有足够的数据来确定信号广播的位置 。
And any slow changes in the broadcast frequency would reveal information aboutthe rotation and movement of the aliens' planets.
广播频率的细微变化都会揭露外星人星球的旋转和运动情况 。
Okay, but how will we know if they are friendly?
我们怎样才知道那些是友好的信号呢?
Well, If we ever do detect a transmission, thiswould be huge news.
如果我们发现了外来广播,那就是很大新闻了 。
The government would definitely allocate funds to building largerinstruments capable of picking up signal modulations.
政府一定会拨款建造更大的仪器,能够接受信号变调 。
However, even once scientists are able tomeasure the modulation, it isn't certain that we'll be able to understand the message.
不管怎样,即使科学家能够测量变调,也不能确定我们能明白这些信息 。
I guesseveryone's hoping that if the aliens are anything like us, they'll send simple pictures and easy-to-decode messages.
我想每个人都希望外星人与我们多少有点相似之处,会发简单的图画和容易解码的信息 。