Aliens?

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by razark

why release to an online journal instead of the press conference the engineered arsenic-bacteria got?

We'll see how it plays out.

Because Like the cold-fusion press conference, that turned into a debacle. Press conferences circumvent the standard procedures for publishing discoveries. Now, in this case, their choice of publications does bring into question the veracity of the discovery. At least this time, on the surface, they are openly and willingly opening this for peer review, in fact they seemed to encourage it, so as you say, we'll see.

[razark]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

Because Like the cold-fusion press conference, that turned into a debacle.

True. However, if they had sufficient evidence, the "We found aliens!" thing would be worthy of a televised conference.

Originally Posted by Gargamel

Press conferences circumvent the standard procedures for publishing discoveries.

I think NASA would be playing the alien life card for every dollar they could get their hands on. Morale is low, PR lacking, funding is getting very tight, and they're even having to look at getting rid of some civil servants.

Originally Posted by The Right Stuff

Gordon Cooper: You boys know what makes this bird go up? FUNDING makes this bird go up.
Gus Grissom: He's right. No bucks, no Buck Rogers.

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by razark

True. However, if they had sufficient evidence, the "We found aliens!" thing would be worthy of a televised conference.

If you remember, back in the 90's they did just that. They found evidence of life on Mars from a martian meteorite they found in Antarctica. They (NASA) went on TV yelling We found Aliens! Clinton even went onto live TV that night to announce it. Within a few months, after peer review, there was enough 'evidence' and opposing theories to cast doubt onto the accuracy of the claim. Not that it was a Hoax, but the data could have been explained by other means (contamination, mineral deposits, etc).

So in this case, they are following the standard procedure as much as possible. Let the peer reviews confirm it, then NASA goes beserk.

I can (almost ) guarantee you, if they prove aliens exist, their funding will go through the roof. At least until everybody stops and asks, why?

[Feuer Frei!]

Until the day that they found Alien lifeform that looked anything like these guys:


only then will i be truly interested.

2 chances of that happening though: Buckleys and ******* all!

[razark]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

Within a few months, after peer review, there was enough 'evidence' and opposing theories to cast doubt onto the accuracy of the claim.

And that's why I said "sufficient evidence". The bar has been set pretty high. First, they'd have to show it was life, and not something else. Then, they'd need to show it was not terrestrial in origin. Thank you, cold fusion, ALH84001, and general apathy.

Originally Posted by Gargamel

At least until everybody stops and asks, why?

Nah. Something like that would never happen...