by maggie shiels
thousands of computers around the world have joined the search for extra-terrestrial life..but scientists are now wondering what we should say if "e.t." happened to phone us
Scientists the world over have long agreed that Receving a signal from another civilisation Would be one the greatest events in the history of humanity
Until now ,however ,little thought has been Given to what we would actually *say if we Encountered "E.T." .should it be more than a Simple intergalactic "hi there.what's your name?"
The man charged with the task of thinking About an intergalactic conversation is dr Douglas Vakoch ,who has the grand title of "interstellar message group leader"
While dr vakoch weighs up* the right thing to Say and how to say it, others have already Dived in *in the hope that "E.T." ,is Listening .some of the many fruitless efforts Include a series of sights and sounds , with Music from bach to Chuck Berry , that were put On the voyager spacecreft
In an exhibition at the chabot space and Science center in Oakland ,California,Dr Vakoch Has already devised* some basic messages That E.T." ,would easily understand .They Include things like a picture of two human Beings .one holding the other to represent "support and caring"
Other suggestions for chatting with E.T." were Given by school children on a field trip * to the Centre .One teenager "come to earth and let's Party!" while another warned : "make sure you Get plenty of rest before you come, because There's a lot to see and if you're slleping ,you Might miss* something!"s