Jill Tarter
Special to CNN

[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/TECH/04/21/gallery.solar.imagery/smlvid.sun.pics.nasa.jpg caption="More people combing data means a greater possibility of finding signs of life" width=300 height=169]

At this moment we have reached a major turning point for both science and the public at large. The SETI Institute is now offering the world the first taste of raw SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) data collected by the Allen Telescope Array in California. With this we move closer to fulfilling the institute's mission, which is to search for our beginnings and our place among the stars

Throughout the institute's 25-year history (we are a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to scientific research, education and public outreach), we have analyzed these raw data with custom algorithms operating on semi-custom hardware. Now we are transitioning to readily available hardware and servers because technology has caught up to us - hooray!

Keep Reading...