My PC is now part of the world's biggest super computer. I've signed up with SETI [Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence] in order to borrow them CPU cycles for the analysis of radio spectrum data, gathered by the gigantic array of antennas that are always listening to the deep space.

SETI, or any other Earth institution, simply does NOT have the computer power to handle all the zillions of gigabytes that keep arriving in the form of "white noise", DAILY. So, what happens if "ET", meaning any intelligent life form living out there, tries to communicate with us? Answer: he will NOT be noticed "on time" with current technology.

Trying to avoid such scenario, SETI decided to trust the Internet and the capabilities of distributed computing, so they are publishing a special software, made available to participants, that will download radio data to your PC and analyse it, while you are not needing the computer. There are over 400000 PCs in the project, and chances are that with such a massive processing power, in OUR lifetime [more 70 years], we will REALLY [and finally] DETECT a transmission which as something THAT IS NOT RANDOM noise... The PC to spot that first pattern, will be the first computer on history to make CONTACT with another intelligent life force! It can happen to me!

But it can also happen to you! Participate! Sign up @ http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/

The software is already available for UNIX. Windows versions will be ready this week. When the Microsoft users start cooperating with the project, the internet computer will be hundreds of thousand of times FASTER than today's fastest super computer.