New Richter-Like Scale Is Here To Measure Alien Signals

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Guardian: Scientists have now created their own Richter-like scale [for measuring alien signals] to explain whether a finding is a damp squib or has truly seismic implications. The new scale allows scientists to rate interesting signals detected in searches for extraterrestrial intelligence from 0 to 10, where 0 is nothing to get excited about and 10 is equivalent to "an alien space probe orbiting the Earth or an alien shaking your hand," said Duncan Forgan, who worked on the project, at the University of St Andrews Centre for Exoplanet Science. Known as Rio 2.0, the scale is a proposed upgrade of an existing Rio scale that is already used by the alien-hunting community. It assigns scores to Seti ("search for extraterrestrial intelligence") signals by taking into account both the potential implications of the signal and the likelihood that it is genuine, rather than down to natural or human-made phenomena. Under the proposals, scientists could issue their own Rio scale number for any interesting signals they detect, but so could fellow academics who review their work for publication. The rating system is also being made available to the public. The scientists detailed the new Rio scale in the International Journal of Astrobiology.

Re:

[Hognoxious]

Del Rio, who lived on the edge of chance for 20 years or more.

Re:

[Joce640k]

Rio Grande
Rio Tinto

Hint: It means "River" in Foreign.

Re:

[dohzer]

If you're trying to measure the probability that something exists, it helps to have a scale.

Re:

[that this is not und]

For propaganda value, yes, it helps.

10? Ha! Mine goes to 11

[mnemotronic]

Mine goes to 11. An alien eating your brain or probing your ..... tweet source.

Re:

[mnemotronic]

Why not just make 10 the top, and make it the bit about alien intimacy?

(thank God for the straight man ....)

Well you see, because 11 is 1 higher. These scientists go from a damp squid up to 10. But what if you need more? Where can you go? Nowhere. Exactly. So if you need an extra bit to kick it into total annihilation, 11. Look. Even spelled out E-L-V-E-N has more letters than T-E-N. And your Roman numerals, XI has more than X. "I" more.

So they just discovered laogarithms?

[Hognoxious]

Is there a Richter-like scale for how shit the articles on Slashdot are?

Known as Rio 2.0 ...

[fahrbot-bot]

Personally, I'd rather see it be called the Sagan [wikipedia.org] with values from 0 Billions to 10 Billions.

These go to eleven

[Waffle Iron]

There is actually one more notch on the scale not mentioned here.

11: Flying saucers are hovering over each of Earth's major cities and are in the process of vaporizing them with death rays.

Re:

[sheramil]

There is actually one more notch on the scale not mentioned here.

11: Flying saucers are hovering over each of Earth's major cities and are in the process of vaporizing them with death rays.

Or as we in the Church of the Subgenius call it, "just another X-day."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-Day_(Church_of_the_SubGenius)

I entered the information for the Wow signal

[Iamthecheese]

and it gave me a result of 0. Surely on a log scale the Wow signal [wikipedia.org] is at least worth taking a look at. I think it needs more tweaking.

Proposed Designation

[SuperKendall]

New Richter-Like Scale

For aliens, instead of "Richter" I propose we use the "Sphincter", in honor of previous Alien activity.

A Better Approach

[Memnos]

They should just use the Richter Scale as it is right now, given this startling fact that's really true and not a conspiracy theory at all and I have proof I swear [mirror.co.uk].