As we venture further into the digital age, it is fascinating to observe the interplay between Bitcoin and scientific research. What some might not anticipate is how these seemingly unrelated fields can collide and impact each other in unexpected ways.
In this article, we explore the curious intersection between Bitcoin mining and the quest for extraterrestrial life.
Unforeseen Connections
In a peculiar twist, the skyrocketing demand for graphics processing units (GPUs) due to factory-level Bitcoin mining has begun obstructing research in astronomy. This article delves into how SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) scientists grapple with difficulties in procuring vital computer hardware, affecting their pursuit of alien life.
“At SETI we want to look at as many frequency channels as we possibly can because we don’t know what frequency ET will be broadcasting on and we want to look for lots of different signal types – is it AM or FM, what communication are they using?” explained Dr. Dan Werthimer, who is chief scientist at the Berkeley SETI Research Center.
“That takes a lot of computing power,” he added.
Scarcity Strikes the Stars
The Bitcoin mining boom has led to soaring demand for GPUs. SETI researchers often struggle to obtain the chips needed for processing radio telescope data, due to increased competition from miners driving prices up. Typically, these massive telescopes use dozens of GPUs.
Cryptocurrency Curbs Cosmic Curiosity
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Author: Jay Speakman
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