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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Cool!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.cnet.com/news/stephen-hawking-backs-100-million-effort-to-find-aliens/">https://www.cnet.com/news/stephen-hawking-backs-100-million-effort-to-find-aliens/</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This effort focuses on stars in the galactic plane, which is particularly rich in population 1 stars. Pop 1 stars are metal rich. Perhaps this class of stars have a greater chance of intelligence. It even has a social advantage for astronomers working the project. Imagine the scene: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cocktail party, attractive tabloid paparazzi introduces herself, inquires: So, stranger, what do you do? <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Astronomer: I study rich young stars, searching for any trace of intelligence. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>She: Oh! A colleague!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>That sorta thing. Geeks could get dates. Might have to surrender their title.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>spike<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>