I would have to disagree about not being able to speak with possible aliens. If they are advanced enough to travel here and have more than likely also listened to our radio and TV broadcasts over 70 years +,I am sure they have broken the "code" and understand one of the many languages on the earth. I can go to France and have someone teach me French ,or even learn it from someone here in the U.S. I am sure a civilization far more advanced than us "primitives" on earth, can find a way or we can find a way to break their code if they appear.                                                                                                                                                       It is my belief  (after having 2 very close encounters with a friend ,Ed, and my dog ,Kahlua, of 3 glowing spheres near us on a beach  and a beam of light at night in a barren field, 1977 &amp; 1980 respectively ) that they do not want to converse with us.                                                Maybe they are part of a universal understanding not to interfere with out world's people and situations? From reports I have read of their interest and showing up at nuclear missile and power installations, they know we have the ability to wipe out mankind with a Nuclear War or Nuclear accident. I would guess that they are monitoring us and are afraid we may damage not only ourselves and earth but neighboring bodies in the solar system. Maybe theirs! Another possibility is that these visitors are in all actuality , Us from our future. We may have survived wars and nuclear use in the future and learned how to time travel to our past, the present day. Before you laugh, remember how science fiction in the past has become fact now today. ( Read Jules Verne, From The Earth To The Moon ,Around The World In 80 Days, and 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, for examples.) We don't know what mankind will accomplish ,with or without help from those visitors, so keep an open mind to the future.  Lex, keep up the very informative and mind expanding podcasts. Your is the best on the Web. Peace and Love to your family and friends in that ridiculous War.,(reply>), What dog thinks about the close encounter? I wouldn't be surprised if it provided more accurate interpretation ;) Sounds like aircraft with search light. Also, you underestimate how garbage and weak TV transmission is. We wouldn't be able to detect own TV signal from Alfa Centauri.