Three Versions of the Third Law: Technosignatures and Astrobiology

Submitted as a white paper to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine ad hoc Committee on Astrobiology Science Strategy for Life in the Universe, National Research Council, Washington, DC, 2018.

Summary: Not knowing exactly what to look for, Astrobiology should embrace, and prioritize, all scientifically plausible and technologically feasible search strategies for both biosignatures and technosignatures. There is no scientific justification for excluding SETI, or any other technosignature modality, from the suite of astrobiological investigations. Arguments based on political sensitivities or apparent access to other funding sources are inappropriate. In this white paper, we argue for a level playing field.