Jodie Foster Saves SETI

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute (SETI) has been resurrected by financial donations from Academy Award-winning actor Jodie Foster and thousands of SETI fans.

The Mountain View, California scientific nonprofit organization had shut down its Allen Telescope Array due to cutbacks in government spending.

Jodie Foster, star of the blockbuster film "Contact", and Apollo 8 crew member Bill Anders spearheaded the wave of contributions that have now given SETI a second life.

Billionaire Paul Allen of Microsoft had previously donated $30 million toward SETI's radio telescopes in Northern California, which scan the skies 24/7 for signals from aliens and extraterrestrial UFOs.

SETI's initial 2011 goal was getting the Allen Telescope Array (ATA) back online quickly to resume searching the stars. The ATA is a field of linked radio telescopes that enable astronomical study, including the search for evidence of alien civilizations.

Now, with the donations from SETI supporters like Jodie Foster, the scientific organization's work will continue in 2011 and 2012.

The SETI Institute is a California nonprofit organization dedicated to scientific research, education and public outreach through the Institute's three centers, the Center for SETI Research, the Carl Sagan Center, and the Center for Education and Public Outreach.

Founded in the 1980s, the SETI Institute employs 153 scientists, educators and support staff, whose mission is to explore and explain the origin, nature of life in the universe.