This looks like a case of extremely poor science reporting, but because I’ve already received e-mail about it, I will point you to a report from KTVU, a San Francisco television station, claiming that a mystery signal has been received at Arecibo, with obvious SETI implications. Cosmic Variance has also picked up on this and seems as skeptical as I am. A quick call to the SETI Institute revealed there is absolutely no buzz about any sort of successful reception making the rounds there. I have a voicemail in to Seth Shostak in hopes of a comment.
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My guess is that it’s local news distorting this story which came out on the 14th:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080114110715.htm