Irish Physicists Scan 1.6 Million Stellar Systems for Signs of Alien Technologies
The team of Irish physicists has utilized the advanced telescope Irish Lofar to scan 1.6 million stellar systems in search of signs of alien technologies. This groundbreaking initiative, which is part of the Breakthrough Listen project, marks the first time that such low radio frequencies have been employed in the search, surpassing the frequencies used in previous studies. Further details can be found here.
Although no conclusive evidence of alien technologies has been found thus far, the researchers believe that the 1.6 million star systems studied merely scratch the surface. As the scientists continue to enhance their equipment, they aim to expand the range of radio frequencies under investigation for a more comprehensive search.
The field of research into “techno-signatures,” or signs of alien technologies, encompasses various proposals such as using the LIGO observatory to search for traces of alien spacecraft and employing traditional methods to detect radio waves in space.
A recent publication in the Astronomical Journal by the scientists highlights that previous studies in the field of SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) primarily focused on frequencies above 1 GHz. In contrast, the team successfully scanned frequencies ranging from 110 to 190 MHz, significantly lower than those used by other groups.
Candidate of Sciences from Trinity’s School of Physics, Owen Johnson, stated that studies of this nature have the potential to uncover extraordinary phenomena in space. The researchers plan to upgrade their equipment in the future to enhance their scanning capabilities. Johnson also stressed the innovative approach of utilizing artificial intelligence in the hunt for signs of alien technologies.
Professor Evan Keane from Trinity’s School of Physics emphasized that the search for extraterrestrial life has long been a scientific pursuit, and modern radio telescopes offer a unique opportunity for in-depth exploration of the Universe.