SCIENTISTS have shared some ways extraterrestrial life could potentially contact Earth if they’re really there.
The search for extraterrestrial life is easily one of the most fascinating facets of science – and also one of the most controversial.
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With every technological advancement made in the science industry, more and more experts are speaking out about what may or may not be exactly within the realm of possibility when it comes to extraterrestrial life forms.
Even the National Academy of Sciences (NSA) has stated in the past that communication with other civilizations “is no longer something beyond our dreams, but a natural occurrence in human history that may happen in the lifetimes of many of us,” according to a paper published on the NSA website.
The article notes that the famous radio astronomer Sir Bernard Lovell once postulated that of the 100 million stars in our galaxy, “there must be planets of the appropriate chemistry, size and temperature to support evolution. organic”.
And when you consider that our galaxy is just one of a billion others in the universe, chances are we’re not alone — at least according to the late Cornell University astronomer and the one of the first leading SETI researchers, Dr. Frank D. Drake.
Yet, if there is a fact behind this idea, then the question, posed by physicist Enrico Fermi, is: where is everyone?
For more than 60 years, scientists with the help of organizations like SETI (Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence) have scoured deep space with radio telescopes, but so far have found nothing.
Nearby stars Epsilon Eridani and Tau Ceti (about 11 light-years away) are the most habitable for supporting extraterrestrial life, experts say.
Nonetheless, our closest extraterrestrial neighbors would likely be at least 100 light-years away, and it would take about seven generations to receive a message from them, according to the NSA document.
That is, assuming extraterrestrial civilizations have not (1) given up on contacting us; (2) have already reached out thousands of years ago and are waiting for an answer; or (3) died due to a number of seizures, according to Professor Iosif Shklovsky, Russia’s foremost radio astronomer.
That said, if none of the above scenarios apply and intelligent life does exist, here’s how experts think they might contact Earthlings.
Laser
As far as scientists know, repetitive laser pulses may be the most promising method of detecting extraterrestrial life because it is fast and can travel great distances.
For these reasons, scientists do not rule out extraterrestrials using a similar method to try to contact us, or other civilizations.
SETI is currently testing this method through its LaserSETI project but so far there have been no signs of extraterrestrial life.
Astrological signs
Some researchers have toyed with the idea that incredibly advanced civilizations might possess the ability to move stars into odd or highly geometric alignments that might alert us to their presence, according to Planetary Science Institute astrobiologist David Grinspoon, per Live Science.
“They could build something that would be visible from a great distance across the galaxy, or even from another galaxy, which would obviously be artificial,” Grinspoon said.
Mega Builds
Some researchers have argued that alien megastructures could act as giant “look here” signs that direct outside civilizations to them, Grinspoon said.
The star KIC 8462852, which has inexplicably dimmed and brightened in recent years, has recently interested scientists.
Some researchers have argued that the star may be surrounded by an alien megastructure that blocks light from the star, but it could also occasionally be obstructed by exoplanets.
radio waves
Radio waves have been the method used by Earth scientists to search for extraterrestrial life for nearly 100 years.
Because radio waves can travel seamlessly through the universe, they are ideal for communication, at least according to humans.
Yet many scientists have argued that extraterrestrial life may use the same medium.
Of course, this assumes that aliens not only think like us, but possess the same technology.
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In other news, Nasa has updated its asteroid hazard software with some key changes that should help it better detect potentially dangerous space rocks.
NASA has revealed stunning images of a solar flare in action.
And the US space agency plans to launch a mission to explore a “golden asteroid” this summer.
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