Narrow-frequency pulses from the Milky Way’s center are predicted to provide efficient long-distance communication, thus scientists are listening for extraterrestrial life. A new study suggests that aliens say hello via signals from the Milky Way’s center.
In their most recent effort to find extraterrestrial life, scientists are making a meticulous effort to listen to the radio pulses that are coming from the galactic center.
The idea that intelligent aliens could be hiding at the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way, has changed the course of research into extraterrestrial life.
Narrow-frequency pulses are naturally emitted by stars known as pulsars, but people also purposefully exploit them in technologies like radar.
These pulses are anticipated to be an efficient means of communication at such great distances because they have the capacity to stand out against the background radio noise of space. So, while looking for extraterrestrial civilizations, scientists have thought of them as a decent alternative to listen to.
Academics under Cornell University graduate student Akshay Suresh devised the algorithm and tested it on pulsars famed for their precision in picking up small frequencies.
These frequency ranges are around a tenth of an FM radio station’s. The researchers then searched Green Bank Telescope data.
According to research co-author Vishal Gajjar of the SETI Institute, “Radio SETI has up until now primarily dedicated its efforts to the search for continuous signals.”
He added, “Our research shows the remarkable energy efficiency of a sequence of pulses for interplanetary communication over extraordinarily great distances. Specifically, this work represents the first thorough effort to carry out in-depth searches for these signals.”
Why are researchers concentrating on the Milky Way’s center?
The Milky Way’s core holds many habitable stars and exoplanets, thus researchers are interested in its signals. Intelligent extraterrestrials near the Milky Way’s center who desire to connect with other galaxies may be able to send signals to many worlds.
Study co-author and Breakthrough Listen project scientist Steve Croft, said, “Breakthrough Listen captures enormous volumes of data. Akshay’s technique offers a fresh approach that can assist us in searching that haystack for needles that might offer tantalizing evidence of advanced extraterrestrial life forms.”
