Memo to scientists. Looking for intelligent life? Have you tried checking for worlds with a lot of industrial pollution?
- Reference: 1615447573
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/03/11/technosignaturesaliens/
- Source link:
“We have no idea whether intelligence is something very common in the Universe or, on the contrary, whether it is extremely rare,” [1]said physicist Hector Socas-Navarro on Wednesday.
[2]
"For that reason we cannot know whether these searches have any chance of success. There is no choice but to search and see what we find, because the implications would be tremendous."
But what exactly should we be searching for? Radio signals? Intergalactic re-runs of Big Bang Theory? Glad you asked: Socas-Navarro, who works at the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands, is the first author of a paper [3]published in Acta Astronautica detailing the so-called technosignatures scientists ought to be trying to pick up when looking for intelligent alien life. You can get a preprint list of these signature concepts [4]here .
[5]
France seeks science-fiction writers to help futureproof its military against science-fact [6]READ MORE
These signatures are more than a simple wish list for some distant alien race. Technosignature research is gathering momentum, with NASA looking into it since 2018 and sponsoring a virtual conference on the topic last August, which formed the basis for this latest paper. We're told that by piggybacking a few instruments onto future exoplanet telescopes, it should be possible to perform scientifically valid observations for signatures of advanced life.
It’s highly unlikely that colonies of microbes floating in a sea or lodged in rocks will be able to build things like rockets or nuclear power plants that we can detect from our corner of the galaxy, although they may, for instance, [7]emitting abnormal levels of gases that we could identify. Older and wiser species are more likely to build technology we can monitor the void for, however. We're talking about things like industrial gases and signs of surface artifacts as well as radio transmissions; all clues pointing to the presence of intelligent life. If said aliens leave any trace at all.
“It is often argued that advanced civilizations are likely to build large geoengineering or stellar system engineering megastructures,” the paper stated.
“There might be advanced civilizations that do not leave a large imprint on their planetary or space environment and will thus be very difficult to detect. And conversely, there might be younger civilizations that announce themselves very conspicuously, [for example] by broadcasting radio signals or releasing large amounts of industrial pollutants into their atmospheres.”
Science fiction to science fact?
The researchers are particularly interested in the technosignatures of a Dyson sphere, a hypothetical structure built around a star to harvest its energy. Scientists could detect these spheres – popularized by physicist [8]Freeman Dyson – by inspecting the infrared spectra around stars to see if its heat was being funneled elsewhere, the paper suggests.
“The idea of searching for technosignatures draws upon the technology we have on Earth today and possible extensions of our technology into the future,” said Jacob Haqq-Misra, coauthor of the article and a researcher at the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science.
“This does not necessarily mean that any extraterrestrial technology must be like our own, but imagining plausible extensions of our own future is one place to begin thinking of astronomical searches we could actually do to look for possible technosignatures.”
NASA said it will, over the course of [9]three years , bankroll a team of boffins led by Harvard University to look for ways to find these signs of life.
[10]
The lead researcher on the team, Avi Loeb, chairman of Harvard University’s Department of Astronomy, has argued that Earth has [11]already witnessed the product of an alien civilization: [12]‘Oumuamua , the first-known foreign interstellar object to visit the Solar System. ®
Get our [13]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.iac.es/en/outreach/news/ideas-future-nasa-missions-searching-extraterrestrial-civilizations
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YEn4Tx1MyFglJtrMbd-SPwAAAIE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S009457652100103X#
[4] https://arxiv.org/abs/2103.01536
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YEn4Tx1MyFglJtrMbd-SPwAAAIE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2019/07/19/france_turns_to_scifi_to_feel_out_future_threats/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2021/01/30/venus_alien_phosphine/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2020/02/28/freeman_dyson/
[9] https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/news/2020-12
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YEn4Tx1MyFglJtrMbd-SPwAAAIE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://www.amazon.com/Extraterrestrial-First-Intelligent-Beyond-Earth/dp/0358278147
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2018/03/20/alien_asteroid_oumuamua/
[13] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Latest game theories say that in that event we should start building a lightspeed projectile and fire it at them. Just in case they are doing the same.
What would it do us of good to build and send such a missile if the other side has already launched one (or will so so before our missile arrives)? At best, satisfaction when we all die that we will be revenged, but that is a poor comfort.
And, in the event that such a missile misses its mark or is intercepted, we will have made an enemy that might otherwise have been an ally.
Interstellar distances are so large that invasion of another civilized planet is unrealistic. We can destroy one, yes, but invasion assumes that there is something worthwhile left to invade. And the amount of war material that it is realistic to bring across interstellar distances will be relatively easily countered by the defender, even if their level of technology is lower -- as long as they have orbital capability. Added to that, invasion is only really worthwhile if the goal is colonization -- sending goods back to the mother planet is too expensive to be worth it -- and sending a large number of colonizers across interstellar space is unrealistic. This is why invasion SciFi postulate hypothetical technologies such as FTL flight.
It might make sense to colonize extrasolar planets that have biospheres but no civilization. You can send frozen fertilised eggs there and let them be raised by robots until they grow up. This will in no way help Earth, but it can ensure long-term survival of the human species.
> What would it do us of good to build and send such a missile [?]
Hiya Torben! The game theories that SecretSon is referring to aren't related to colonisation, invasion or any motive of that type.
Instead they are a chain of reasoning that a civilization might follow out of self preservation.
(Indeed, the very large distances and timescales involved are a reason why one civilisation can't ignore another civilization as 'mostly harmless' since technological advancement might be exponential - in the few centuries it might take to meet them their capabilities will be hugely expanded. )
If you don't add an /s, and they intercept your post, it could result in mutual annihilation. Please be more diplomatic.
A sufficiently advanced civilisation will work it out for itself.
McCROSKY :-Try and calm them down. And for God sake, be diplomatic.
Stinson turns to two burly men in leather jerkins and black hoods. They hold a large caldron of molten lead next to window.
CONTROLLER 5 :-Give 'em the lead!
> Latest game theories say that in that event we should start building a lightspeed projectile and fire it at them. Just in case they are doing the same.
Such game theories explored in The dark Forest by Liu Cixin- indeed, the very title of the novel is a metaphor for a view of the galaxy as a dark forest, full of silent, stealthy killers.
See:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_paradox#Communication_is_dangerous
Hobbesian Trap
Superpredator interpretation of Fermi Paradox
Whilst Mr Cixin writes convincingly, it is of course based on lots of unknowns (indeed, he shows how the dangers he describes stem from civilisations' reaction these unknowns / unknowables), so I'm not sure what to think.
"So remember, when you're feeling very small and insecure
How amazingly unlikely is your birth
And pray that there's intelligent life somewhere up in space
'Cause there's bugger all down here on Earth"
If you think that knowing whether there is other life, and in fact that there are other advanced civilizations, in the universe is pointless, then I pity you: your existence which must be a grey utilitarian nightmare.
The last on the list to look for should be Dyson Spheres and Ring worlds, any species sufficienty advance and powerful enough to produce such artifacts are unlikely tp be so inward looking.
While such things make interesting sci fi, the likelihood of any existing is ridiculously low.
Pollutants seem a better bet but the list needs serious thought, many pollutants on Earth can be produced by nature as well as man, though some volatile compounds can be produced by plants and other lifeforms so they may be of interest.
Actually Dyson spheres are really high on the list of things we should be looking for since they're really easy to detect even with our current level of tech.
Re: "`Oumuamua, the first-known foreign interstellar object to visit the Solar System"
Some alternative arguments are here:
`Oumuamua is not Artificial
J. I. Katz
https://arxiv.org/abs/2102.07871
Re: "`Oumuamua, the first-known foreign interstellar object to visit the Solar System"
Seeing as we weren't able to investigate it closely we don't know either way but to state baldly that it is artificial seems to neglect Occam and doesn't encourage taking his project seriously.
Re: "`Oumuamua, the first-known foreign interstellar object to visit the Solar System"
Of course, you can't rule it out being artificial 100%. But the overwhelming balance of probabilities is it was natural.
If it was launched deliberately, then it was launched at a time when there only a few monkeys (or a few dinosaurs). And why would you send a probe to a nondescript system?
And if was just happenstance, what are the chance that the first extra-solar object we see is an alien probe? Unless there was a space war a million years ago and debris is regularly passing through the solar system, it would be a total fluke.
Re: "`Oumuamua, the first-known foreign interstellar object to visit the Solar System"
>>>a space war a million years ago<<<
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
Re: "`Oumuamua, the first-known foreign interstellar object to visit the Solar System"
A great place to go for cosmology stories ......
[1]Starts With A Bang
[2]And the latest 'Natural' explanation
[1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2021/01/28/the-uncensored-guide-to-oumuamua-aliens-and-that-harvard-astronomer/
[2] https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2021/02/10/new-theory-perfectly-explains-oumuamua-naturally-from-exo-pluto-collisions/
Re: "`Oumuamua, the first-known foreign interstellar object to visit the Solar System"
That paper's a great read. [1][Clicky, for PDF] It's only a page and a half, and you don't need anything more than A level physics.
(Caveat: crashing probes into visiting objects just so we can do a spot of spectroscopic analysis.is probably not a good idea if we think they might be aliens; even if they are friendly, it's not a good way to start a relationship.)
And Appendix A should be forwarded to a certain C Stross. There's one criticism in there I hadn't even thought of. (Ooops, we vaporised our light sail!)
[1] https://arxiv.org/pdf/2102.07871.pdf
The researchers are particularly interested in the technosignatures of a Dyson sphere, a hypothetical structure built around a star to harvest its energy. Scientists could detect these spheres – popularized by physicist Freeman Dyson – by inspecting the infrared spectra around stars to see if its heat was being funneled elsewhere, the paper suggests.
It's been known for aaaages that Dyson Spheres will have a characteristic look to them: lots of IR emissions, almost no visible light. In fact I'm pretty sure that we've even done surveys looking for them. So I'm not sure what's new here?
The lead researcher on the team, Avi Loeb, chairman of Harvard University’s Department of Astronomy, has argued that Earth has already witnessed the product of an alien civilization: ‘Oumuamua, the first-known foreign interstellar object to visit the Solar System.
Yeah, I've heard this theory before. It sounds real nice.
But if he's actually advocating that position with no evidence to back it up then he's about as credible a scientist as I am.
Astro Boy
The lead researcher on the team, Avi Loeb, chairman of Harvard University’s Department of Astrology ...
Re: Astro Boy
Having a job doesn't imply that you're competent at it
(edit) omg how did I not notice your use of a very different word? I have just confused "astronomy" and "astrology"! Kill me!
Re: Astro Boy
I think you may have missed the "Department of Astrology" quip :-)
Re: Astro Boy
indeed.
I'd withdraw the comment, but it's boneheaded enough that it should stay there for posterity ;)
nothing new here
Really the only feasible one is using the transit of a planet on its star to detect industrial gas emissions. Everywhere is too far away for radio, do the sums.
Indeed giant spheres and rings are probably just fantasy end of SF. James White's "Federation World" and Larry Niven's Ringworld. Niven had to have fantasy materials.
Also the scale is such that travel would need generation ships, robot probes or some kind of as yet unknown space folding star ship. Warp bubble drive is even less feasible than a ringworld. So there are no worries about invasions. By us or of use.
"Oumuamua, the first-known foreign interstellar object to visit the Solar System." No evidence whatsoever that it was fabricated. The likely explanation is a rock flung across space aeons ago by a natural collision.
Yes, we've known for decades what sort of signature a Dyson Sphere would have, The supposed three"levels" of energy utilisation/capture vs level of civilisation defined by Kardashev in 1964 are pure speculation. Really just plot fodder for SF. A really advanced civilisation might be argued to use less energy. The Kardashev scale and the two later additions reminds me of 1928 EE 'Doc' Smith's Skylark, because it's pure speculation. The start of Space Opera.
Re: nothing new here
A complete Dyson Sphere would also require a couple of large rocky planets to be dismantled in order to provide just the basic building materials for the frame.
Any civilisation that requires even a meaningful percentage of a stars output will most likely be spread across multiple systems already and I struggle to think of any possible reason for that much usable power in just one place. The logic for building a D-S is the same as dropping a miniature 100MW power plant into every house on the planet - why make the effort?.
Much easier to build would be a simple network of orbital arrays* built to capture enough energy to power the actual requirements of a civilisation.
* Hundreds of arrays, covering several thousand square Km each in their own stellar orbit a safe distance away from the receiving planet (or mega station) completely invisible to our telescopes and easily scaled as required.
Techno Signatures you say? 220 BPM should do it. *doof* *doof* *doof*
Mine's the one with the glowsticks in the pockets --->
So what if you do find someone. Are you gonna meet them? Send them a text?
Pointless.