Researchers were looking for signs of alien technology in a galaxy very similar to our own solar system, reports said Forbes.
Scientists have used the Allen Telescope Array in California, USA, to search for artificial radio signals possibly created by alien civilizations in the TRAPPIST-1 star system.
Located in the Milky Way, about 41 light-years from Earth, TRAPPIST-1 is often called “Solar System 2.0” because of its similarities to our own solar system. According to Forbes, the results of the study have been accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal.
The TRAPPIST-1 system consists of a red dwarf star and seven rocky planets, all about the size of Earth. This is the largest number of terrestrial planets orbiting a single star.
Some of these planets are within the red dwarf habitable zone, meaning they could potentially support liquid water on their surfaces, raising the possibility that life, including intelligent and technologically advanced life, could exist there.
Given these circumstances, scientists decided to look for radio signals that could indicate alien technology. They specifically looked for radio transmissions that aliens could send between planets.
It is widely believed that it may be easier to detect signs of alien technology than to find direct evidence of alien biological life.
For 28 hours, scientists used the radio telescope to monitor the TRAPPIST-1 system, marking the longest continuous search for extraterrestrial radio signals in this star system. Of the large number of radio signals detected – 2,264 in total – none were of artificial origin, indicating that no signs of alien technology were found.
Although this particular search for potential alien activity in TRAPPIST-1 was unsuccessful, the study provided valuable data that could inform future searches for extraterrestrial civilizations.
Scientists say they are nearing the point where they can detect the same types of radio signals that humans send into space, which could increase the chances of identifying extraterrestrial intelligence.
Currently, researchers are limited to detecting radio signals that resemble those that humans emit. Soon, however, more powerful radio telescopes will be operational, allowing the detection of weaker signals from potential alien civilizations communicating with their spacecraft.
An example is the Square Kilometer Array, a $2.2 billion project consisting of two arrays of radio dishes in southern Africa and Western Australia, which will soon become operational. This advanced telescope will be able to detect weak radio signals that may come from extraterrestrial civilizations.
