"See, you idiots on Earth? One of each, not two of the same kind! Sheesh, don't make us have to come over there!"
Posted on 08/29/2016 8:22:06 PM PDT by TigerClaws
An international team of scientists from the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) is investigating mysterious signal spikes emitting from a 6.3-billion-year-old star in the constellation Hercules—95 light years away from Earth. The implications are extraordinary and point to the possibility of a civilization far more advanced than our own.
The unusual signal was originally detected on May 15, 2015, by the Russian Academy of Science-operated RATAN-600 radio telescope in Zelenchukskaya, Russia, but was kept secret from the international community. Interstellar space reporter Paul Gilster broke the story after the researchers quietly circulated a paper announcing the detection of “a strong signal in the direction of HD164595.”
The mysterious star’s designation is HD164595, and it’s considered to be sun-like in nature with a nearly identical metallic composition to our own star. So far, a single Neptune-like (but warmer) planet has been discovered in its orbit—HD 164595 b. But as Gilster explained, “There could, of course, be other planets still undetected in this system.”
Decorated Italian SETI researcher and mathematician Claudio Maccone along with Russia’s Nikolai Bursov of the Special Astrophysical Observatory are the principal scientists working on the apparent discovery. They claim that “permanent monitoring of this target is needed.” The RATAN-600 Radio Telescope in Russia
The RATAN-600 Radio Telescope in Russia. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
“The signal conceivably fits the profile for an intentional transmission from an extraterrestrial source,” said Alan Boyle, author of The Case for Pluto who reported the story for Geekwire. “In any case, the blip is interesting enough to merit discussion by those who specialize in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.”
The signal’s strength indicates that if it in fact came from a isotropic beacon, the power source would have to be built by a Kardashev Type II civilization. (The Kardashev scale is used to determine the progress of a civilization’s technological development by measuring how much energy was used to transmit an interstellar message.) An ‘Isotropic’ beacon means a communication source emitting a signal with equal power in all directions while promoting signal strength throughout travel.
In his acclaimed work “Transmission of Information by Extraterrestrial Civilizations,” Soviet astronomer Nikolai Kardashev explained that a Type II civilization would be able to harness the energy of their entire host star. The most common hypothetical example of this would be a Dyson Sphere—which is a massive artificial structure that could completely encapsulate a star and transfer the energy to a nearby planet. A cut-away diagram of an idealized Dyson shell, a variant on Dyson's original concept
A cut-away diagram of an idealized Dyson shell, a variant on Dyson’s original concept. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Basically, if the signal was beamed out into the galaxy without aim or direction, that would require an enormous amount of power to actually be detected. But what if the signal was beamed specifically at our solar system? Well, that would require less energy and could indicate the presence of a Kardashev Type I civilization—meaning that it could be a highly technological, contemporary society that harnesses the solar energy emitted by its local star, much like our planet does with solar panels. This particular civilization’s social structure is theorized to be completely globalized and interconnected.
“The signal is provocative enough that the RATAN-600 researchers are calling for permanent monitoring of this target,” said Gilster. And that’s exactly what is transpiring. As of last night, the SETI institute is diverting its Allen Telescope Array in northern California to investigate while their counterparts at METI International (Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence) will use Panama’s Boquete Optical Observatory.
The detection of the mysterious signal and the ensuing investigations will be discussed at the IAA SETI Permanent Committee during the 67th International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico, on September 27—the same day and location where Elon Musk will reveal his plans to colonize Mars. The Observer will be following up on both these stories from the Congress.
BIG ditto.
In any meeting with an alien race that can get to Earth we know that they are more technologically advanced than us (because we can’t get there). In our history, at least, the race / country with the least technology has gotten demolished with almost perfect certainty. We are on the wrong side of that equation right now.
The prudent thing to do with space is not announce our existence.
"See, you idiots on Earth? One of each, not two of the same kind! Sheesh, don't make us have to come over there!"
“SETI@Home” people are not impressed: http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/index.php
The one on the left looks like Bruce Jenner! ;-)
Yeah, I remember
Paging Jodie Foster....
Men are from Mars
Women are from Venus
But Kim Kardashian I believe is from...HUranus
It’s been about 71 years since our first nuclear explosion, so they probably won’t get that message from us for another two decades.
I think it’s entirely possible signals from an intelligent origin have been being emitted throughout the universe. I would think just because we have yet to detect any, means little. I not saying that is what this is, I’m just sayin.
This is what they heard: “Ack ack, ack ack ack!”
years ago I destroyed the memory in 2 computers running SETI’s screensaver
Ancient aliens? History Channel? What a load of crap.
That wouldn't take much...
Seriously, I would hope to shout there are 'people' out there advanced to the point of sanity...meaning, no DemRats ;)
Not recently, mm. He read that aliens were high on cholestarol.
:)
It’s a TV show. “They’re cousins, identical cousins....”
Haven’t we learned anything from the movie Independence Day?
that’s just the US Navy fighting space lizards
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