Cosmic 'lighthouses' could reveal alien life

The Telegraph ^ | 8/21/13 | Nick Collins

[LibWhacker]

Aliens may be trying to communicate with Earth by flashing blinking lasers towards our planet like a cosmic lighthouse, astronomers believe.

Laser scientists at the Vienna University of Technology are searching for faint but repetitive light signals from the distant reaches of space, in the hope of identifying signals sent out by extraterrestrials, according to Astrobiology Magazine.

Because of their ability to transmit signals over vast distances, lasers have long been considered a possible means of contact by alien species.

But while astronomers have searched tens of thousands of stars for laser signals in the past – without identifying any signs of life – these previous studies have sought to intercept very intense bursts of light so powerful they are clearly artificial.

In contrast, the method being carried out by Walter Leeb and colleagues is designed to pick up laser signals which are much fainter, but appear at regular intervals over an extended period of time.

The researchers are developing technology which can detect signals as weak as a single photon (light particle) appearing every few billionths of a second.

[chesley]

You know, we’ve made attempts to contact alien civilizations. Of course, given the vast distances involved, they could hardly have succeeded yet, even if there are intelligences out there to receive them.

I wonder, though, do our scientists believe that these intelligences will be friendly. The known history of advanced civilizations contacting primitive ones has not been happy for the primitive ones.

[PIF]

The quarantine barrier is imposed from without ... look all you want, but you can only see what light and other signals are approved to pass through the the quarantine barrier. Maybe in a few centuries things will change ... meanwhile, hang by your thumbs and write if you get work.

[The Cajun]

ALL laser beams spread out.

In fact, that's what I like about their idea.
The eventual 'shotgun' pattern developed by the laser beam over great distances and the sensitivity of their new equipment in detecting 'lased' light.
In some ways distance, to a certain point, is a help with this method.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks LibWhacker.

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[The Duke]

What’s the propagation time for gravity?

[Tenacious 1]

What’s the propagation time for gravity?

Exactly.