Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Researchers conducted an extensive 28-hour search for radio signals from potential alien civilizations in the TRAPPIST-1 star system, known for its seven Earth-sized exoplanets. This marks the longest single-target search for technosignatures from this system, located 40 light-years away.
Scientists are looking for “technosignatures,” which could indicate alien technology. These signals may be deliberate, such as beacon-like transmissions, or unintentional, similar to radio noise generated by human technology, such as cellphone towers.
Using the Allen Telescope Array in California, the team analysed over 6 million potential signals. They narrowed their search to 11,000 candidates, focusing on narrowband signals that could be artificially produced rather than resulting from natural phenomena.
The team employed a technique that looks for radio signals transmitted between two planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system, a phenomenon called “planet-planet occultation.” The idea is that signals could “leak” into space and be detectable from Earth, similar to how we communicate with spacecraft in our solar system.
Credit : NASA
Despite the extensive search, no signals of extraterrestrial origin were detected. However, scientists view the project as a success because it introduced new methods for filtering and analyzing radio signals, improving future searches.
The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute involved undergraduate students in the project. These students tested the system’s ability to detect signals by focusing on radio transmissions between Mars orbiters and Earth.
Alongside the search for technosignatures, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is analyzing the atmospheres of TRAPPIST-1 planets. Initial observations suggest that some, like TRAPPIST-1b and TRAPPIST-1c, are unlikely to have atmospheres, but more promising candidates, like TRAPPIST-1e, are being studied for signs of habitability.
As technology improves, such as with the upcoming Square Kilometer Array (SKA), researchers hope to detect weaker or more distant signals from potential alien civilizations. The search for signs of life beyond Earth continues to evolve with advancements in observational tools.