[ad_1]
Instead of trying to find a way to locate possible extraterrestrial civilizations, we should perhaps turn the Earth into a giant laser beacon.
Despite claims that our solar system could have been "buzzed" by an extraterrestrial object, we still have not found solid evidence of extraterrestrial life, intelligent or otherwise. In addition to trying to collect microbe samples from Mars and other planets, groups like SETI have been looking for traces of radio signals in the deepest space.
This only produced the famous "Wow!" Signal that is increasingly the result of a natural cosmic emission. But maybe we went the wrong way?
According to MIT, instead of trying harder to hear signals from deep space, we should be helping an intelligent alien species to hear us more easily. In an article published in The astrophysical journalResearcher James Clark suggested that if a high-power laser of up to 2 MW was focused through a 30 to 45-meter telescope, it would produce a beam strong enough to stand out from the intensity of the sun .
If an exotic species took a quick look at our part of the Milky Way – and especially if it was in a nearby system such as Alpha Centauri – it could clearly detect it. In addition, the same laser telescope could be used to send a short message in the form of pulses, similar to Morse code.
"If we managed to close a handshake and start communicating, we could send a message, at a data rate of a few hundred bits per second, that would arrive in a few years," Clark said.
"If ET calls, we'll detect it"
Although a little odd, the idea is encouraging that existing laser technology can be used for this purpose.
"The types of lasers and telescopes built today can produce a detectable signal, so that an astronomer can take a look at our star and see something unusual immediately." in its spectrum, "he added. "I do not know if intelligent creatures around the sun would be their first hypothesis, but it certainly would attract more attention."
However, to determine if an exotic species could take the same approach to help us spot it more easily, Clark stated that, even though it could be spotted by a telescope as small as one meter, she should look into the exact direction. was issued by. The chances of that happening, he said, were "absolutely implausible".
"However, as the infrared spectra of exoplanets are studied for traces of gas indicating the viability of life, and the open-air surveys reach greater coverage and become faster, we can be more certain that, if AND call, we detect it. "
Source link
