Low frequency search for alien technology in galaxies beyond our own
Research has been carried out using low radio frequencies to detect the existence of alien technology in galaxies beyond our own.
The non-profit SETI Institute, the Berkeley SETI Research Center and the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research announced the study using the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) in Western Australia.
MWA’s 4,096 dipole MWA antennas are made from aluminium and optimised for the 70-300MHz frequency range. Each 74cm by 55cm antenna is fitted with a low noise amplifier (LNA) that amplifies incoming signals while adding less noise than is received from the coldest regions of the Milky Way.
Led by Dr Chenoa Tremblay of the SETI Institute and Professor Steven Tingay of Curtin University, this research is the first to search for signs of alien technology in galaxies beyond our own, focusing on 100MHz radio frequencies.
This international collaboration used the MWA’s large field of view (FOV), allowing the team to cover about 2,800 galaxies in one observation.
The search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) usually focuses on signals within our galaxy. This new approach goes further, looking at distant galaxies, making it one of the most detailed searches for so-called ‘super civilizations’.
Register now to continue reading
Thanks for visiting The Engineer. You’ve now reached your monthly limit of news stories. Register for free to unlock unlimited access to all of our news coverage, as well as premium content including opinion, in-depth features and special reports.
Benefits of registering
-
In-depth insights and coverage of key emerging trends
-
Unrestricted access to special reports throughout the year
-
Daily technology news delivered straight to your inbox
Experts speculate over cause of Iberian power outages
The EU and UK will be moving towards using Grid Forming inverters with Energy Storage that has an inherent ability to act as a source of Infinite...