Those familiar with the space strategy of Stellaris probably know that one of the key points before meeting with some ancient intelligent life is to identify traces of technology from this civilization. Although the game itself is solid science fiction, the concept described earlier in the proposal does not seem so far-fetched. At least for the same researchers from the Search for Extraterrestrial Life Institute (SETI). For example, according to astronomer Jason Wright, the search for traces of advanced technologies, that is, the so-called technosignatures that could have been left by ancient extraterrestrial civilizations, is no less important than the search for biosignatures.
He described his hypothesis and published it on the arXiv.org website. We hasten to inform you right away that Wright's work does not contain statements about the presence of evidence indicating the possible existence of other civilizations in the solar system before us. However, the likelihood of this is considered, however, as well as his opinion about whether we are really looking for what we need. Are we really looking for extraterrestrial civilizations from the right angle.
“There is no evidence of the existence of any very technologically advanced civilizations that lived before us. My work primarily asks the question of whether we have really exhausted all possible search options, or whether there is some kind of evidence that we could simply miss. And if we actually missed something and can find it in the future, then what is the probability that the footprints left by the ancient highly developed civilizations that lived on Earth before us will have nothing to do with interstellar civilizations, if such, of course, also exist or did they exist?"
In its current form, the search is more focused on detecting even the smallest signs of possible life or environments capable of supporting life (water is usually the main indicator). All this, of course, is good, but Wright suggests starting to look for technosignatures that could have left the ancient civilizations of aliens.
“Technosignatures are proof of technology that alien civilizations could have left behind long ago,” says the researcher.
"Why not, for example, consider the option in which settlements and other objects of structures of extraterrestrial civilizations could be built under the surface of rocky satellites or large asteroids?"
So what should you look for?
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The discovery of a new planet, or even better - an entire system in the neighborhood, or even even in more distant galaxies, is always good news for alien seekers. More recently, the TRAPPIST system gave us some hope for the presence of extraterrestrial life. Although this hope, it must be admitted, is very fragile due to the extremely temperamental nature of her home star, which, with its powerful flashes, could make the system completely "sterile". Another candidate looks even more attractive - the super-Earth LHS 1140b. Even inside our solar system there are planetary satellites - in particular the same Europa and Enceladus - that torment our imaginations and hopes. Why? Because there is water. And where there is water, there is a higher chance of the possibility of life.
And yet, despite the variety of planets that we have already found, we have not been able to find a single example of extraterrestrial life. The Fermi paradox? Or maybe we were just looking in the wrong place and not at all what we need? Or perhaps they were not looking at all as carefully as they should?
Against this background, Wright, who just wants to use all possible options, is quite possible to understand.
“Even despite the fact that all the geological signs of the existence of a once highly developed technologically advanced extraterrestrial civilization could indeed be lost over a long period of time, if these civilizations mastered space flights, then in one form or another they could leave technological artifacts that can be discovered even inside our solar system."
NIKOLAY KHIZHNYAK