Researchers from the Breakthrough Listen project analyzed several petabytes of data and identified 11 signals that could possibly be generated by extraterrestrial intelligence. However, this is not solid evidence of the existence of the latter, and the signals are most likely due to something else.
Breakthrough Listen is a project of Russian entrepreneur Yuri Milner and British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, aimed at searching for intelligence outside the Earth. The project's budget is $ 100 million, Breakthrough Listen is designed for ten years. It should be said that the idea of Milner and Hawking was recognized as the most comprehensive attempt to search for extraterrestrial intelligence. And more importantly, it has already yielded results.
Breakthrough Listen experts announced the discovery of 11 very interesting signals that can be associated with the activity of hypothetical aliens. The study authors say artificial signals can be identified by their narrow bandwidth, irregular spectral patterns of behavior, ripple or modulation, and the presence of broadband spectra with unusual characteristics. Breakthrough Listen's techniques also make it possible to effectively distinguish between terrestrial and extraterrestrial signals. In the latter case, you can also identify the approximate area of its origin.
Ground-based telescopes Parkes Radio Telescope, Green Bank Radio Telescope and Lick Observatory's Automated Planet Finder participated in data collection. Anyone can view the results on the resource belonging to the Breakthrough Listen project.
The project participants themselves are rather reluctant to talk about the "activity of aliens". They admit that the signals, despite the "artificial" characteristics, are most likely generated not by the activity of extraterrestrial intelligence, but by other factors.
Ilya Vedmedenko