The SETI Institute, the SETI Research Center in Berkeley, and the International Center for Radio Astronomy Research in Western Australia. The study is the first attempt to search for extraterrestrial technology in galaxies outside our galaxy, focusing on low frequencies around 100 MHz
A new SETI study, using the Murchison Wide Field Array (MWA), has searched for extraterrestrial technology in distant galaxies. Although no extraterrestrial signals were found, the study provides important insights for future endeavors and highlights the role of international cooperation and advanced technology in space exploration.
The study took advantage of the MWA's wide field of view, which allows researchers to observe approximately 2,800 galaxies simultaneously.
The SETI Institute, the SETI Research Center at Berkeley, and the International Center for Radio Astronomy Research have unveiled groundbreaking research done using the MWA in Western Australia. The research, led by Dr. Shinoa Tremblay of the SETI Institute and Prof. Stephen Tingay of Curtin University, is the first attempt to search for extraterrestrial technology in galaxies outside our galaxy, focusing on low frequencies around 100 MHz.
This study uses the wide field of view of the MWA, which allowed the team to cover about 2,800 galaxies in a single observation, for 1,300 of which the distance is known. Typically, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence has focused on signals from within the Milky Way galaxy.
The first extragalactic search for low-frequency techno-signatures covers 2,800 galaxies in one search. This approach extends the search to distant galaxies, making it one of the most extensive searches for super-civilizations that are more advanced than our own. To send a signal from another galaxy, an alien culture must have technology powerful enough to harness the energy of their sun or several stars in their galaxy.
MWA: the ideal tool for SETI research
"This work represents a significant step forward in our efforts to detect signals from advanced extraterrestrial civilizations," Tremblay said. "The large field of view and low frequency range of the MWA make it an ideal tool for such research, and the limitations we have established will guide future studies."
Although this research did not find techno-signatures (signs of alien technology), it provides insights that will help direct future searches. The research highlights the importance of continuing to investigate different radio frequencies and using the unique capabilities of telescopes like the MWA.
“The MWA continues to pave new ways of exploring the universe for intelligent and techno-signature civilizations, using the same data to study the astrophysics of stars and galaxies. This work is innovative, but also paves the way for future observations with more powerful telescopes,” said Tingey, who also serves as director of the MWA.
"This research highlights the importance of international joint work and the use of advanced technology to expand our understanding of the universe. The SETI Institute studies the universe in search of signs of intelligent life and increases our knowledge of the universe."
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