A Strong Radio Signal Was Detected from a Sun-Like Star: Is It Aliens or Just Noise?

The internet has been buzzing recently about a curious “interesting” signal picked up by a radio telescope used for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). The signal, which came from the vicinity of a sun-sized star about 94 light-years away called HD 164595, has the whole community talking, but not everyone agrees on what it means.

The Intrigue of HD 164595

HD 164595, despite its technical-sounding name (like a TV model, right?), is a star very similar to our own Sun, just slightly smaller. Importantly, it has at least one planet orbiting it, a Neptune-sized world. Researchers often focus their search on stars like this because they represent the best potential targets for finding signs of intelligent extraterrestrial life.

According to astronomer Douglas Vakoch, the president of Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence (METI) International, the signal is “intriguing.” Here’s why:

• It originated near a Sun-like star.
• If the signal is artificial (not a natural phenomenon), its strength is so great that it would have to be generated by a civilisation with capabilities far exceeding humankind’s own.

In the SETI world, when a compelling target like this pops up, the protocol is to survey the star across as much of the electromagnetic spectrum as possible to gather more data.

The Dose of Cold Water

As quickly as the internet lit up, many researchers chimed in to temper the excitement. They suggest that the signal being from an advanced alien civilisation is highly unlikely.

Their main arguments are straightforward:

• The signal did not repeat. If it were a deliberate alien transmission, you would expect it to be a recurring pattern.
• The unrepeated nature makes it look a lot like radio interference originating from somewhere on Earth.

Seth Shostak, a senior astronomer with the SETI Institute, noted that it’s difficult to understand why an alien civilisation would target our solar system with such a strong signal when they wouldn’t have even picked up on our early TV or radar transmissions yet, given how far away the system is. While acknowledging the possibility that the signal could be extraterrestrial, without a confirmation, it remains merely “interesting.”

The Element of Secrecy

Adding a peculiar twist to the story, the signal was first detected all the way back on May 15, 2015, by a radio telescope operated by the Russian Academy of Science. However, it was kept quiet from the international community until a reporter broke the story. This means that all the information the world has about the signal comes solely from the Russian discovery team.

While many researchers believe the signal is terrestrial in origin, they also acknowledge that they might not have all the details.

The Big Question

This whole discussion brings up a classic, fundamental question: If a genuine, confirmed signal from an advanced alien civilisation, an “intergalactic email” announcing their existence, was ever received, would the governments of the world actually tell us?

If you stop and think about the chaos and global societal upheaval that would follow such an announcement, it’s hard to be certain.

If you were the President of the world and your researchers confirmed the existence of an advanced alien species, would you tell the world’s people?