New Perspectives on the Search for Alien Civilizations

• Cosmos

A group of influential researchers is making a compelling case for new data-driven methods in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. This team, composed of 22 scientists, argues that our current search methods may be skewed by human-centered thinking. They suggest we leverage machine learning tools and vast catalogs from telescope surveys to uncover signs of alien life.

"Every search for alien civilizations should be planned to give interesting results even when no aliens are discovered. - Freeman Dyson"

A Shift in Search Methods

The researchers argue for a shift from traditional approaches, like searching for radio signals, towards machine learning methods to mine extensive astronomical data catalogs for unusual astrophysical phenomena. These phenomena could indicate the existence of alien societies. For instance, certain chemicals in a planet's atmosphere could hint at industrial pollution, or unusual heat emissions could suggest the presence of a Dyson sphere, a theoretical structure built by advanced civilizations to harness the power of a star.

George Djorgovski, a Caltech astronomer and one of the report’s lead authors, emphasizes the importance of these new tools in the search for alien life: “We now have vast data sets from sky surveys at all wavelengths, covering the sky again and again and again,” he says. “We’ve never had so much information about the sky in the past, and we have tools to explore it. In particular, machine learning gives us opportunities to look for sources that may be inconspicuous but, in some way—with different colors or behavior in time—they stand out.”

Overcoming Human-Centered Biases

One of the team's central arguments is that traditional methods of searching for extraterrestrial life may be biased by human-centered thinking. For example, the common practice of searching for radio signals assumes that extraterrestrial civilizations would communicate similarly to mid-20th century Earth. Djorgovski contends this is a flawed assumption, as alien societies could function on entirely different technological and biological principles. The use of machine learning and data-driven techniques, the team argues, could help us overcome these biases and open new possibilities in the search for extraterrestrial life.

Encouraging Collaboration and Diversity in the Field

The report by the team highlights the importance of collaboration and diversity in extraterrestrial research. The project originated from a 2019 workshop held at Caltech's Keck Institute for Space Studies and comprises a group of planetary scientists and astronomers from Caltech and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The team also includes experts in other fields, such as dolphin communication and exoplanet studies. The team believes involving scientists with diverse expertise and perspectives will help search for extraterrestrial life.

The Future of the Search for Alien Civilizations

Despite the challenges and uncertainties, the team is optimistic about the future of the search for extraterrestrial civilizations. They believe the field will continue to grow and evolve, incorporating new tools and perspectives. Furthermore, they hope that using data-driven approaches will enhance the search for alien life and contribute to our understanding of the universe in general.