(ORDO NEWS) — In 1977, scientists discovered an unusual narrow-band signal from space called “Wow!” This signal is still the most suitable candidate for the signal sent by another civilization.
In two new studies, amateur astronomer and science promoter Alberto Caballero has identified the star from which the signal was sent, and also estimated the likelihood that the signal was sent by a civilization unfriendly to its galactic neighbors.
Caballero is best known for his Youtube channel The Exoplanets Channel, where he talks about exoplanet research, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and interstellar travel.
He also coordinates the Habitable Exoplanet Hunting Project (HEHP), an international network of professional and amateur astronomers studying exoplanets from nearby star systems.
In particular, the project aims to detect potentially habitable planets in systems of stars of the spectral type G (yellow dwarfs), K (orange dwarfs) or M (red dwarfs), located at a distance of no more than 100 light-years from Earth and not demonstrating flare activity.
In 2020, the HEHP project announced the discovery of a Saturn-sized exoplanet orbiting a parent star in the habitable zone.
In the same year, Caballero observed a sun-like star, from the system of which a “Wow!” signal could be sent. Caballero described the discovery in a new study published in the International Journal of Astrobiology in early May.
The discovery of this system made Caballero think about the issue of security in case of possible interaction with representatives of an extraterrestrial civilization.
Therefore, in yet another study, Caballero conducted a statistical analysis aimed at assessing the likelihood of the existence of potentially hostile extraterrestrial civilizations in our Galaxy, as well as the fact that at least one of these civilizations would detect signals coming from Earth (and invade).
To assess the probability of an invasion by a hostile civilization, Caballero used the frequency of invasions of some countries into the territory of others from the history of earthly civilization over the past 100 years.
Only 51 countries out of 195 countries of the world carried out an invasion of the territory of another state. The scientist found that as a civilization matures, the frequency of invasions decreases.
If we extrapolate these results to the period of human development, when it will turn into a civilization of the I type according to Kardashev, capable of interstellar travel, the frequency of possible invasions is significantly reduced.
In addition, Caballero explored the possibility of us becoming an “aggressive civilization” by becoming a Kardashev Type I civilization. His analysis showed that there can be no more than four such civilizations within the boundaries of the zone where our signals can be detected.
Therefore, the probability of an invasion by an extraterrestrial civilization is by no means the most pressing issue – in comparison with it, the probability of self-destruction of a civilization seems to be more real, the author believes.
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