Alien search: SETI Institute launches probe for low frequencies across galaxies in first study of its kind

Alien probe: Are we alone? Is there any alien life or 'super civilisations' outside Earth? The premier institute in the US searching for alien life and intelligence has launched a new project that will look for low frequencies in intergalactic space, in the first probe of its kind.

SETI Institute - full form the Berkeley SETI Research Center and the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research - is going for an intergalactic search for 'technosignatures,' or signs of alien technology, at low radio frequencies - those at or under 100 MHz.

SETI stands for Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence.

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The low frequency probe will cover 2,800 galaxies in one search, "of which 1,300 we know the distance to," said a release from the institute.

The study will use the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA), a low-frequency radio telescope located at the CSIRO Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory in Western Australia.

"Usually, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence has focused on signals within our galaxy. This new approach goes further, looking at distant galaxies, looks at distant galaxies, making it one of the most detailed searches for super civilisations—those more advanced than ours," said the SETI release.

"This work represents a significant step forward in our efforts to detect signals from advanced extraterrestrial civilisations. The large field of view and low-frequency range of the MWA makes it an ideal tool for this kind of research," said Dr Chenoa Tremblay of the SETI Institute, who is leading the study.

"The MWA continues to open up new ways of exploring the Universe for intelligent civilizations and technosignatures, while using the same data to study the astrophysics of stars and galaxies. This work is new and novel, but also paves the way for future observations with even more powerful telescopes,” said Prof Steven Tingay of Curtin University who is also the Director of the MWA leading the study.

This research highlights the importance of working together internationally and using advanced technology to expand our understanding of the Universe.

The SETI Institute, founded in 1984, describes itself as an institution leading humanity’s quest to understand the origins and prevalence of life and intelligence in the universe and to share that knowledge with the world.

(With inputs from agencies)