Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Existing Laser Technology Could Be Fashioned Into Earth's 'Porch Light' To Attract Alien Astronomers, Study Finds (mit.edu)

Posted by msmash on from the or-the-real-batman dept.

If extraterrestrial intelligence exists somewhere in our galaxy, a new MIT study proposes that laser technology on Earth could, in principle, be fashioned into something of a planetary porch light -- a beacon strong enough to attract attention from as far as 20,000 light years away. From a report: The research, which author James Clark calls a "feasibility study," appears today in The Astrophysical Journal. The findings suggest that if a high-powered 1- to 2-megawatt laser were focused through a massive 30- to 45-meter telescope and aimed out into space, the combination would produce a beam of infrared radiation strong enough to stand out from the sun's energy. Such a signal could be detectable by alien astronomers performing a cursory survey of our section of the Milky Way -- especially if those astronomers live in nearby systems, such as around Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to Earth, or TRAPPIST-1, a star about 40 light-years away that hosts seven exoplanets, three of which are potentially habitable. If the signal is spotted from either of these nearby systems, the study finds, the same megawatt laser could be used to send a brief message in the form of pulses similar to Morse code.

4 of 257 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Yeah, just what we need by Tuidjy · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Well, if the laser is red, you can hardly blame the aliens for 'red light district' being an universal concept. And if it is not, then we should not risk advertising our present with other hues, either.

    Basic prudence dictates that we do not attract attention to ourselves before knowing what that attention will bring along.

    --
    No good deed goes unpunished...
  2. DON'T FUCKING DO IT by F34nor · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Read "The Three Body Problem" before you talk about this shit.

  3. Its too early by TomGreenhaw · · Score: 4, Interesting

    We are not ready for ET.

    Here are some possible outcomes:
    They are dangerous and if they come here they have better technology than we do - we're screwed.

    They are nice beings, but correctly conclude we are not. They decide its better to eradicate us before we become the scourge of the galaxy - we're screwed.

    They are curious but see no benefit in engaging with us directly

    They are not curious and correctly conclude we have nothing to offer their more advanced society. The universe is a big empty place and there is space enough for everyone.

    My personal favorite - faster than light travel is fantasy and they will never bother to come.

    In any case, the likelihood that they are wondrous benevolent beings who want to give us all kinds of nice stuff without unintended consequences is basically zero. No need to attract attention. Do something useful instead.

    --
    Greed is the root of all evil.
  4. Re:Yeah, just what we need by xQx · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Agreed.
    Let me link you the Fermi Paradox: We're First, We're Rare, or We're Fucked.
    https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05...

    Specifically Possibility 4: There are scary predator civilizations out there, and most intelligent life knows better than to broadcast any outgoing signals and advertise their location. This is an unpleasant concept and would help explain the lack of any signals being received by the SETI satellites. It also means that we might be the super naive newbies who are being unbelievably stupid and risky by ever broadcasting outward signals; and Carl Sagan's takeaway: “the newest children in a strange and uncertain cosmos should listen quietly for a long time, patiently learning about the universe and compa, ring notes, before shouting into an unknown jungle that we do not understand.”