The pursuit of finding confirmation of extraterrestrial intelligence continues. Now, thanks to recent research efforts, this may be answered with the help of gravitational waves.
Science Alert notes how a new study was conducted by Applied Physics, a group of global engineers and scientists. They noted that detectors based on earth, like the LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory), must theoretically be capable of picking up gravitational waves that result from extraterrestrial sources.
According to the experts, this may expand the scope of search because specialists may go beyond and search through every star across the galaxy.
Though the study is yet to be peer-analyzed, it can now be found in the arXiv preprints.
Gravitational Waves vs. Electromagnetic Waves
The existence or non-existence of life beyond earth has been an object of focus as it is one of humanity's biggest questions. However, humanity's capacity to look for technological signals only covers some thousand stars. Science Alert also notes how the electromagnetic waves used by humans for communication tend to weaken or attenuate as they disburse. Because of this, it is quite impossible to rule out all the noises in the universe that go beyond some hundred light-years.
This is not the case, however, with gravitational waves. These waves do not weaken like electromagnetic ones. They can also be traced at farther distances. Hence, if an intelligent population exists out there with technology capable of releasing strong gravitational waves, humans can detect it.
Such waves could be the only universe-probing tool that humanity can use that does not depend on light. Strong events create these waves. Futurism notes how the gravitational waves detected so far are thought to be clashes between neutron stars and black holes. Such strong occurrences expel great ripples across time and space. These ripples have been picked up by certain observatories, like the LIGO.
Extraterrestrial Life Could Be Traced Through Gravitational Waves
The recent paper brings up the idea that extraterrestrial civilizations could create ripples that are similar through warp drives. These are hypothetical propulsion systems that enable spacecraft to travel near or even faster than light speed. This is because any mass can produce such effects if its acceleration is speedy enough.
Even if there are uncertainties that come with this argument, scientists are optimistic about the potential.
Applied Physics CEO Gianni Martire expresses how their study on warp drives leads the pathway for the detection of gravitational waves. Martier also shares how the usual range of electromagnetic waves does not box the approach. Hence, with this, experts will be granted the capacity to probe through the many stars scattered around the galaxy to trace warp drives. He further adds that the ability to probe through several other galaxies will soon be possible.
Futurism notes, however, that before commencing the search for these forces, the world's technology must catch up.
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