It’s many a star gazer’s dream, to see something that confirms for them the existence of intelligent extraterrestrial life. A confirmation of Aliens, somewhere in the cosmos. Astronomers involved in the SETI project (Searching for ExtraTerrestial Intelligence) have spent decades staring at the cosmos, looking for some sort of sign, some sort of signal from another advanced species out there who was trying to say in their own way “I’m here!”
The WOW Signal
Over the past few decades researchers have reported observing signals termed WOW! Signals. These intense bursts of radio waves have been detected in the past:
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/space/stories/mysterious-wow-signal-may-finally-have-explanation/
and in all cases they have turned out to be a natural explainable phenomenon, or unexplained but non reproducible.
Figure: The Infamous WOW! Signal
Source
Caption: Yeah that’s right, the signal was called WOW! because of the researcher’s notebook where they actually wrote “WOW!” next to the data about it.
Recent Reports on HD 164595
However recently however the media has taken up a story about a signal from a sun like star called “HD 164595” (its such a beautiful name, just rolls right off the tongue) observed by some Russian researchers in 2015 yet for some reason never reported to the scientific community until recently (don’t you think if they thought it were aliens they would have immediately gotten every telescope pointed in that direction?), and is giving a lot of discussion stating that researchers “think it might be aliens!”
http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/30/health/seti-signal-hd-164595-alien-civilization/
http://www.space.com/33904-seti-mystery-signal-wow-alien-message-debate.html
However reports like this and their clickbait headlines take the words and intentions of the researchers out of context. Things quickly got so silly that researcher Andrew Siemion of the University of California, Berkeley was quoted as saying “This is getting blown way out of proportion.” 1 and Russian scientists are just now admitting that the signal was likely terrestrial in origin. So no aliens.
If Aliens Were Trying To Communicate How Might They Do It?
The answer to that question IMO is Math. If there were some intelligent alien species out there beaming a message out for anyone to detect, they would likely base things upon simple math. Languages are complicated and unique to regions, but all across the earth no matter what language you speak, 1 + 1 = 2. The same is true for the rest of the universe, while they may not describe numbers the way we do, the same principles of mathematics would apply there that do here. If an alien wanted to communicate with us they would likely send out a signal with a simple repeating mathematical code that would be extremely easy to interpret.
Types of Civilizations
Civilizations are typically rated with a scale put forward in 1964 by a Russian astrophysicist named Nikolai Kardashev. The Kardashev scale has 3 levels (types):
Type I
These civilizations are those that are able to harness all of the light from their neighboring star (through use of solar panels or whatever means necessary) and are able to supply the energy needs of their civilization.
Type 2
These types of civilizations would be able to use all of the power from their nearby star. Not just light, but all of the energy that is contained in the star. The most popular proposal for how this could be accomplished is the Dyson Sphere (which you may be familiar with because of the light fluctuations of a different star that recently was in the news).
Figure 2: The Dyson Sphere
Source
Type 3
Here is where things get even crazier. Type 3 civilizations are those who have full understandings of everything about energy, these civilizations are basically immune to extinction because they have the ability to not only manipulate their planet, the star closest to them, but energy itself. They have moved beyond harnessing the power of their own nearby star, and are now proceeding to harness the power of entire galaxies.
What are we humans?
We are type 0. Not even on the scale yet. We do not produce nearly enough energy to be classifiable under any of these terms.
So if we were able to receive a transmission from an alien species that was only a type 1 civilization, they likely would be sending messages how we would, by pointing the signal at a specific location and broadcasting it (to send a signal out in all possible directions takes far too much energy for us to accomplish). So receiving the message here on earth from a type 1 civilization would require us to be looking at precisely the right spot in the universe at exactly the time that a message was sent.
It would be easier for us to receive a message from a type 2 civilization as they would possess massive amounts of power and could broadcast a signal out in every possible direction, we would still have to be looking in the right spot, but they at least wouldn’t have to be specifically targeting us. However considering our modern advancements in encryption, it’s likely that a civilization this advanced would be sending a message only if they wanted it to be observed. Their very existence could be encrypted in such as way so as to appear like noise to us otherwise.
Why you should remain skeptical of all reports like the one earlier discussed
As I have tried to point out, humanity noticing a signal is very unlikely, and occasionally we notice something. However what is key for these sorts of things being an actual sort of communication is repetition. Communication from another intelligent species would have to be relayed over and over again, so as to be reproducibly confirmable. None of the aforementioned signals have been, thus until you see a reproducible report of a signal that just won’t stop happening, the ones you do hear about are probably flukes. The scientific method requires reproducibility in order for a theory to continue to exist. None of these data sets contain more than one point... cant even draw a real line with only one data point. Until you hear about repeating "WOW!" signals, its probably best to take any talk about aliens with a huge grain of salt.
/End Rant
Other Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kardashev_scale
http://futurism.com/the-kardashev-scale-type-i-ii-iii-iv-v-civilization/
The concept that our universe is a simulation is becoming more popular. If that's the case, then it's possible that advanced civilisations wouldn't care too much for energy. Manipulating energy seems like a wasted effort, when you can manipulate information.
It's an interesting idea, and one which I struggle to wrap my mind around. If we were living in a simulation is it thought possible for us to manipulate the parameters of said simulation?
I guess it depends on what kind of simulation it is exactly, and which parameters. It's all data, in one form or another.
That pretty much sums up why I rant :)
Definitely Kardashev II. There's no other answer!
Oh for sure! It's gotta be. One signal, must be a warning signal for impending invasion.
I didn't know anything about this Kardashev scale. I learnt something today :)
(I will however believe in aliens only from the moment I will see one :) )
And why would they want to come here when there's a whole universe to travel through
That's a good point...Maybe they want to observe another "intelligent" life form, who knows. If we found them we would have to ask :)
If they did come here they would soon go elsewhere as the human race are a selfish bunch. Bet the are some fascinating life forms out there
I'm not saying it's aliens.
We are the dumbest creature in the universe. We can't follow each other or helping each other , without getting rewarded.
I will not believe until I see one in front of me saying hi LOL
Honestly that seems like quite a reasonable stance.
Man but how I wish it were true
I think we all do!
I was always puzzled that scientists defined those 3 types of species because we haven't notice anything but our type. It's like defining different types of chimera or unicorns O_0'
They are more of a philosophical hypothesis then one grounded in data. The assumptions are purely based on the power requirements needed to facilitate interstellar communications and travel. Based on our own developments at least type 1 and type 2 are certainly plausible.
Great rant! :))
Thanks @minion! Been thinking about this stuff the past few days!
It always feels good to, take BS like that from one's chest.
I've just received a wow signal, aliens 100% no doubt! lol....
Interesting. I personally do believe in aliens, however, to what extent that statement remains true is variable depending on my current level of "investigation". I like your post because it really outlines how many need to be a bit more discerning. Have you been seeing all the posts about "full disclosure" predicted to happen by end-of-year. What are your thoughts? Would LOVE to see a post on that.
P.S. “HD 164595” (its such a beautiful name, just rolls right off the tongue) - - - LOL!
Do you have a link to any of those posts? I am not sure what you are talking about with regards to "full disclosure." I will say this, I want very much for there to be intelligent life out there. I think that would be so cool. Whether or not there is, I will wait for the data to reproducibly tell me.