Listening In On Aliens
It's time to get far out — NASA has recently approved funding for its new program CATS, or Categorizing Atmospheric Technosignatures, which may aid in identifying technologically advanced civilizations on alien worlds.
The previous ethos in searching for such civilizations had been to look for deliberate messages sent towards Earth, like a universal mathematical constant (Pi, the Fibonacci sequence) broadcast at hydrogen’s electromagnetic frequency. But now the gears have shifted to look for spillover frequencies — just as our presence on Earth produces massive amounts of electromagnetic signs and disruptions to our atmosphere, other advanced civilizations would produce something similar.
The idea of a spillover frequency is not new. In fact, science fiction authors have been aware of the concept for sometime. There's plenty of novels and movies where broadcasts from Earth accidentally make their way to alien worlds without us knowing it. This would be a reverse of that scenario though; instead of aliens stumbling across our radio waves, we're looking for theirs.
This project will make use of the recently launched James Webb Space Telescope, examining distant exoplanets for telltale signs of alien life. Much of the focus will be on industrial byproducts like chlorofluorocarbons and nitrogen dioxide, both of which would indicate intelligent life and could be identified by the JWST’s sensors. There’s also the technological footprint to consider--just as we have left our mark on the solar system with innumerable rovers, satellites, and space junk, a comparably advanced civilization will have also made its mark across its celestial neighborhood.
Of course, the CATS program is no guarantee of finding extraterrestrial life. There is a lot of noise out there to parse through but it’s still providing a better understanding of both the universe out there, and is a reminder of the effect we’re having on our own planet too.
Featured Product
Salyut 7 Space Station
Latest News
-
Jul 17, 2025 Building Disneyland Read More -
Jul 10, 2025 Neolithic Vegetarians: Learn About the Wooden Tools Used by Early Humans! Read More -
Jul 04, 2025 Viking for a Day: Researchers Recreate Viking Voyages! Read More -
Jun 30, 2025 When the Sky Split in Two: The Tunguska Event Read More -
Jun 27, 2025 The Vera C. Rubin Observatory Releases its First Photos! Read More -
Jun 19, 2025 Snakestones, Shaligrams, Ammonites, Oh My! All About Ammonites Read More
Cool Things!
Neolithic Vegetarians: Learn About the Wooden Tools Used by Early Humans!
When you think of the Stone Age, scenes of Neanderthals chasing down great beasts of old for food and furs might come to mind. Many studies have shown the invention and development of stone tools were essential to early humans’ efforts to hunt animals, but according to a recent study, that perspective may have an overbearing presence in the perception of the Stone Age.
Viking for a Day: Researchers Recreate Viking Voyages!
For one student at Lund University in Sweden, reading studies and collecting archaeological evidence wasn’t enough to grasp the full picture of an awe-inspiring people of the Nordic region: The Vikings. In a new study, a team of researchers set out to learn more about these nomads of legend by setting off on their own voyage of the seas, complete with historically accurate ships!
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory Releases its First Photos!
The dazzling images in this article are some of the first to be released by scientists using equipment at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in the Elqui Province of Chile. However, these images represent just the tip of the iceberg for the new facility.
Specimen Deep Dives
Building Disneyland
When the Sky Split in Two: The Tunguska Event
Returning to the Moon: The Apollo 14 Mission
Long Form Articles
The Artist Behind the Macintosh: Susan Kare and Apple Computers
While the two Steves, Jobs and Wozniak, are the most well known faces behind Apple computers, equally important to the products and culture of the company were those who crafted the experience of using their computers through design. The most notable of these visual architects was Susan Kare, a designer responsible for “humanizing” Macintosh computers.
Can I Lick It? Yes You Can!
Have you ever been unable to tell if a fossil was really a fossil, but you were too embarrassed to admit it? Have you ever wanted to lick a fossil just because, but you didn’t want to risk judgment from your peers? Well, good news! You can kill two birds with one stone! Licking a fossil can actually help you determine if it’s the real deal or just another rock.
Is It Legal To Own a Meteorite: How to Start Your Outer Space Collection!
Meteorites are some of the rarest geological specimens to be found on Earth. Of course, since these stones are not of our world, purchasing them can sometimes be a confusing process. Is it legal to own a meteorite? In short, yes! Read on for help starting your cosmic collection!