Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Study identifies planets and star systems where alien life could be able to observe human activity on Earth

Study identifies planets and star systems where alien life could be able to observe human activity on Earth

Scientists calculated that 1,715 nearby stars and hundreds of probable planets have had an unobstructed view of Earth.

Planets where alien life could be able to observe human activity on Earth have been identified by scientists.

Astronomers from Cornell University estimate there are 29 potentially habitable planets in Earth's cosmic neighbourhood where alien life could potentially see and hear evidence of humans.

Using a technique used to look for life on other planets, scientists calculated that 1,715 nearby star systems and hundreds of probable Earth-like planets circling those stars have had an unobstructed view of Earth during human civilization.

"When I look up at the sky, it looks a little bit friendlier because it's like, maybe somebody is waving," said Lisa Kaltenegger, director of the Carl Sagan Institute at Cornell University, and the report's lead author.

Experts, including Stephen Hawking, have previously warned against trying to contact extra-terrestrial life because they could harm us.

But Ms Kaltenegger said if these planets have advanced life, someone out there could conclude there is life on Earth based on oxygen in our atmosphere or by the radio waves from human sources that have swept over 75 of the closest stars on her list.

"Hiding is not really an option," she said.

"From the exoplanets' point-of-view, we are the aliens. We wanted to know which stars have the right vantage point to see Earth as it blocks the Sun's light and because stars move in our dynamic cosmos, this vantage point is gained and lost."

Astronomers can find potentially habitable planets by watching them as they cross in front of the star they are orbiting.

Ms Kaltengger and Jacqueline Faherty, of the American Museum of Natural History, reversed this method and used the European Space Agency's Gaia space telescope to see which star systems could see Earth as it passes in front of the sun.

They observed 331,312 star systems within 326 light-years of Earth and found that 1,715 could see it at some point in the past 5,000 years, including 313 that have now moved out of view

Another 319 will be able to see Earth in the next 5,000 years, included a few systems where scientists have spotted Earth-like planets.

The closest star on Ms Kaltenegger's list is the red dwarf star Wolf 359, which is 7.9 light years away and has been able to see us since the mid-1970s.

Carnegie Institution for Science's Alan Boss, who wasn't part of the study, called the research "provocative."

He said in addition to viewing Earth moving in front of the star, space telescopes nearby could spot us even if the cosmic geometry is wrong.

"So intelligent civilizations who build space telescopes could be studying us right now."

Mr Boss added that we should not expect aliens to show up anytime soon because of the length of time it takes messages and life to travel between stars and civilisations.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
France, at an Impasse, Heads Toward Another Government Collapse
The Country That Got Too Rich? Public Spending Dominates Norway Election
EU Proposes Phasing Out Russian Oil and Gas by End of 2027 to End Energy Dependence
More Than 150,000 Followers for a Fictional Character: The New Influencers Are AI Creations
EU Prepares for War
Trump Threatens Retaliatory Tariffs After EU Imposes €2.95 Billion Fine on Google
Tesla Board Proposes Unprecedented One-Trillion-Dollar Performance Package for Elon Musk
Gold Could Reach Nearly $5,000 if Fed Independence Is Undermined, Goldman Sachs Warns
Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay Secure Places at 2026 World Cup
Trump Administration Advances Plans to Rebrand Pentagon as Department of War Instead of the Fake Term Department of Defense
Big Tech Executives Laud Trump at White House Dinner, Unveil Massive U.S. Investments
Tether Expands into Gold Sector with Profit-Driven Diversification
‘Looks Like a Wig’: Online Users Express Concern Over Kate Middleton
Florida’s Vaccine Revolution: DeSantis Declares War on Mandates
Trump’s New War – and the ‘Drug Tyrant’ Fearing Invasion: ‘1,200 Missiles Aimed at Us’
"The Situation Has Never Been This Bad": The Fall of PepsiCo
At the Parade in China: Laser Weapons, 'Eagle Strike,' and a Missile Capable of 'Striking Anywhere in the World'
The Fashion Designer Who Became an Italian Symbol: Giorgio Armani Has Died at 91
Putin Celebrates ‘Unprecedentedly High’ Ties with China as Gazprom Seals Power of Siberia-2 Deal
China Unveils New Weapons in Grand Military Parade as Xi Hosts Putin and Kim
Rapper Cardi B Cleared of Liability in Los Angeles Civil Assault Trial
Google Avoids Break-Up in U.S. Antitrust Case as Stocks Rise
Couple celebrates 80th wedding anniversary at assisted living facility in Lancaster
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
The White House on LinkedIn Has Changed Their Profile Picture to Donald Trump
"Insulted the Prophet Muhammad": Woman Burned Alive by Angry Mob in Niger State, Nigeria
Trump Responds to Death Rumors – Announces 'Missile City'
Druzhba Pipeline Incident Sparks Geopolitical Tensions
Cost of Opposition Leader Péter Magyar's Economic Plan Revealed
Germany in Turmoil: Ukrainian Teenage Girl Pushed to Death by Illegal Iraqi Migrant
United Krack down on human rights: Graham Linehan Arrested at Heathrow Over Three X Posts, Hospitalised, Released on Bail with Posting Ban
Asian and Middle Eastern Investors Avoid US Markets
Ray Dalio Warns of US Shift to Autocracy
Eurozone Inflation Rises to 2.1% in August
Russia and China Sign New Gas Pipeline Deal
Von der Leyen's Plane Hit by Suspected Russian GPS Interference in an Incident Believed to Be Caused by Russia or by Pro-Peace or by Anti-Corruption European Activists
China's Robotics Industry Fuels Export Surge
Suntory Chairman Resigns After Police Probe
Gold Price Hits New All-Time Record
UK Fintechs Explore Buying US Banks
Greece Suspends 5% of Schools as Birth Rate Drops
Apollo to Launch $5 Billion Sports Investment Vehicle
Bolsonaro Trial Nears Close Amid US-Brazil Tension
×