Hey… We’re Over Here – Powerful Laser Could be Used as a Beacon to Attract Alien Attention to Earth
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 away as 20,000 light years. 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 exo-planets, three of which are potentially habitable.
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"If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn't turn out very well for the Native Americans."
Most successful species are aggressive ones. I think they should kEep their flashlight OFF and we already have enough radio noise and light pollution on earth anyway...
You make a very good point -- Just because we CAN attract alien attention to Earth doesn't mean we SHOULD.
Guy Pirro
"If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn't turn out very well for the Native Americans."
A homing beacon for ETs? No thank you! I would contribute money to the organization that would stop that from happening. That can only end in one of two ways: a) Best case scenario, waste of money. b) History repeats itself, a la Steven Hawking's analogy.