This New Software Aims to Listen for Signals from Stars

In a quest to unravel the mysteries of our galaxy, a team led by Akshay Suresh, a doctoral candidate in astronomy at Cornell University, has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative called the Breakthrough Listen Investigation for Periodic Spectral Signals (BLIPSS).

The primary objective of their research is to identify recurring signals originating from the core of the Milky Way, as they search for indications of extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) in our cosmic vicinity.

Capturing Star Signals

Employing a software based on the Fast Folding Algorithm (FFA), an efficient search method renowned for its heightened sensitivity to periodic sequences of narrow pulses, the team has made significant strides.

In addition to pulsars, which are swiftly rotating neutron stars that emit radio beams towards Earth, humans also utilize directed periodic transmissions for diverse purposes such as radar.

These signals have the capacity to captivate attention across vast interstellar distances, distinguishing themselves from non-periodic signals and requiring significantly lower energy compared to continuous broadcasting transmitters.

Suresh highlights the significance of BLIPSS as an example of cutting-edge software amplifying the capabilities of SETI. "Our study introduces to SETI, for the first time, the Fast Folding Algorithm; our open-source software utilizes an FFA to crunch over 1.5 million time series for periodic signals in roughly 30 minutes," said Suresh.

The joint effort known as BLIPSS brings together Cornell University, the SETI Institute, and Breakthrough Listen in a remarkable undertaking.

This ambitious project significantly enhances the chances of discovering evidence of extraterrestrial technology by directing its attention to the central area of the Milky Way.

This region is famous for its dense population of stars and the potential existence of exoplanets capable of supporting life.

The galactic center serves as an optimal location where intelligent beings might have strategically placed beacons for interstellar communication, spanning across vast distances within our galaxy.

Testing the Algorithm

The team successfully tested their algorithm on known pulsars, detecting expected periodic emission. They then analyzed a vast dataset of Galactic Center scans captured by the Breakthrough Listen instrument at the Green Bank Telescope. BLIPSS focused on narrower frequency ranges for repeating signals, unlike pulsars.

Co-author Steve Croft highlights the significance of this approach, suggesting it could indicate deliberate technological activities of intelligent civilizations.

SETI Institute astronomer and co-author Vishal Gajjar points out that until now, radio SETI has primarily focused on the search for continuous signals. He underscores the exceptional energy efficiency of a train of pulses as a means of interstellar communication over vast distances.

This study, he declares, marks the first comprehensive endeavor to conduct in-depth searches for such signals, shedding new light on potential interstellar communication methods.

The findings of the team were published in the Astronomical Journal.