For decades, the international Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) program has focused on technological signatures familiar to us: radio signals or chemical traces of industrial emissions. However, this approach may suffer from “anthropocentric bias” — we only look for things that resemble our own civilization. A new hypothesis offers a radically different approach: what if advanced civilizations communicate with each other in the Universe not through radio waves, but through flashing bursts of light, similar to Earth’s fireflies?
Fireflies have given scientists clues about how extraterrestrial civilizations might communicate with each other. Photo: Unsplash
The firefly beacon hypothesis
Researchers at Arizona State University proposed this thought experiment. On Earth, fireflies use a sequence of flashes to communicate, particularly to find a mate. Although the signal is simple, it is effective.
Scientists suggest that a technologically advanced alien civilization could use similar but more complex light codes as a kind of beacon to announce its existence. This could be a logical step for civilizations that have moved from broadband radio to more precise and possibly optical methods of communication.
Lessons from pulsars
To understand what such signals might look like, scientists analyzed more than 150 pulsars — neutron stars that emit strictly periodic radio waves. Although no signs of artificiality were found, pulsars demonstrate that the Universe is full of regular cosmic “flashes.” Distinguishing between technological and natural signals is a key task.
Interestingly, humanity itself demonstrates a tendency that makes this hypothesis plausible. We are becoming increasingly “radio-quiet” to outside observers due to the transition to satellite communications and fiber optics. Therefore, it is natural to assume that older civilizations may also have abandoned “loud” radio in favor of more sophisticated methods, such as optical ones.
Think differently
The authors emphasize that their work is not a discovery, but merely an invitation to think outside the box. “Communication manifests itself in an astonishing variety of forms. Taking non-human communication into account is extremely important if we want to broaden our understanding,” notes study co-author Estelle Janin.
This hypothesis is just one example of what alternative means of communication might look like. It calls on the scientific community to avoid human biases and creatively rethink what other forms intelligent life might take in the infinity of space. Perhaps this approach will one day help us finally receive the signal: “We are here!”
Earlier, we reported on how 100 potential signals from extraterrestrial civilizations were discovered.
According to livescience.com