Breakthrough Listen, one of Yuri Milner’s Breakthrough Initiatives, is investigating a signal known as Breakthrough Listen Candidate 1 (BLC-1). This potential technosignature of extraterrestrial life has stirred up much excitement, especially for science educator Simon Holland, who has drawn attention to its potential importance online.
Astronomers using the Parkes Radio Telescope came across this signal in 2019 and dismissed it as interference. However, one year later, a Breakthrough Listen intern flagged the signal as unusual.
Understanding BLC-1
Breakthrough Listen has characterized the signal as a single-point source with a narrow electromagnetic spectrum. The researchers have found that the signal doesn’t align with known local radio frequency interference and may originate beyond Earth.
Using the Parkes Telescope, they discovered that changes in the signal’s frequency could indicate it orbits a star like Proxima Centauri. This star system already has two known planets, including the potentially habitable Proxima b.
The Signal Could Be Earth-Based After All
Breakthrough Listen’s research methodology involved scanning Proxima Centauri’s star system across frequencies ranging from 700 MHz to 4 GHz. The scan produced four million hits, which Breakthrough Listen filtered down to 5,160 potential technosignatures.
Analysis of these technosignature candidates revealed that the signal might originate from faulty equipment. Further investigation discovered that an automated filtering program had missed similar signals at different frequencies. These frequencies match common digital electronics clock oscillator frequencies, also suggesting a likely human technological origin.
Breakthrough Listen went on to extend its research, identifying signals BLC-2, BLC-3, BLC-4, and BLC-5. However, analysis so far suggests all of these signals are likely Earth-based.
A Race Against the China National Space Administration
The research continues, with Breakthrough Listen examining Proxima Centauri and other stars. The team is racing against the China National Space Administration, which is investigating BLC-1 using the Five-Hundred-Meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST).
The potential discovery of extraterrestrial life is an exciting prospect that aligns with Yuri Milner’s vision of exploring the Universe, as outlined in his book Eureka Manifesto. A confirmed technosignature could drive increased investment in cosmic exploration, which would be key to humanity embracing its mission to understand life beyond Earth.
About Breakthrough Listen
As the world’s biggest research project ever to examine extraterrestrial possibilities, Breakthrough Listen has published a variety of insightful papers. These papers cover signals of interest and the discovery of new astronomical objects. Breakthrough Listen has also published an “Exotica” list cataloging numerous objects of astronomical interest.
The initiative partners with some of the world’s biggest and most advanced telescopes, adding the Sardinia Radio Telescope (SRT) to the list in 2024. One of the 10 biggest telescopes on Earth, the SRT has a 64-meter dish and will prove invaluable to Breakthrough Listen’s work. The initiative will use the SRT to search for radio signals at frequencies around 18 GHz. Other searches have not explored this frequency in depth.
The telescope features advanced computing equipment, which researchers have already used to investigate targets. For example, a 2022 study surveyed the center of the Milky Way galaxy and an additional 72 stars that NASA’s TESS satellite has identified as planets that could host life.
Learn more about Breakthrough Listen.
About Yuri Milner
Breakthrough Listen is one of Yuri Milner’s Breakthrough Initiatives, which delve into different corners of space science research. Since signing the Giving Pledge in 2012, the Eureka Manifesto author has also co-launched the world’s biggest science award (the Breakthrough Prize) and the Breakthrough Junior Challenge.
This global contest encourages teenagers to educate each other in the form of short, creative, scientific videos. One winner receives life-changing prizes and mingles with the world’s most successful scientists alongside famed celebrities at an Oscars of Science ceremony.
