Most diverse list of potential alien habitats
An initiative hunting the skies for signs of intelligent life, Breakthrough Listen, has released a list of 700 targets of potential interest in June.
The ‘Exotica’ catalogue contains one of almost every kind of astronomical target in the observable Universe – from ordinary comets to the most exotic galaxies. Its aim is to increase the diversity of targets being explored for technosignatures – indicators such as radio waves or laser pulses being given off by an advanced civilisation. This will help astronomers broaden their search for intelligence away from only environments that resemble Earth, to include a full range of possible habitats.
“When it comes to the search for intelligent life, it’s vital to have an open mind,” says S Pete Worden, executive director of the Breakthrough Initiatives. “Until we understand more about the forms another civilization and its technology could take, we should investigate all plausible targets. Cataloguing them is the first step towards that goal.” breakthroughinitiatives.org