A research team, led by Dr. Sofia Sheikh of the SETI Institute, has set out to determine if an extraterrestrial civilization with technology similar to ours could detect Earth and its signs of humanity. Using a theoretical method, they analyzed multiple types of technosignatures, including radio signals and atmospheric emissions.
According to the study, published in The Astronomical Journal, radio signals are the most detectable technosignatures from Earth, potentially visible up to 12,000 light-years away. This is because our planet’s radar emissions can be seen as far as this distance due to advances in instruments like the James Webb Space Telescope.
As scientists get closer to Earth, they would detect more human-made signatures, including city lights, lasers, heat islands, and satellites, offering a comprehensive view of humanity’s technological presence. The research is the first to analyze multiple types of technosignatures together and demonstrates how Earth’s signals can provide a multi-wavelength framework for understanding technology on other planets.
The study also highlights the importance of tracking changes in atmospheric technosignatures over time, which could enhance our detection sensitivity or enable identification of new types of signatures. This research is crucial in refining our approach to discovering extraterrestrial life and provides fresh insights into Earth’s signals from space.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-02-twin-earth.html