Scientists say detected signals are “probably aliens”

A publication in the Astronomical Society of the Pacific tells astronomers have observed strange signals from a cluster of stars, which they believe could be aliens trying to tell the universe of their existence.

“We find that the detected signals have exactly the shape of an [extraterrestrial intelligence] signal predicted in the previous publication and are therefore in agreement with this hypothesis,” wrote Ermanno F. Borra and Eric Trottier, the author of the publication.

They also note that their findings align with the Extraterrestrial Intelligence (ETI) hypothesis, since the mysterious activity only occurred in a tiny fraction of stars. The hypothesis also suggests that an intelligent life force would use a more sophisticated optical beacon than, say, radio waves to reveal its existence.

Breakthrough Listen—a $100 million global effort to hunt for alien life, backed by Stephen Hawking and Mark Zuckerberg—said the signals are worth additional research, but not to get too excited.

“It is too early to unequivocally attribute these purported signals to the activities of extraterrestrial civilizations,” the organization said in a statement. “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.”