AI Revolutionizes the Search for Alien Life and Ancient Biosignatures
In the vast expanse of our galaxy, there are between 10 and 50 billion potentially habitable worlds, according to Bill Diamond, the chief executive of the Seti Institute. Seti, which stands for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, is an organization dedicated to finding evidence of life and intelligence beyond our solar system. However, this search has always been like finding a needle in a haystack. The rarity of extraterrestrial life and the challenge of extracting it from background phenomena have made it a daunting task. But now, with the help of artificial intelligence (AI), the search for alien intelligence is being revolutionized.
One notable project that combines AI and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence is a partnership between the Seti Institute and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in New Mexico. The observatory uses radio frequencies to study celestial objects, and Seti is building an AI-powered software system for its core facility, the Very Large Array (VLA). The VLA consists of 28 large dish antennas spread across a desert plain. With the AI system, the observatory will be able to process an enormous amount of data – two terabytes every second. This is equivalent to the total storage capacity of modern laptops.
According to Mr. Diamond, AI has become indispensable in the search for alien life. It enables scientists to search for new types of radio signals from alien sources, expanding their methods beyond traditional narrowband signals. By using AI to analyze massive amounts of data, researchers can take snapshots of audio signals over time and look for patterns that may indicate the presence of alien technology using wideband radio signals. This opens up new possibilities for discovery.
Another project that benefits from AI is Breakthrough Listen, which is scanning a million stars and 100 galaxies across various radio and optical bands to find evidence of technological life. Peter Ma, a member of the project, developed an AI system that can differentiate between real signals from aliens and interference. By simulating both types of noise and training the AI, they have already identified eight potential alien signals that were missed by traditional analysis. However, further observations are needed to confirm their validity.
AI is not only transforming the search for extraterrestrial intelligence but also aiding in the detection of signs of life closer to home. Nasa’s Perseverance rover, currently exploring Mars’ Jezero Crater, has already detected organic compounds using its Sherloc instrument. However, it is challenging to determine whether these compounds are derived from past life on the planet or non-biological processes. To address this, the Carnegie Institution for Science is using AI to analyze rock samples for signs of present or past life. The AI system can distinguish between former living and non-living material with an accuracy of nearly 90%. This innovative approach to searching for molecular biosignatures has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of life beyond Earth.
While these advancements in AI offer promising avenues for the search for alien life and ancient biosignatures, it is important to validate any findings with additional observations and physics-based models. The progress made so far is measured by the scale of the effort rather than immediate results. As more data is collected and analyzed, the chances of detecting alien life, if it exists, continue to increase. The combination of AI and scientific exploration is pushing the boundaries of our understanding and bringing us closer to answering one of humanity’s most profound questions: Are we alone in the universe?