Here’s something that is actually real and not the subject of a Steven Spielberg movie: astronomers are literally checking a bizarre-shaped object that is currently hurtling through our solar system just in case it contains literal alien technology.
The Green Bank telescope in West Virginia will have its sights set squarely on the extremely odd, cigar-shaped object, which has been named Oumuamua. It was first spotted back in October after arriving in our solar system from interstellar space, after which it hurtled past the sun at over 300,000km/h.
The Breakthrough Listen project, which was founded by the Royal Society in London and searches for signs of extraterrestrial life, were drawn to Oumuamua because of its odd shape, which doesn’t resemble any natural formations in our own solar system.
Avi Loeb, professor of astronomy at Harvard University and an adviser to the Breakthrough Listen project, spoke to The Guardian about it:
Most likely it is of natural origin, but because it is so peculiar, we would like to check if it has any sign of artificial origin, such as radio emissions. If we do detect a signal that appears artificial in origin, we’ll know immediately.
Many astronomers are pretty sure Oumuamua is an asteroid, but it doesn’t look like any asteroid we’ve ever seen. Obviously it looks like a gigantic alien spliff, but weirdly no astronomers are putting that hypothesis forward. “It’s curious that the first object we see from outside the solar system looks like that,” said Loeb.
“It would be prudent just to check and look for signals,” Loeb continued. “Even if we find an artefact that was left over and there are no signs of life on it, that would be the greatest thrill I can imagine having in my lifetime.”
Look, clearly its teeming with alien war drones with the desire to capture us and use us as slaves in their salt mines in a distant galaxy. I’ve read this book, okay.
