AI to help in search for ET
The Galileo Project is a transparent scientific project designed to advance a systematic experimental search for cross-validated evidence of potential astro-archeological artifacts or active technical equipment made by presumed existing or extinct extraterrestrial technological civilizations (ETCs). The goal of the project, say its founders, is to bring the search for extraterrestrial technological signatures from accidental or anecdotal observations and legends to the mainstream of transparent, validated and systematic scientific research.
“In 2017, the world for the first time observed an interstellar object, called ‘Oumuamua, that was briefly visiting our solar system,” says Professor Avi Loeb, head of the Galileo Project. “Based on astronomical observations, ‘Oumuamua’ turned out to have highly anomalous properties that defy well-understood natural explanations. We can only speculate whether ‘Oumuamua may be explained by never seen before natural explanations, or by stretching our imagination to ‘Oumuamua perhaps being an extraterrestrial technological object, similar to a very thin light-sail or communications dish, which would fit the astronomical data rather well.”
“Given the recently discovered abundance of habitable-zone exoplanets with potential for extraterrestrial life,” says Loeb, “the Galileo Project is dedicated to the proposition that humans can no longer ignore the possible existence of ETCs. Science should not reject potential extraterrestrial explanations because of social stigma or cultural preferences that are not conducive to the scientific method of unbiased, empirical inquiry. We now must ‘dare to look through new telescopes’, both literally and figuratively.”
While researchers have found a natural explanation that could explain ‘Oumuamua’s unusual characteristics – that it is a chunk of nitrogen ice – Loeb argues that his theory that it was an artificial object remains a reasonable plausibility based on the evidence. In any case, says Loeb, irrespective of the possibility that the Galileo Project may discover additional, or even extraordinary evidence for ETCs, at a minimum the Galileo Project will gather rich data sets that may foster the discovery of – or better scientific explanations for – novel interstellar objects with anomalous properties, and for potential new natural phenomena, or terrestrial technology explanations for many presently inexplicable unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP).
The Galileo Project research group will aim to identify the nature of UAP and ‘Oumuamua-like interstellar objects using the standard scientific method based on a transparent analysis of open scientific data to be collected using optimized instruments. The ground-based project is complementary to traditional search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI), in that it searches for physical objects, and not electromagnetic signals associated with extraterrestrial technological civilizations.
The Galileo Project will follow three major avenues of research:
Obtain High-resolution, Multi-detector UAP Images, Discover their Nature:
A picture is worth a thousand words, say the researchers. For example, a megapixel image of the exterior of a human-scale UAP object at a distance of a mile will allow to distinguish: “Made in Country X” from the potential alternative “Made by ETC Y” on an exoplanet in our galaxy. This goal will be accomplished by searching for UAP with a network of mid-sized, high-resolution telescopes and detector arrays with suitable cameras and computer systems, distributed in select locations. The data will be open to the public and the scientific analysis will be transparent.
The researchers anticipate extensive Artificial Intelligence/Deep Learning (AI/DL) and algorithmic approaches to differentiate atmospheric phenomena from birds, balloons, commercial or consumer drones, and from potential technological objects of terrestrial or other origin surveying Earth, such as satellites. For the purpose of high-contrast imaging, each telescope will be part of a detector array of orthogonal and complementary capabilities from radar, Doppler radar, and high-resolution synthetic aperture radar to high-resolution, large camera visible range and infrared band telescopes. If an ETC is discovered to be surveying Earth using UAP, then, say the researchers, we have to assume that the ETC has mastered passive radar, optical and infrared technologies. In such a case, the systematic study of detected UAP will be enhanced by means of high-performance, integrated multi-wavelength detector arrays.
Search for and In-Depth Research on ‘Oumuamua-like Interstellar Objects:
The Galileo Project research group also will utilize existing and future astronomical surveys, such as the future Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST)[2] at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory (VRO), to discover and monitor the properties of interstellar visitors to the Solar system. The researchers say they will conceptualize and design, potentially in collaboration with interested space agencies or space ventures, a launch-ready space mission to image unusual interstellar objects such as ‘Oumuamua by intercepting their trajectories on their approach to the Sun or by using ground-based survey telescopes to discover interstellar meteors.
Search for Potential ETC Satellites:
Discovering potential 1-meter-scale or smaller ETC satellites that may be exploring Earth, e.g., in polar orbits a few hundred kilometers above Earth, may become feasible with VRO in 2023 and later. If radar, optical, and infrared detection avoidance technologies have been mastered by an ETC, then very sophisticated large telescopes on Earth will be required. The researchers say they will design advanced algorithmic and AI/DL object recognition and fast filtering methods that the Galileo Project intends to deploy, initially on non-orbiting telescopes.
The reference in the project’s name to Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) was chosen in view of the possibility that the Galileo Project may make novel discoveries regarding ETCs. The importance of the potential discoveries of rigorously validated scientific evidence of extraterrestrial technology, say the researchers, may be similar in impact on astronomy and our world view as Galileo’s pioneering use of telescopes for astronomical observations were in history.
Related articles:
AI takes the guesswork out of being human
Power scavenging robot ‘squid’ to explore extraterrestrial oceans
If you enjoyed this article, you will like the following ones: don't miss them by subscribing to :
