From the famous 'Wow!' signal to the strange object Oumuamua, scientists have been puzzled by several potential signs of extraterrestrial life. This year, US Congress heard testimonies from 'UFO witnesses', suggesting more evidence than ever of alien contact. Here are five pivotal moments that seemed set to revolutionise our understanding of space.
In 1977, the Big Ear radio telescope at Ohio State University detected an unusual signal 30 times louder than background noise, hitting only one frequency. Astronomer Jerry Ehman wrote 'Wow!' next to the data, giving the event its name. Supporters of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) suggested it was likely an alien signal, but Ehman remained uncertain. To this day, its cause remains unknown.
In 2017, Oumuamua, a cigar-shaped object 10 times more reflective than typical asteroids, entered our solar system. It accelerated faster than expected as it passed the sun. Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb suggested it could be of 'artificial origin', possibly a discarded piece of alien technology. Other scientists insisted it was purely natural.
In 2020, scientists discovered phosphine on Venus, a substance produced by microbes, suggesting life. However, NASA could not confirm the finding, finding no phosphine. In 2007, fast radio bursts—millisecond-long bright signals—were detected. Loeb again attributed them to alien technology, while others saw natural phenomena.
In 2019, Gilbert Levin, who worked on NASA's Mars life-detection experiment, claimed he found signs of life on Mars. NASA spokesperson Allard Beutel said the results did not meet the 'extraordinary evidence' standard. There is no concrete evidence that any of these events prove the existence of aliens.
