WOW...this is going to possibly be the news of the year ...or more...in the Astronomy world at least.
Is Earth being contacted by ALIENS? Mystery radio signals coming from a sun-like star baffle scientistshttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3763416/Is-Earth-contacted-ALIENS-Mystery-radio-signals-coming-sun-like-star-baffle-scientists.htmlNot a Drill: SETI Is Investigating a Possible Extraterrestrial Signal From Deep Spacehttp://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/08/29/12/37AECA0900000578-0-Two_SETI_research_groups_will_track_HD_164595_tonight_using_the_-a-17_1472468548908.jpgWorking out the strength of the signal, the researchers say that if it came from an isotropic beacon, it would be of a power possible only for a Kardashev Type II civilisation.'
'If it were a narrow beam signal focused on our solar system, it would be of a power available to a Kardashev Type I civilisation.'
The Kardashev scale is a way of measuring an alien society's technological advancement based upon how much energy it has at its disposal.
A Type I civilisation is given to species who have been able to harness all the energy that is available from a nearby star, gathering and storing it to meet its population's demands.
A Type II civilisation is much more advanced and can harness the power of their entire star.
Type III is a species that has been able to master everything having to do with energy. Earth doesn't feature on the scale.
If there are any intelligent alien life forms out there, Stephen Hawking thinks we're playing a dangerous game by trying to contact them.
The physicist believes if aliens discovered Earth, they are likely to want to conquer and colonise our planet.
'If aliens visit us, the outcome could be much like when Columbus landed in America, which didn't turn out well for the Native Americans,' he said in an interview.
But co-founder and former director of the Seti Institute, Jill Tarter, doesn't think this will be the case.
She argues any aliens who have managed to travel across the universe will be sophisticated enough to be friendly and peaceful.
'The idea of a civilisation which has managed to survive far longer than we have...and the fact that that technology remains an aggressive one, to me, doesn't make sense,' she said.
Update: Stay Tuned!
http://www.seti.org/seti-institute/a-seti-signal?utm_content=buffer10136&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=bufferIf they find a signal..could become the story of the century!
https://twitter.com/jrseti/status/770394028378497024?s=02