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Indian Express
5 days ago
- Science
- Indian Express
Can aliens spy on Earth? Scientists say our radar systems could give us away
Alien astronomers, even with inadequate technology, could recognise the radio signals from airports on Earth. This was revealed in an upcoming study that shows how aliens may be able to spy on us using our radio signals. According to a study headed by researcher Ramiro Caisse Saide of the University of Manchester, radar systems used to monitor aircraft at major airports like Heathrow in London and JFK in New York may generate radio waves powerful enough to be detected by extraterrestrial civilisations up to 200 light-years away. The researchers examined how radio waves from military and civilian radar operations travelled outside Earth. This was done to predict how they would seem when they reached nearby stars. According to the findings that were presented at the National Astronomy Meeting (NAM) 2025 in Durham, UK, signals emitted from airports across the world are over 2,000 trillion watts. This is powerful enough to detect extraterrestrial planets that are 200 light-years away using the Green Bank Telescope, which happens to be the most sensitive telescope in the world and is located in Virginia, US. By carefully simulating how these radar signals spread out from Earth over time and space, the researchers looked at how visible they would be from nearby stars such as Barnard's Star and AU Microscopii. Out of roughly 1,000 star systems in that range, the nearest potentially habitable world beyond our solar system is Proxima Centauri b which is only 4.2 light-years away. Another key question is whether an astronomer from another planet could comprehend what we are communicating and seeing. The signal wouldn't be artificial because it would seem to rise and fall throughout a 24-hour period when several airports came into view of the extraterrestrial astronomers due to Earth's rotation. Additionally, the study contributes to those on Earth who are searching for evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence in estimating how far away they would be able to spot a civilisation that is comparable to our own. 'By learning how our signals travel through space, we gain valuable insights into how to protect the radio spectrum for communications and design future radar systems,' co-researcher Professor Michael Garret was quoted as saying by the Royal Astronomical Society. Military radar systems, which are more focused, create a unique pattern – like a lighthouse beam. They have an accumulated peak emission reaching about 1×1014 watts in a given field of view of the observer. This, according to the researchers, is weaker than airport radar. Caisse Saide, a PhD student, added, 'In this way, our work supports both the scientific quest to answer the question, 'Are we alone?' and practical efforts to manage the influence of technology on our world and beyond.'
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Study suggests airport radars may be revealing Earth's presence to Aliens
A new study presented at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting 2025 in Durham, England, has revealed that radar systems used at civilian airports and military bases might be unintentionally broadcasting Earth's presence to extraterrestrial civilizations . According to researchers, radar emissions , which are part of routine aviation and defense operations, release electromagnetic signals into space. These signals can potentially be picked up by powerful alien radio telescopes, alerting them to our existence. The research team, led by Ramiro Saide of the University of Manchester , simulated how signals from major airports like London Heathrow and New York JFK spread through space. The study found that these signals could be detectable from nearby star systems such as Barnard's Star—located just under six light-years away—and AU Microscopii, a youthful planetary system situated about 32 light-years from Earth. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Man Revealing His Strategy To Earn Upto 3K-5K Daily Income thefutureuniversity Learn More Undo 'Our findings suggest that radar signals—produced unintentionally by any planet with advanced technology and complex aviation systems—could act as a universal sign of intelligent life ,' Saide stated. If any intelligent alien life exists within 200 light-years and possesses sufficiently advanced technology, these beings could potentially detect Earth's radar emissions. Live Events While radar signals were not designed with space communication in mind, their unintentional "leakage" into space could serve as a signal of intelligent life, giving astronomers new ideas on what to look for in the search for extraterrestrial civilizations. The study also notes that military radar systems are particularly potent, as they emit focused, rotating beams, resembling lighthouses sweeping through space, increasing their detectability. Co-author Professor Michael Garrett, also from the University of Manchester, highlighted the broader implications: 'By understanding how our signals propagate through space, we can better protect communication channels, improve radar design, and monitor the technological impact on our space environment.' He also noted that the techniques used to trace and model these faint signals could benefit astronomy, planetary defense, and studies into the environmental effects of human activity in space. Saide concluded that the research not only advances our search for intelligent life beyond Earth but also supports practical goals, such as managing technological interference in space.
NDTV
08-07-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Alien Landing Strips? Airports Could Guide Aliens to Earth, Study Suggests
A new study found that the radar systems used by civilian airports and military operations may be potentially revealing Earth's existence to "extraterrestrial observers", or aliens. Radar systems emit electromagnetic signals that can travel into space, detectable by powerful radio telescopes, said researchers of a study presented at the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS)'s National Astronomy Meeting 2025 in Durham, England on July 8. The research simulated how radar signals from airports like London's Heathrow and New York City's JFK International spread out into space and could be detectable from nearby stars like Barnard's Star and AU Microscopii. As per NASA, Barnard's Star, which is less than six light-years away, is "the closest single star to our sun and the most fast moving". Meanwhile, AU Microscopii is among the youngest planetary systems ever observed by astronomers. It is set less than 32 light-years from Earth. "Our findings suggest that radar signals-produced unintentionally by any planet with advanced technology and complex aviation system-could act as a universal sign of intelligent life," study lead and astrophysicist Ramiro Saide of the University of Manchester said in a statement. These signals could be strong enough to be picked up by strong telescopes. If alien life exists within 200 light-years and has advanced technology, they might be able to detect these signals. This unintentional signal leakage could also act as a universal sign of intelligent life, helping astronomers focus on what to look for in the search for extraterrestrial civilisations. The study noted that the military radar signals are more focused and directional, creating "lighthouse-like" beams that sweep across space. "By learning how our signals travel through space, we gain valuable insights into how to protect the radio spectrum for communications and design future radar systems," added paper co-author and Manchester astronomer professor Michael Garrett. "The methods developed for modelling and detecting these weak signals can also be used in astronomy, planetary defense, and even in monitoring the impact of human technology on our space environment." Saide concluded: "In this way, our work supports both the scientific quest to answer the question 'Are we alone?' and practical efforts to manage the influence of technology on our world and beyond."
Newsweek
08-07-2025
- Science
- Newsweek
Airports Could Help Aliens Find Earth
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Radar systems used by civilian airports and military operations may be unintentionally revealing our planet's existence to potential "extraterrestrial observers." This is the conclusion of a study presented today at the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS)'s National Astronomy Meeting 2025 in Durham, England. The researchers calculated that global aviation hubs like New York City's JFK International Airport and London, England's Heathrow and Gatwick could be serving as "technosignatures"—or clues to our existence—for alien life. The "unintentional electromagnetic leakage" from airport radars and military radar systems could be "detectable across interstellar distances," the researchers note. Study lead and astrophysicist Ramiro Saide of the University of Manchester said in a statement: "Our findings suggest that radar signals—produced unintentionally by any planet with advanced technology and complex aviation system—could act as a universal sign of intelligent life." An image of London's Heathrow Airport, with an inset stock image of an alien. Radar systems used by civilian airports (like this at Heathrow) and military operations are inadvertently revealing our existence to potential advanced... An image of London's Heathrow Airport, with an inset stock image of an alien. Radar systems used by civilian airports (like this at Heathrow) and military operations are inadvertently revealing our existence to potential advanced alien civilizations because of the hidden electromagnetic leakage they emit. More Mick Lobb / Radar scanner - Heathrow / CC BY-SA 2.0; Getty In their study, the team at how electromagnetic leakage might appear to extraterrestrials that are up to 200 light-years from Earth, if they had state-of-the-art radio telescopes such as our own. (In theory, this would also indicate how far we would be able to look to spot aliens who have evolved to use a similar level of technology.) The researchers observed how visible these radar signals would be from nearby stars, such as Barnard's Star and AU Microscopii, by simulating how the signals spread out from Earth over time and space. At less than 6 light-year away, Barnard's Star is "the closest single star to our sun and the most fast moving," while AU Microscopii is set less than 32 light-years from Earth and is among the youngest planetary systems ever observed by astronomers, according to NASA. The researchers calculated that airport radar systems, which monitor the skies for airplanes, send out a combined radio signal of 2x1015 (two followed by 15 zeros) watts, which is enough to be picked up as far as 200 light-years away by telescopes comparable to the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia. Putting this distance into context, the closest potentially habitable world beyond our solar system is Proxima Centauri b, which is four light-years away and would still take a spacecraft using current technology thousands of years to get there. Military radar systems—which are more focused and directional and create unique patterns, such as a lighthouse beam sweeping the sky—have an accumulated peak emission reaching about 1x1014 (one followed by 15 zeros) watts in a given field-of-view of the observer. This would look "clearly artificial to anyone watching from interstellar distances with powerful radio telescopes," noted Caisse Saide. "In fact, these military signals can appear up to a hundred times stronger from certain points in space, depending on where an observer is located," he added. Saide noted that the findings of the latest study also enhance our understanding of how human technology may be observed from space. "By learning how our signals travel through space, we gain valuable insights into how to protect the radio spectrum for communications and design future radar systems," added paper co-author and Manchester astronomer professor Michael Garrett. "The methods developed for modelling and detecting these weak signals can also be used in astronomy, planetary defense, and even in monitoring the impact of human technology on our space environment." Saide concluded: "In this way, our work supports both the scientific quest to answer the question 'Are we alone?' and practical efforts to manage the influence of technology on our world and beyond." Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about aliens? Let us know via science@ Reference Ramiro Saide. (2025). Examining Airport Civilian and Military Radar Leakage as a Detectable Marker for Extraterrestrial Civilizations. National Astronomy Meeting 2025.
