Could a 72-Second Radio Signal Really Come from Aliens?

It was 1977.

An astronomer sat scanning reams of paper spewing out of a radio telescope, when suddenly he circled one printout and wrote “Wow!”

This marked the detection of a radio signal that seemed to defy explanation.

That signal, now known as the Wow! Signal, appeared to be strong evidence of alien life.

But more than 45 years later, its true origin remains unknown.

So what exactly was this signal?

And could it really have come from an intelligent alien civilization?

The Key Facts About This Intriguing Signal

• It lasted just 72 seconds as the telescope scanned past it, increasing then decreasing in intensity.
• It was centered on 1420 MHz — a protected frequency considered a universal marker for life.
• It was 30 times stronger than background noise, meaning it stood out.
• Despite multiple attempts to find it again, the Wow! Signal has never been detected since.

Theories On What May Have Caused This Mysterious Signal

• A comet — some propose comets 266P/Christensen or P/2008 Y2 were in the region and may have emitted the signal.
• An extraterrestrial beacon — the signal matched expectations for a transmitter intentionally sending out a signal.
• A previously unknown astronomical phenomenon.
• Satellite/human interference — unlikely given the protected frequency.

Additional Details on the Wow! Signal

• It was detected at Ohio State University’s Big Ear radio telescope on August 15, 1977.
• It appeared to come from the direction of the Sagittarius constellation.
• The astronomer who discovered it was Jerry Ehman. He circled “Wow!” on the printout when he saw the unusual signal.
• It was at least 30 sigma above the background noise. Sigma is a measure of signal strength.
• The signal frequency increased and decreased as it passed through the telescope’s field of view, as expected from a transmitter.
• No known natural celestial sources (like pulsars) were visible in the direction of the signal.
• Follow-up observations by Ehman in 1977 and Ohio State in the 1980s found no repeat of the signal.
• It continues to be analyzed and discussed by scientists, as the best candidate signal for an extraterrestrial source.

Why The Wow! Signal Captures Our Imagination

The Wow! Signal remains the most intriguing candidate radio signal from space ever received.

While its extraterrestrial origins can’t be confirmed, the notion that we may have detected a transmission from alien life, even briefly, compels our imagination.

It speaks to that eternal question — are we alone in the universe? I’m curious to hear your thoughts on this enduring scientific mystery.

Could there really be an alien source for this signal?

Let me know what you think in the comments!