- A team of scientists believes they have detected radio waves from a distant exoplanet, which would be a first.
- The planet is about 51 light years away, and while there is still some debate as to whether the signal is coming from the planet or the binary star it orbits, the data suggests the planet is “talking” .
- If confirmed, this could be a huge step towards examining exoplanets near us in greater detail than ever before.
Looking into space with optical or infrared telescopes can teach us a lot about what lies in the depths of the cosmos, but sometimes it is just as important to listen. In the case of the system called Tau Boötes, it looks like something is sending a radio signal into space, and in what may be a first for astronomy, scientists think they know what it is.
In a new article published in the journal Astronomy and AstrophysicsResearchers led by Cornell University suggest that the radio signal they hear actually comes from a massive extrasolar planet hovering near the binary star that harbors it. If confirmed, it will be the first time scientists have been able to detect a radio signature from an extrasolar planet, and it could help unravel secrets about other planets outside our solar system.
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The article focuses on the exoplanet about 51 light-years from Earth, but the research was made possible thanks to the work that began here in our own solar system. The team first studied Jupiter’s radio emissions and helped them paint a picture of what the radio signal from a similar planet might look like if seen from a much greater distance. Using that information, they turned their attention to the Tau Boötes system and found what they were looking for.
“We present one of the first clues to detect an exoplanet in the radio world,” Jake D. Turner, lead author of the work, said in a statement. “The signal comes from the Tau Boötes system, which contains a binary star and an exoplanet. We argue for emission from the planet itself. Given the strength and polarization of the radio signal and the planet’s magnetic field, it is compatible with theoretical predictions. “
Before you dream of an alien race radiating radio signals into space, that’s not at all what these findings indicate. The planet’s radio signature is actually a possible byproduct of its magnetic field and energy from its host star (or, in this case, stars). However, if this radio signature is indeed proof that the planet has a robust magnetic field, scientists believe this is a great prerequisite in the search for life, as Earth’s magnetic field allowed life to take root here and protected our atmosphere. against degradation by the solar wind. .
More work is needed to confirm the findings, but it’s a pretty exciting development in itself.
Mike Wehner has spent the last decade reporting on technology and video games, covering the latest news and trends in VR, wearables, smartphones and future technology. Most recently, Mike worked as a Tech Editor at The Daily Dot, appearing in USA Today, Time.com and numerous other web and print outlets. His love of reporting is second only to his gaming addiction.