What To Know
- Now, if aliens are already using them, we should be able to detect gravitational waves which appear in the event of an error, according to a study led by the University of London (United Kingdom) and pre-published on the platform arXiv June 4, 2024.
- This feat would take the form of a ship in a sort of bubble able to contract space-time in front of him, while extending him behind.
- So while the search for intelligent extraterrestrial life is far from certain, it is theoretically possible to detect the potential arrival of a visitor who has mastered space-time distortion.
In a recent preprint, mathematicians estimate that humans would be able to detect gravitational wave patterns resulting from the collapse of an alien ship’s warp drive. In other words, if such a ship were to break down on Earth’s doorstep, we would be able to spot it.
A poorly controlled space-time distortion
Theoretically, it would be possible to build warp engines faster than light. Now, if aliens are already using them, we should be able to detect gravitational waves which appear in the event of an error, according to a study led by the University of London (United Kingdom) and pre-published on the platform arXiv June 4, 2024. Traveling through space at a speed exceeding that of light is still in the realm of science fiction. This feat would take the form of a ship in a sort of bubble able to contract space-time in front of him, while extending him behind. In theory possible, this innovation is still very far from being a reality. Indeed, we are absolutely not capable today of creating a field of energy density lower than vacuum. The researchers of the study in question nevertheless believe that if extraterrestrials master such technology, it would be possible to spot the errors. Indeed, the detection of the gravitational wave signal emitted by the ship could inform us about a spatio-temporal distortion poorly confined by the famous bubble.
Bad news for earthlings
The authors recall that in Hanford, in the state of Washington (United States), is located the Laser Interferometric Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). This tool designed to study galaxies and black holes is currently monitoring a certain frequency range gravitational waves. However, precise tuning could allow the detection of “accidents” of spacecraft near Earth. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that such accidents would be synonyms for bad news for earthlings.
The LIGO gravitational-wave observatory. Credits: Encyclopædia Britannica
“All the curvature of spacetime that’s inside the warp bubble collapses inward and outward. It creates a very strong tidal effect. In the same way that when you fall into a black hole, you’re kind of torn apart.”said Katy Clough, lead author of the study. So while the search for intelligent extraterrestrial life is far from certain, it is theoretically possible to detect the potential arrival of a visitor who has mastered space-time distortion. However, we will have to absolutely count on a malfunction of its warp engine.
