So Far, No Extra-terrestrial Radio Signals in 'Space Anomaly'

So far, no radio signals have been detected in a "space anomaly" found in a distant star, CNN reports.

For the past two weeks, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute (SETI) has been keeping an eye – and ear – on star system KIC 8462852, known as Tabby's Star where intermittent light fluctuations have led to speculation that something such as a superstructure created by intelligent beings is responsible.

The September publication of an academic paper by Yale postdoctoral astronomy fellow Tabetha Boyajian and others prompted SETI to focus on the star system. Though one theory is that the light pattern was caused by swarm of comets, another is a superstructure in space that would completely encircle a star and provide collection for solar energy.

SETI is looking for two types of radio transmissions, narrow-band signals that would send out a "hailing signal" that an alien society would use to announce its presence, and broadband signals used in radio and TV broadcasting.

Though nothing has been found from KIC 8462852, SETI senior astronomer Seth Shostak said all is not lost.

"There is estimated to be in our galaxy alone a trillion planets. And we can see 100 billion galaxies," he told CNN. "It’s believed that one in 10 stars may have a habitable world capable of supporting life. That’s a lot of real estate."

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