TY - GEN
T1 - Footprints of alien technology
AU - Davies, Paul
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - If alien civilizations do, or did, exist, their technology will impact their environment. Some consideration has been given to the detection of large-scale astro-engineering, such as Dyson spheres. However, a very advanced technology might leave more subtle footprints requiring sophisticated scientific methods to uncover. We must not overlook the possibility that alien technology has impacted our immediate astronomical environment, even Earth itself, but probably a very long time ago. This raises the question of what traces, if anything, might remain today. I shall consider the possibilities of biological, geological and physical traces, and suggest ways that we might search for them.
AB - If alien civilizations do, or did, exist, their technology will impact their environment. Some consideration has been given to the detection of large-scale astro-engineering, such as Dyson spheres. However, a very advanced technology might leave more subtle footprints requiring sophisticated scientific methods to uncover. We must not overlook the possibility that alien technology has impacted our immediate astronomical environment, even Earth itself, but probably a very long time ago. This raises the question of what traces, if anything, might remain today. I shall consider the possibilities of biological, geological and physical traces, and suggest ways that we might search for them.
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M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:79959476067
SN - 9781617823688
T3 - 61st International Astronautical Congress 2010, IAC 2010
SP - 5524
EP - 5532
BT - 61st International Astronautical Congress 2010, IAC 2010
T2 - 61st International Astronautical Congress 2010, IAC 2010
Y2 - 27 September 2010 through 1 October 2010
ER -