Buzz
Is there anyone else out there in the universe? Ever since humanity realized there were other planets and solar systems, the possibility of being contacted by an alien civilization has intrigued us. Both international SETI research projects and amateur astronomers with backyard telescopes have aimed their lenses at the depths of space in hopes of detecting signals from intelligent extraterrestrial life. The search for signs of alien life has become such a profound part of our thinking that it has led to numerous supposed eyewitness accounts of unidentified flying objects and strange occurrences.
There have been several instances where scientists thought they had stumbled upon proof of extraterrestrial intelligence, only to later discover the signals were caused by something entirely different, like a pulsar or a faulty microwave. Some strange transmissions and unusual sightings remain unexplained. From legitimate scientific theories to the most famous UFO claims, here are ten examples of possible alien evidence that turned out to be either false alarms or remain officially unresolved.
10. Canals on Mars
One of the most notable astronomical myths of the late 19th and early 20th centuries was the belief in canals on Mars. Some astronomers speculated that these canals could only be explained as the work of an intelligent civilization, built for irrigation purposes. American astronomer Percival Lowell wrote a trilogy of books outlining his theory that the canals were a product of intelligent design, and the media helped spread this idea to the public.
The debate about the existence of these structures and Martian life continued well into the early 20th century, until advancements in technology debunked the canal theory. The supposed canals were revealed to be an optical illusion, a result of the blurry telescopic images of the time and the brain’s natural tendency to connect random dots into recognizable patterns.
9. The HD 164595 Signal
In 2016, the star HD 164595, which is quite similar to our Sun, made headlines when it was revealed that in 2015, a possible alien signal had been detected coming from its direction. Although the star has one known planet that cannot support life, there was speculation that more undiscovered planets might orbit it. The signal, lasting only two seconds, was observed just once, making it difficult to determine its exact origin.
The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) analyzed the signal to assess its potential alien origin. SETI concluded that the signal was likely caused by interference from Earth-based sources, as it was detected by only one telescope. Its exact origin remained undetermined, but it was most likely traced back to a satellite.
8. Kenneth Arnold
While the world is filled with countless unreliable accounts of flying saucers, aviator and businessman Kenneth Arnold’s UFO encounter was the first to gain widespread media attention. In 1947, Arnold claimed to have observed nine strange flying objects while flying over Washington state. He described their movement as resembling saucers skipping across the surface of water. The media quickly coined the terms 'flying saucer' and 'flying disc,' mistakenly interpreting Arnold's description as referring to saucer-shaped objects.
The Air Force suggested that Arnold had seen a mirage, but both he and many others, including Arnold himself, were unsatisfied with this explanation. They held onto the belief that he had witnessed alien spacecraft. Later, Arnold reported seeing more flying saucers and authored a book recounting his experiences, becoming a near-legendary figure among ufologists.
7. Perytons
For many years, both the Bleien Radio Observatory in Switzerland and the Parkes radio telescope in Australia had been detecting bursts of brief signals that no one could explain. Dubbed perytons, after the mythical creature Peryton, these signals exhibited a frequency and pattern similar to fast radio bursts (FRBs), which are mysterious, extragalactic signals. Some believed that FRBs were artificial signals from extraterrestrial intelligence, and similarly, the perytons sparked similar speculations. However, it was later revealed that the signals originated from near Earth, debunking the alien theory, though their true source remained a mystery for a long time.
In 2015, the mystery was finally unraveled when scientists at the Parkes telescope discovered the surprisingly ordinary cause of the signals: a leaking kitchen microwave. Every time the microwave door was opened prematurely, it emitted a radio pulse that mimicked the characteristics of FRBs. Sometimes, great mysteries can have surprisingly mundane explanations.
6. Fast Radio Bursts Coming From Alien Starships
Fast radio bursts (FRBs), the unexplained signals detected by telescopes around the world, had been theorized to be messages from extraterrestrial beings. However, in 2017, two scientists, Manasvi Lingam and Abraham Loeb, suggested that the FRBs might have another extraterrestrial origin. They proposed that these bursts could serve as a propulsion system for highly advanced alien spaceships traveling through the vast reaches of space. According to this theory, the FRBs we detect are not messages intended for us, but rather a byproduct of alien ships being powered by something far more powerful than conventional fuel.
Lingam and Loeb have supported their theory with mathematical models, but recent discoveries of repeating FRBs coming from a specific region in the sky have made this idea seem less likely. The bursts could actually be caused by neutron stars or may be related to black holes.
5. Crop Circles
Crop circles, also referred to as crop formations, are vast designs created by flattening crops in fields. Over the past 40 years, there has been an increasing number of these formations, though the concept itself isn't new. Their sudden emergence overnight and impressive scale give them an air of mystery, leading some investigators to claim that there is no way humans could have created them.
The idea that aliens are behind these circles as a form of communication was never scientifically validated but gained public attention after extensive media coverage of the phenomenon. In truth, crop circles are human-made, with some being intricate works of art, while others are simple pranks intended to deceive the public. However, the theory of UFOs crafting these formations continues to thrive in certain pseudoscientific circles, despite being thoroughly debunked.
4. Alien Megastructures Around Tabby’s Star
The now-retired Kepler space observatory is widely recognized for its quest to discover Earth-like planets orbiting distant stars. In 2015, citizen scientists analyzing the data gathered by Kepler detected something odd about one particular star. Tabby’s star, officially known as KIC 8462852, displayed peculiar variations in its brightness. The star exhibited erratic light fluctuations, with significant dimming occurring at irregular intervals.
Numerous theories have been proposed to explain the phenomenon. Some astronomers speculated that alien megastructures might be orbiting the star. Energy-harvesting megastructures, such as Dyson swarms, originally conceived in science fiction, were considered in actual scientific discussions. Tabby’s star became a key subject of interest for SETI, but recent findings suggest that the dimming is most likely caused by dust rather than any solid, intelligently constructed object, whether man-made or natural.
3. Wow! Signal
In 1977, SETI astronomer Jerry R. Ehman was reviewing data collected by Ohio State University’s “Big Ear” radio telescope. He discovered a remarkable 72-second signal that stood out due to its frequency. The signal was particularly significant because it fell within a frequency range that is protected, meaning no terrestrial transmissions can occur on that band. As a result, the signal couldn’t have come from Earth.
At the same time, this particular frequency seemed like an ideal candidate for communication. An advanced species would likely choose a “channel” that is easy to listen to, rather than the chaotic frequencies of Big Bang background radiation or quantum noise. Moreover, this frequency closely resembled the electromagnetic wavelength of hydrogen, the most abundant and easily recognizable element in the universe.
The signal earned its name, “Wow!”, after the enthusiastic remark Ehman wrote on the printout. The true origin of Wow! remains undetermined, solidifying it as one of the most compelling candidates for extraterrestrial communication ever encountered.
2. The Little Green Men Signal
In 1967, graduate student Jocelyn Bell discovered a perplexing signal at the Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory in the UK. The signal’s regularity and speed suggested an artificial source, but it was not of human origin. Bell and her advisor, Antony Hewish, jokingly named it LGM-1 for “Little Green Men.” While alien communication wasn’t their primary hypothesis, they had to consider the possibility and figure out how they would inform the public if it turned out to be extraterrestrial. However, when they detected a similar signal, they dismissed the alien theory, as it was unlikely that two different alien civilizations would try to contact them at the same time.
In truth, Bell and Hewish had discovered pulsars, rotating neutron stars that emit beams of electromagnetic radiation. These beams are directed toward Earth at regular intervals, which makes them appear as if they are intelligently designed transmissions. Although it was a false alarm regarding extraterrestrial life, the discovery of pulsars proved to be an important breakthrough for astronomers.
1. Roswell UFO Incident
The Roswell incident stands as one of the most iconic UFO stories in history, with the US military and politicians having to address the event multiple times, even years later. In the summer of 1947, a United States Army Air Forces balloon crashed on a ranch in New Mexico. A man named William Brazel discovered the wreckage and, having heard of flying saucers, he reported his findings to the local sheriff, suspecting that he may have uncovered the remains of one. The sheriff contacted the nearby Air Force base, which issued an initial press release about the incident. The story gained widespread attention, only for a follow-up press statement to explain the balloon’s mundane origin.
Decades later, the Roswell incident resurfaced as UFO researchers began interviewing alleged witnesses and reviewing documents. A new theory emerged suggesting that alien bodies had been recovered from the crash site, and that the US government had orchestrated a cover-up. While this theory may seem improbable, a 2013 US poll revealed that one in five respondents still believed the Roswell incident was, in fact, an UFO crash, solidifying its place as one of the most enduring and widely accepted alien theories.
