We Could Hear Back from Aliens as Early as 2029
For over half a century, humanity has been sending signals into the depths of space, aiming to reach distant star systems that might harbor life. Now, the earliest possible moment for a reply is on the horizon.
Some of these signals, sent via pioneering space missions, have already traveled vast distances. For instance, transmissions sent to the Mariner 10 probe in 1973 have since reached a white dwarf star. Similarly, signals sent to Voyager 2 reached a brown dwarf 24 light-years away as early as 2007.
But what if an advanced alien civilization intercepted one of these signals and chose to respond? When might we expect to hear back?
This question was at the heart of a study conducted by researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and UCLA. The team examined data from NASA’s space probes to map out where the signals have traveled and how long it would take for them to return.
“Our estimates for when we might expect an answer from an alien civilization are based upon the length of time required for our radio signals, traveling at the speed of light, to reach the nearest star that is in their path,” Howard Isaacson, the study’s lead researcher, told The Debrief in 2023.
“The duration of light travel time to that star and back to us results in a return date in 2029. We made this calculation using astronomical mapping data from the most precise measurements of star positions ever conducted—those from the Gaia space mission.”
Two years later, Isaacson stands by that estimate.
“While the odds are very low of finding signals from intelligent life at this exact time and location, we hope it also offers inspiration to conduct new searches, inspire scientists (and the public), and think of new ways to search for life beyond the Earth,” he said.
