If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
That old adage has applied to everything from get-rich-quick schemes to miracle diets—so why wouldn’t it also apply to claims of extraterrestrial contact?
Yet, astronomers are scratching their heads over an incredibly powerful radio signal detected near HD 164595, a star located 94 light-years away in the constellation Hercules.
The signal, first detected in 2015 by the Russian radio telescope RATAN-600, has reignited speculation about the possibility of intelligent life beyond Earth.
Could this be the long-awaited first contact?
Not so fast.
“No one is claiming that this is the work of an extraterrestrial civilization,” Paul Gilster, an author and researcher at Centauri Dreams, wrote in his blog.
“But the signal is provocative enough that the RATAN-600 researchers are calling for permanent monitoring of this target.”
So, what exactly did scientists find? And more importantly, why are they skeptical?
An “Interesting” Signal with an Uncertain Origin
The discovery of the mysterious signal was shared in a scientific presentation by Claudio Maccone, an Italian astronomer who collaborated with the Russian research team.
The presentation, set to be formally presented at the International Astronomical Meeting in Mexico, has fueled intense speculation about what—if anything—this signal might mean.
What makes it so intriguing?
HD 164595 is remarkably similar to our Sun. It is 4.5 billion years old (just 100 million years younger than the Sun), has nearly the same mass, and possesses a similar elemental composition.
Scientists have already identified at least one Neptune-like planet orbiting the star, and there is a possibility that smaller, rocky planets exist in the system—potentially harboring life.
The detected signal had a wavelength of about 2.7 cm (1.06 inches) and a frequency of 11 GHz, placing it in the ultra-high-frequency range—similar to digital TV signals.
If this were truly a message from an intelligent species, it would require an extraordinary amount of energy to reach Earth.
“If they’re aiming it straight at Earth, it’d require about 50 trillion watts,” said Seth Shostak, a senior astronomer at the SETI Institute.
“That’s more than all of humanity’s current energy consumption combined.”
And if this signal were being broadcast in all directions? The power requirement would be 100 billion billion watts—a number so vast that it exceeds human comprehension.
A Perspective Shift: It’s Probably Not Aliens
This is where the story takes a turn. While the discovery of such a signal would make for an extraordinary breakthrough, there are several reasons scientists remain highly skeptical.
First, the RATAN-600 team took over a year to disclose the signal.
This goes against the standard practice in the field of SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), where researchers are expected to immediately notify other observatories to confirm findings.
“It’s a gentleman’s agreement that if you find a signal that could be real, you call up someone else to check it out,” Shostak explained.
“The fact that the researchers didn’t do this suggests they weren’t convinced it was anything extraordinary.”
Maccone himself has admitted that he does not believe the signal is from an alien civilization.
Second, there are technical limitations with the RATAN-600 telescope that make pinpointing the signal’s true source difficult.
Unlike standard dish antennas, RATAN-600’s design creates a distorted field of view, making it hard to determine exactly where the signal originated.
“Their antenna is small in one direction and big in another,” Shostak said.
“It’s like a squished egg. When you pick something up, you don’t know precisely where it’s coming from.”
So, What Else Could It Be?
If the signal isn’t from aliens, what else could be causing it? Scientists have several possible explanations:
- Human Interference – The signal could be a case of terrestrial radio interference, meaning it originated from Earth rather than deep space. This has happened before with famous signals, such as the Australian “peryton” signals, which turned out to be microwave oven emissions.
- Natural Cosmic Phenomena – Some cosmic sources, such as pulsars, magnetars, and quasars, emit powerful radio waves. It’s possible that what we detected is a naturally occurring event rather than an alien transmission.
- Gravitational Lensing – One intriguing possibility is that the signal was distorted and amplified by a massive celestial object, such as a star or planet, causing an effect known as gravitational lensing. This could make it appear as though the signal is coming from HD 164595 when it is actually from a much more distant source.
“I am interested in the idea that this is a microlensing event caused by the star passing in front of a more distant target,” Gilster said.
“Astronomers at the Paris Observatory are currently investigating this possibility.”
The Future of the Search
Despite the skepticism, the SETI Institute isn’t giving up just yet.
On the night of August 28, 2016, SETI’s Allen Telescope Array (ATA) aimed its dishes at HD 164595 in an attempt to detect the signal again.
The result? Nothing.
But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost. The WOW! Signal, one of the most famous potential alien detections in history, was also a one-time event—never to be heard again.
Scientists will continue to monitor HD 164595 in the hopes of detecting a repeat transmission.
“Even if you don’t see lights on in the windows, it doesn’t mean no one is there,” Shostak said. “Maybe you’re too far away or just looking at the wrong time.”
For now, the signal remains classified as “interesting if true.” It is a reminder that the universe is vast, mysterious, and full of surprises.
Whether or not aliens are behind this latest cosmic enigma, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence continues—one radio signal at a time.
