Mysterious "Wow!" signal: New clues from Teegarden's star

Scientists still don't know where the mysterious "Wow!" signal from 1977 originated. It was speculated that it could be a signal sent by an alien civilization, but researchers from the University of Puerto Rico hypothesized it was a natural signal.

For nearly 50 years, astronomers have tried to solve the mystery of the enigmatic signal that surprised scientist Jerry Ehman in 1977 while conducting observations using the Big Ear radio telescope at Ohio State University. This signal lasted for 72 seconds. However, it was so unusual and exceptional that Ehman wrote "Wow!" on the printout. A team of researchers from the University of Puerto Rico, led by astrobiologist Abel Méndez, is trying to explain its origin.

Méndez's team found four signals in archival data from the Arecibo Observatory whose frequencies were similar to the famous "Wow!" signal. They come from the vicinity of Teegarden's star, a nearby red dwarf located about 41 light-years from Earth. Scientists suspect these signals may be related to clouds of cold hydrogen, which could also explain the origin of the original "Wow!" signal.

The mystery of the "Wow!" signal has remained unsolved for nearly 50 years. Since then, it has been the source of much speculation about the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations. So far, however, it has not been definitively pinpointed to a specific source. There is a possibility, however, that a breakthrough in this matter is awaiting us.

The "Wow!" signal did not move, making it unlikely to have originated from an artificial satellite. It was also never repeated, which makes it likely that it was not transmitted deliberately. Moreover, many natural objects emit signals at 1420 MHz, precisely what Ehman received.

According to the hypothesis put forth by researchers from Puerto Rico, the signal could have resulted from a powerful burst of radiation passing through a cloud of cold hydrogen. This could have caused the emission of an intense radio pulse at a frequency of 1420 MHz, a phenomenon called a maser.

A maser resembles a natural astrophysical laser emitting concentrated radio light. While Teegarden's star is unlikely to produce such a powerful burst, scientists suggest that other cosmic objects, like magnetars, could do so. Magnetars are neutron stars with extremely strong magnetic fields that can burst out with explosions so powerful that we can detect them in intergalactic space.

Méndez's team's hypothesis seems to explain all the features of the "Wow!" signal. Therefore, it is possible that it was the first recorded astronomical maser burst on the hydrogen line. The researchers intend to continue their work by analyzing archival data from the Arecibo Observatory. They hope this may provide further evidence to support their theory. Their research results are now available as a preprint on arXiv, with a full publication yet to come.