Scientists Scan 74 Million Radio Signals From Interstellar Visitor, Find No Alien Technology
By edisonreed // 2026-06-09
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A team of researchers using the Allen Telescope Array scanned the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS for radio signals that could indicate alien technology, sifting through 74 million signal detections and finding no evidence of artificial transmissions, according to a study published in The Astronomical Journal. The search, conducted by the SETI Institute, analyzed 22 terabytes of data collected over five observing sessions totaling 7.25 hours. From the initial 74 million detections, researchers narrowed the field to 211 candidates, all of which were identified as human-made interference after visual inspection. The final count of signals worth following up was zero.

The Interstellar Object

The object, designated 3I/ATLAS, was discovered on July 1, 2025, by the ATLAS sky-survey system in Chile. It is only the third known interstellar object to pass through the solar system, following 'Oumuamua and Borisov. Most astronomers consider it a natural comet, and NASA confirmed it as such in November 2025, according to reports. [1][2] The object exhibited a reddish color and a developing gas tail consistent with cometary behavior. Despite that, Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb has suggested that the object's unexplained acceleration and other anomalies could indicate an artificial origin, sparking public debate. [3] The new radio search, however, found no technological signals.

Search Methodology

Researchers used 28 dishes of the Allen Telescope Array in Hat Creek, California, to scan frequencies from 1 to 9 gigahertz, a much wider range than previous searches. A software tool called bliss processed the data and identified 74 million narrowband signal detections. Filters removed interference from GPS, satellites, and cellular networks, discarding about 16 percent of the frequency range as too polluted. A second tool, NBeamAnalysis, compared signals from the main telescope beam pointed at 3I/ATLAS with signals from a slightly offset beam. This allowed researchers to isolate signals that appeared only when the telescope was aimed at the object. After this filtering, 211 candidates remained, but visual inspection showed none were genuine technological signals. The methodology builds on decades of SETI practice, which, as Carl Sagan described in The Demon-Haunted World, depends on meticulous verification to avoid false positives. [4]

Results and Significance

The final count of signals worth following up was zero, according to the study. Based on the array's sensitivity and the object's distance of about 3.35 astronomical units, the team set an upper limit on any possible transmitter power of 10 to 110 watts, comparable to a household light bulb. A previous search using the MeerKAT telescope covered a narrower frequency range, making this search the most comprehensive radio technosignature effort for an interstellar object to date. The SETI program, funded in part by NASA in the 1990s, has historically focused on targeted searches of nearby stars, and this work extends that approach to passing interstellar visitors. [5] Researchers noted that while no signals were found, the null result provides useful constraints for future searches.

Limitations and Future Work

The search was limited to narrowband radio signals; any technology emitting other types of signals would not have been detected. About 16 percent of the scanned frequencies were blocked by Earth-based interference, and the Allen Telescope Array has modest sensitivity compared to future facilities. The authors noted that a known software artifact in bliss does not cause false negatives, but better interference-removal techniques could recover data from blocked regions in future work. Despite the null result, the study establishes a template for future searches. As more interstellar objects are detected, similar radio scans could become standard practice. The search for extraterrestrial intelligence continues, with radio telescopes scanning the skies for signals that might one day be found.

References

  1. NaturalNews.com. "Scientific data crushes alien speculation as astronomers confirm interstellar comet 3IATLAS is a natural object." NaturalNews.com. November 12, 2025.
  2. NaturalNews.com. "NASA releases images of ancient interstellar comet after shutdown fueled alien spacecraft theories." NaturalNews.com. November 21, 2025.
  3. NaturalNews.com. "Interstellar visitor 3IATLAS defies expectations: Mysterious tail growth, radio signals spark debate over natural vs. artificial origin." NaturalNews.com. November 25, 2025.
  4. Carl Sagan. "The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark."
  5. Michael A. Cremo. "Human Devolution: A Vedic Alternative To Darwin's Theory."

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