Astronomers have launched an unprecedented search for “technosignatures”—indications of technology from highly advanced civilizations—in galaxies far beyond the Milky Way.

Technosignatures refer to evidence of technology, past or present, that could indirectly confirm the existence of intelligent life in distant star systems.

Potential technosignatures might include artificial light sources, solar energy collectors, massive space structures, or clusters of satellites.

While searches for technosignatures have been conducted before, this is the first attempt to search outside our own galaxy. The effort involves a radio telescope array in Australia, which has the capability to scan for signs of life not only within the Milky Way but also across 2,800 additional galaxies.