Scientists find signs of highly-developed extraterrestrial civilisations

Top astronomers have been scouring the universe for signs of life and have detected unusually high levels of radiation in 50 different galaxies. 

It's thought that technologies from highly-developed extraterrestrial civilisations could be the source of these uncommonly high levels of radioactivity.

And the discovery has got many experts brimming with excitement about finding extraterrestrial life.

Penn State University, who commissioned the study, observed more than 100,000 galaxies.

Of those, only 50 hinted at the presence of advanced life.

Radiation could be emitted by these alien civilisations in the same way Earth radiates heat and light.

Roger Griffith, a researcher from the Pennsylvania university and the lead author of the paper, said: "We found about 50 galaxies that have unusually high levels of mid-infrared radiation.

"Our follow-up studies of those galaxies may reveal if the origin of their radiation results from natural astronomical processes – or if it could indicate the presence of a highly advanced civilisation."

It was first suggested mankind could reach out across the stars using mid-infrared emissions to track down an alien race, back in the early 1960s.

But it was not until NASA launched its WISE satellite in December 2009 that it became possible to search the universe.

Mario Livio, an astrophysicist working at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, this week spoke out analysing Earth-like planets for alien lifeforms.

"In my view, the next priority should be the search for life beyond our solar system," Dr Livio told Space.com.

"A powerful space telescope that can spot biological signatures in the atmospheres of Earth-like exoplanets would be a worthy successor.

"Many scientists would agree that the question of, 'Is there extrasolar life?' is one of the most intriguing questions in science today.

"So let's try to actually answer that question, and do what it takes to answer it, as opposed to maybe taking baby steps that would just push the answer into the more distant future."

(dailystar.co.uk)