Research on climate crisis shows evidence of an asset to study the possibility of technologically advanced civilisations in the universe.
by
Sabato Angieri
21 June 2021
7 min read
by
Sabato Angieri
21 June 2021
7 min read
The old saying “every problem is an opportunity in disguise” couldn’t be more apt than here. Let’s start with the problem: to date, pollution has been one of the most obvious footprints left by humanity’s presence on Earth. Pollution is the cause of tangible consequences that afflict our planet, such as the temperature rising –a concrete indicator of climate change–, extreme cases of natural disasters, etc. For decades, now, the satellites orbiting around Earth have been sending us images showing the health condition of the layer that protects us from direct solar radiation. By the by, this is also how we discovered the existence of the ozone hole, one of the harbingers of the climate crisis that sparked the fight for the environment.
And now, let’s look at the opportunity. “On Earth, most of the nitrogen dioxide is emitted from human activity –combustion processes such as vehicle emissions and fossil-fueled power plants,” says Ravi Kopparapu, researcher at the NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “Therefore, observing NO2[nitrogen dioxide] on a habitable planet could potentially indicate the presence of an industrialized civilization.” In a study published on the Astrophysical Journal and recently shared on Cornell University’s astrophysics website, Kopparapu and four other researchers have put forward the idea that precisely the emissions present in the lower atmosphere (10-15 km from the ground) could become a new indicator of life on other planets. The assumption is that much larger quantities of NO2 generated by humankind –rather than naturally– become trapped at low altitudes and as such could become a reliable litmus test for activities of technologically advanced life forms. We should also consider that, to date, astronomers have identified over 4,000 planets orbiting around as many stars, which in technical jargon are called “exoplanets”. Some of these may have conditions suitable to life as we know it and, who knows –scientists wonder–, technologically evolved living beings may already be moving about on their surface. Considering how immensely remote these celestial bodies are, we are not yet able to send spacecrafts that can directly verify what lies within their atmospheres. These are just hypotheses, at least for the moment, and this is why the term biosignatures (biological signatures) was coined –to identify all those clues that could denote the possible presence of life. One of these is the combination of gases such as oxygen and methane in the atmosphere. Likewise, the presence of a gas released as a byproduct of a widespread industrial process, such as NO2, or other polluting molecules generated by technological activities, could be a sign of the existence of civilisations similar to ours on other planets.
This is not the first time that molecules are used as indicators: chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), industrial products once widely used as refrigerants, had been considered in the past. Here on Earth we had to eliminate them, due to their extremely negative impact on the atmosphere, as they directly attack the ozone. Jacob Haqq-Misra, researcher at the Blue Marble Institute of Science in Seattle, Washington, contributed to a study by NASA, which stated that, “CFCs are also a powerful greenhouse gas that could be used to terraform [originally a sci-fi term to mean transforming a planet’s conditions to make it similar to Earth] a planet like Mars by providing additional warming from the atmosphere.” Indeed, despite its characteristic red colour, Mars is a planet of ice, rather than fire. “As far as we know, CFCs are not produced by biology at all, so they are a more obvious technosignature than NO2” points out Haqq-Misra. “However, CFCs are very specific manufactured chemicals that might not be prevalent elsewhere; NO2, by comparison, is a general byproduct of any combustion process”.
In this case, too, technological evolution has given a considerable boost to detection tools. In the NASA’s study mentioned above, the Maryland research team used mathematical models to predict whether the pollution generated by this gas could become an indicator that our current telescopes (and those under construction) would be able to detect. Basically, we start from the assumption that atmospheric nitrogen dioxide strongly absorbs certain colours (wavelengths) of visible light and can therefore be detected by observing the light reflected from an exoplanet as it orbits around its star. The theory by Kopparapu, Haqq-Misra and colleagues is that with a telescope similar to those NASA has, capable of detecting wavelengths in about 400 hours of exposure time, we should be able to discern a civilisation living on a planet similar to Earth orbiting around a star similar to the Sun up to about 30 light years away. Obviously, these are considerable research timelines, but they’re not unprecedented. One light year –the distance light travels in a year– is about 9,500 billion kilometres; by way of comparison, the stars closest to our Sun are those in the Alpha Centauri system, just over four light years away, and our galaxy stretches for about 100,000 light years across. In 2004, NASA’s well-known Hubble space telescope was kept focused on the eXtreme Deep Field, a small area close to the Big Dipper, for 552 hours, i.e. 23 days –hence, such timelines are not unfeasible.
However, NO2 gas also occurs naturally and therefore scientists would have to carefully analyse an exoplanet to determine whether any excess could be attributed, as suggested, to a possible technologically advanced civilisation rather than to natural phenomena. According to scientific literature, researchers have found that about 76% of NO2 emissions are due to industrial activity. In consequence, if the same gas is observed on another planet, we’ll have to develop models that can estimate its potential minimum emissions, those that may not be produced by non-industrial sources. Only once this has been corroborated, if concentration levels were to be significantly higher than suggested by the models, could any excess be attributed to industrial activity. Besides, as in any scientific analysis, there’s always the chance of false positives and the researchers themselves acknowledge that, in future, more appropriate tools will be needed to carry out this type of investigation.
Graduated in European Literature at the University La Sapienza of Rome, he is a freelance journalist and editorial translator, he has collaborated in several cultural and artistic projects as an author and writer. He currently collaborates with Media Duemila, Lonely Planet as an author and with Elliot Publishing.
THIS WEBSITE (AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN) DOES NOT CONTAIN OR CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE, OR SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO PURCHASE SECURITIES OR IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES (INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA) OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF ANY U.S. PERSON AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE SECURITIES ACT (A "U.S. PERSON"), AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION WOULD REQUIRE THE APPROVAL OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES OR OTHERWISE BE UNLAWFUL (THE "OTHER COUNTRIES"). THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR PURSUANT TO THE CORRESPONDING REGULATIONS IN FORCE IN AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA OR THE “OTHER COUNTRIES” AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO A U.S. PERSON UNLESS THE SECURITIES ARE REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT IS AVAILABLE. NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF SUCH SECURITIES IS INTENDED TO BE MADE IN THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR IN THE “OTHER COUNTRIES.”
In any Member State of the European Economic Area ("EEA"), the information contained in this website is only directed at and may only be communicated to persons who are "qualified investors" ("Qualified Investors") within the meaning of Article 2(e) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the "Prospectus Regulation").
The information to which this website gives access is directed only at persons (i) who are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.") of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order") or (ii) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Order or (iii) to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). Any investment or investment activity to which this communication relates is only available to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons, or in the EEA, with Qualified Investors. Any person who is not a relevant person, a Qualified Investor or otherwise permitted under applicable law or regulation to access the information, should not act or rely on the information contained herein.
Confirmation of Understanding and Acceptance of Disclaimer
These materials are for informational purposes only and are not directed to, nor are they intended for, access by persons located or resident in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa or any of the Other Countries. I certify that:
I am not resident of, or located in, the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa or any of the Other Countries or I am not a U.S. Person; or
If I am a resident of, or located in, the EEA, I am a Qualified Investor within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation; or
If I am a resident of, or located in, the United Kingdom, I am a Qualified Investor and a relevant person.
I have read and understood the disclaimer set out above. I understand that it may affect my rights. I agree to be bound by its terms and I am permitted under applicable law and regulations to proceed to the following parts of this website.
WARNING: the above certification constitutes a "self-certification" pursuant to Decree of the President of the Italian Republic No. 445 of 28 December 2000. False certifications are punishable by law.
You must read the following information before continuing.
The information contained in this segment of the website is not intended for, and must not be accessed or distributed or disseminated to persons resident or physically present in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan or any other jurisdiction in which it is unlawful to do so. The information also is not intended for, and must not be accessed or distributed or disseminated to persons resident or physically present in Italy who are not “qualified investors” (investitori qualificati), as defined in Article 2, letter e) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the “Prospectus Regulation”) pursuant to Article 1, fourth paragraph, letter a) of the Prospectus Regulation as implemented in Italy by Article 35, paragraph 1, letter d) of CONSOB regulation No. 20307 of February 15, 2018.
By clicking the button below labeled “I agree”, you are certifying that (A) if you are in the European Economic Area, you are a “Qualified Investor”; (B) you are not accessing this portion of the website from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada or Japan; (C) if you are a resident or physically present in Italy, you are a qualified investor as defined under the Prospectus Regulation as implemented in Italy by Article 35, paragraph 1, letter d) of CONSOB regulation No. 20307 of February 15, 2018; and (D) you are not located in a jurisdiction where it is unlawful to access this portion of the website.
You acknowledge that the information and statements contained in the document you are accessing on this website speak only as of the date of such document (or such other date(s) specified therein), and such information and statements may become inaccurate, stale and/or out-of-date thereafter and should not be relied upon for any investment decision.
You acknowledge that the materials on this website that you are accessing are confidential and intended only for you and you agree you will not forward, reproduce, copy, download or publish any of such materials (electronically or otherwise) to any other person if this is not in accordance with the law.
You acknowledge that the access to information and documents contained on this portion of the website may be illegal in certain jurisdictions, and only certain categories of persons may be authorized to access this portion of the website. If you are not authorized to access the information and document contained on this portion of the website or you are not sure that you are permitted to view these materials, you should leave this portion of the website.
You acknowledge that no registration or approval has been obtained and Eni Gas e Luce S.p.A. società benefit and its affiliates assume no responsibility if there is a violation of applicable law and regulation by any person.
By clicking the button below labeled “I agree”, you are confirming that you have read and understood the disclaimer above.
If you cannot so confirm, you must exit this portion of the website