"Searching for Advanced Alien Life: Clues in Nearby Worlds and Alien Atmospheres"

Astronomers are exploring the possibility of detecting advanced civilizations on exoplanets by searching for atmospheric pollution produced by technological societies. MIT's Sara Seager and an international team of scientists propose nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) as ideal technosignature gases, as they are not created by life on Earth and have unique spectral features. Spectroscopy via the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) can be used to search for these gases, along with other potential technosignatures such as artificial lights, megastructures, waste heat, and radio signals. Machine learning and big data analysis are also being employed to identify outlier data that may indicate the presence of advanced civilizations. However, public support and funding are crucial for the search for life elsewhere and the exploration of exoplanets.