Instead of extraterrestrial life, perhaps it is better to look for extraterrestrial technology?

Those who are familiar with the space strategy of Stellaris probably know that one of the key moments before meeting with some ancient intelligent life is to determine the traces of the technology of this civilization. Although the game itself is a continuous science fiction, the concept described earlier in the proposal does not seem so far-fetched. At least for the same researchers from the Institute for the Search for Extraterrestrial Life (SETI). For example, in the opinion of astronomer Jason Wright, the search for traces of developed technologies, that is, the so-called technosignatures that could have been abandoned by ancient extraterrestrial civilizations, is no less important than the search for biosignatures.

His hypothesis he described and published on the site arXiv.org. We hasten to immediately inform you that Wright's work does not contain statements about the existence of evidence pointing to the possible existence in the Solar System of other civilizations before us. However, the likelihood of this is considered, however, as his opinion about whether we are really looking for what is needed. Is it really at the right angle that we are looking for extraterrestrial civilizations.

"There is no evidence of the existence of any very highly technologically advanced civilizations that lived before us. In my work, the question is first of all whether we really have exhausted all possible search options or whether there is some kind of evidence that we could simply miss. And if we have actually missed something and can find it in the future, then what is the probability that the traces left by the ancient highly developed civilizations that lived before us on Earth will have nothing in common with interstellar civilizations, if such, of course, also exist or exist? "

In the current form, the search is more aimed at finding even the most insignificant signs of a possible life or environments capable of supporting life (the main indicator, as a rule, is water). All this, of course, is good, but Wright suggests to start looking for technosignature, which could leave the ancient civilizations of aliens.

"Techno-signatures are proof of technologies that could have left alien civilizations long ago," the researcher said.

"Why not, for example, consider the option in which settlements and other objects of structures of extraterrestrial civilizations could be erected beneath the surface of rocky satellites or large asteroids?"

So what should you look for?
Opening a new planet, or even better - an entire system in the neighborhood or even let in more remote galaxies - this is always good news for aliens. Just recently, we were given some hope for the existence of extraterrestrial life from the TRAPPIST system. Although this hope, it must be admitted, is very fragile because of the extremely temperamental nature of her native star, which with its powerful flares could make the system completely "sterile." Another candidate looks even more attractive - super-Earth LHS 1140b. Even inside our solar system there are planetary satellites - in particular the same Europe and Enceladus - tormenting our imagination and hopes. Why? Because there is water. And where there is water, there is a higher chance of having a life.

And yet, despite the diversity of planets that we have already found, we have not been able to find any examples of extraterrestrial life. The Fermi Paradox? Or maybe we just did not look at all there and not at all what we need? And maybe they did not look at all as carefully as they should?

Against this background, Wright, who wants to simply use all possible options, it is quite possible to understand.

"Even though all the geological indications of the existence of the once highly developed technologically advanced extraterrestrial civilization could indeed be lost over a long period of time, if these civilizations mastered space flights, then in one form or another they could leave technological artifacts that can be detected even inside our solar system. "