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Space

We could find advanced aliens by looking for their space junk

By Leah Crane

6 March 2018

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

A ring of satellites surrounds Earth. Maybe we could see one around an alien world

European Space Agency

One civilisation’s space trash may be another’s space treasure. Technologically advanced aliens on distant worlds could be revealed by the satellites and other space junk orbiting their planets.

When we think of signs of civilisation that may be visible around other worlds, many focus on those that require extreme technological advancement, like giant lasers or Dyson spheres – huge artificial structures that harvest power from a star.

There aren’t nearly as many ways to look for civilisations that have advanced to…

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