Harvard Astrophysicians propose that Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) originate from the activity of extragalactic civilizations

Light sail concept by NASA
Light sail concept by NASA

The analysis of the astrophysicists Manasvi Lingam and Abraham Loeb shows that beams used for powering large light sails could yield parameters that are consistent with FRBs. The characteristic diameter of the beam emitter is estimated through a combination of energetic and engineering constraints, and both approaches intriguingly yield a similar result which is on the scale of a large rocky planet. Moreover, the optimal frequency for powering the light sail is shown to be similar to the detected FRB frequencies. These `coincidences’ lend some credence to the possibility that FRBs might be artificial in origin. Read more