NASA Explains the Challenges in Finding Aliens on Other Planets

In their quest to discover extraterrestrial life, NASA researchers explored the idea of searching for solar panels on nearby exoplanets using a next-generation space telescope. However, they had to abandon this approach, believing that advanced alien civilizations would have likely evolved beyond using solar energy.

Initially, the study was based on the assumption that extraterrestrial beings might harness solar energy from their nearest star. The researchers considered detecting silicon-based solar panels on Earth-like exoplanets, as silicon is abundant, easy to mine, cost-effective, and efficient at capturing solar energy.

They aimed to determine if the Habitable Worlds Observatory, a space telescope designed to search for signs of alien life, could detect such solar technology from 30 light-years away.