The 1977 Wow! Signal: A New Explanation Emerges
On August 15, 1977, the Big Ear radio telescope detected a powerful and mysterious radio signal, later dubbed the 'Wow!' signal by astronomer Jerry Ehman. For nearly 50 years, this signal remained unexplained, sparking numerous hypotheses about its origin. Recent research suggests that the signal may be attributed to a natural phenomenon involving a neutron star and a cloud of hydrogen, rather than extraterrestrial life.
The study indicates that the Wow! signal, which lasted only 72 seconds, could have been caused by a burst of radiation traveling through a cold hydrogen cloud, creating a natural astrophysical maser effect. This explanation aligns with new observations of similar, albeit weaker, signals detected near the Teegarden star, providing insights into the potential mechanisms behind the original signal.
Ultimately, the findings propose that the Wow! signal represents the first recorded astronomical maser event in the hydrogen line, shedding light on its unique characteristics and why it has not been observed again since 1977.