Clément Vidal
September 23, 2021
Zoom recording
Abstract:
I discuss the idea that technosignatures might be sifted out of existing data. I illustrate this possibility through the stellivore hypothesis, which I introduce through three stories: bypassing the heat death of the universe, extrapolating energetic and technological trends on Earth, and investigating intriguing accreting binary star systems. I describe some epistemological and historical problems related to choosing a model through old and recent historical debates (e.g. geocentrism and heliocentrism; the Martian meteorite ALH84001 or ‘Oumuamua). I outline some core enduring anomalies or complications in the physics of accreting binaries, and argue that they are compatible with a living or technological interpretation. I open the discussion on how to further probe the stellivore hypothesis.