Daniel Giles
March 28, 2024
Zoom recording
Abstract:
In recent years, the search for life in the universe has diversified its parameter space well beyond the radio spectrum of classical SETI (Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence) efforts. As part of our own SETI program, we have embarked on an archival research project to identify non-exoplanetary transiting bodies around stars observed by the TESS primary mission (2018-2020). In particular, we are interested in transiting “megastructures” — artificial objects that are large enough to cause detectable fading when passing through our line of sight to the host star. I will discuss our anomaly detection pipeline, how we have vetted identified anomalies, results of signal injection work, and remaining mysteries.