A paper titled “Discovery of peculiar periodic spectral modulations in a small fraction of solar type stars” doesn’t necessarily sound like a stunning discovery to most people, but the research paper published in the journal Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific may turn out to be the first step in the quest to establish the presence of intelligent life beyond our solar system.

An analysis of 2.5 million stars that researchers have been watching has revealed 234 stars giving off “strange modulations” that suggest their origins are likely caused by an alien species, rather than natural causes.

“We find that the detected signals have exactly the shape of an [extraterrestrial intelligence] signal predicted in the previous publication and are therefore in agreement with this hypothesis,” two researchers wrote in the new paper, according to The Independent.

“The fact that they are only found in a very small fraction of stars within a narrow spectral range centered near the spectral type of the sun is also in agreement with the ETI hypothesis,” they add, referring to an “ETI” or “Extra Terrestrial Intelligent” hypothesis.

Astronomers from a university in Quebec used a mathematical tool that hasn’t really been studied in depth yet to analyze super quick light pulses of about less than a trillionth of a second to reach their conclusion.

The scientists explored a series of other potential causes for the modulations, including instrument effects, rotation of molecules, rapid stellar pulsations and chemistry.

While they clearly state the evidence is insufficient to suggest definitive proof of intelligent life, it is currently the best explanation.

Breakthrough Listen, a project backed by Stephen Hawking and Mark Zuckerberg, will begin investigating the 234 star signals as well to see what can be determined.

“The one in 10,000 objects with unusual spectra seen by [the scientists] are certainly worthy of additional study. However, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence,” the group said in a statement. “It is too early to unequivocally attribute these purported signals to the activities of extraterrestrial civilizations.”

“Internationally agreed-upon protocols for searches for evidence of advanced life beyond Earth (SETI) require candidates to be confirmed by independent groups using their own telescopes, and for all natural explanations to be exhausted before invoking extraterrestrial agents as an explanation,” the statement continued. “Careful work must be undertaken to determine false positive rates, to rule out natural and instrumental explanations, and most importantly, to confirm detections using two or more independent telescopes.

Source: AOL news