ScienceAugust 17, 2026

technosignatures

TEK-no-sig-nuh-churz

Definition

Observable evidence or indicators of advanced technology used by extraterrestrial civilizations.

Etymology

The term is a blend of 'techno-', derived from the Greek 'tekhnē' (art, craft, skill), and 'signature', from the Latin 'signare' (to mark or sign). It was coined by scientists as an analog to 'biosignatures' to categorize signs of technological activity in space.

In the news

The article suggests that by scanning the universe for technosignatures—such as pollutants or radio signals—we might identify other intelligent life forms that have successfully navigated their own technological transitions.

Planet Earth Is Conscious With a ‘Mind’ Shaping the Fate of All Life, Controversial Theory Suggests

Read the full article ↗

Popular Mechanics

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