The Open Source Commensal Multimodal Interferometric Cluster (COSMIC) at the SETI Institute’s Carl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) is expanding the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) with a groundbreaking space search. This cutting-edge technology is not a telescope per se; It’s a detector. COSMIC searches for extraterrestrial signals using a copy of the original data from the telescope’s observations, paving the way for future science. At the core of the COSMIC mission lies the search for an ancient question: Are we alone in the universe? Project scientist Dr. Chenois Tremblay and his team described the project in detail in a paper published in 2014. Astronomy Magazine.

What sets COSMIC apart is its adaptability to the future. The system is designed for future upgrades, ensuring it remains at the forefront of space exploration. With the potential to expand its capabilities, COSMIC will soon be able to reach more stars, explore new frequencies, and improve our understanding of the vast cosmic fabric.

It is important to note that COSMIC’s capabilities extend beyond the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Future updates could unlock new research, from the search for fast radio bursts with sub-millisecond temporal resolution to studies of spectral line science and action dark matter.

“COSMIC introduces cutting-edge Ethernet-based digital architecture at VLA and provides a test bed for future technologies as we move into the next-generation era,” Tremblay said.

“The focus now is on creating one of the largest studies of technological signals, with over 500,000 source observations in the first six months. “But the flexibility of the design also enables a wide range of other scientific opportunities, such as the study of fast radio burst pulse structures and the search for axial dark matter candidates.”

“We hope to create opportunities for other scientists to use our high timing (nanosecond) or high spectral resolution (up to Hz) to complete their research. It’s an exciting time to expand the capabilities of this historic telescope.”

COSMIC stands on the shoulders of giants like Project Phoenix, with its ability to search for millions of stars and the potential to expand to tens of millions; a huge leap forward in scale and precision. COSMIC, currently operating at the VLA, is searching with the Very Large Array Sky Survey (VLASS), which will map 80% of the sky in three phases over two years and catalog approximately 10 million radio sources.

The Ethernet-based COSMIC system adds a new element of collaboration to space. Multicast technology allows other systems in the community to access COSMIC’s computing power, enabling the development of a shared scientific ecosystem. Imagine several telescopes working together to solve the deepest mysteries of the universe.

“The COSMIC system significantly expands the VLA’s scientific capabilities. Its primary goal, the detection of extraterrestrial technosignatures, addresses one of the deepest scientific questions ever. This has not been possible before with the VLA,” said Dr. Paul Demorest of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. .

“Working in parallel with projects such as the VLA Sky Survey, COSMIC will conduct one of the largest SETI surveys ever and allow the VLA to carry out its normal program of other astronomical studies.”

The possibilities are as wide as the universe when we embark on this cosmic journey with COSMIC. Whether searching for signals from distant civilizations or unraveling the mysteries of dark matter, COSMIC is more than just a detector in a telescope; It is a space companion in our quest for knowledge.