Alien Megastructure 2016 Project Receives Funding, Does Alien Civilization Exist?

An alien megastructure found to be most likely a shelter for modern alien civilization has recently received funding. Scientists are hoping that through this project, they would be able to uncover the truth behind the mysteries of the previously discovered megastructure.

KIC 8462852, the flickering alien megastructure star believed to be a home to alien civilization, has been funded. A crowdfunding campaign, which was started in May by astronomer Tabby Boyajian from Yale received more than $100,000 worth of funding to kick start the Alien Megastructure 2016 project. Although the next step would be to determine the logistics, Boyajian has confirmed that  the investigations may begin in the late summer.

The alien megasructure discovered, according to reports, will be investigated for the star's light dims at irregular intervals for as much as 20 percent. According to scientists, the large dips in luminosity are too massive to become a passing planet, thereby leading to speculations that such irregularity is caused by a distorted sun or even some mysterious astronomical phenomenon, like a modern alien civilization that is currently constructing an enormous solar array surrounding the star,  The Atlantic reported.

Through the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network, Boyajian and his team of astronomers would be able to detect further irregularities and collect consistent data to duplicate the current findings. The alien megastructure KIC 8462852 was first initially discovered  by citizen scientists browsing through a collection of data gathered between 2009 and 2013 by NASA's Kepler Space Telescope. A new dip in the star's luminosity will provide the astronomers with some new patterns.

The news about an alien megastructure hoax emerged last year, with speculations that the star is unlikely surrounded by a Dyson sphere. However, it did not stop the scientists from searching for signals that could validate or invalidate its existence. Based on studies, if the star is obstructed by an alien megastructure, it should give signals through a blackbody thermal radiation. While the point of the Dyson sphere is to gather solar energy, a leakage is still expected, and if a partial Dyson sphere exists, scientists believe that they may find it through irregular yet noticeable radiation signatures, according to Outer Places.