Observational Constraints on the Great Filter. (arXiv:2002.08776v1 [astro-ph.EP])
<a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Haqq_Misra_J/0/1/0/all/0/1">Jacob Haqq-Misra</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Kopparapu_R/0/1/0/all/0/1">Ravi Kumar Kopparapu</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Schwieterman_E/0/1/0/all/0/1">Edward Schwieterman</a>

The search for spectroscopic biosignatures with the next-generation of space
telescopes could provide observational constraints on the abundance of
exoplanets with signs of life. An extension of this spectroscopic
characterization of exoplanets is the search for observational evidence of
technology, known as technosignatures. Current mission concepts that would
observe biosignatures from ultraviolet to near-infrared wavelengths could place
upper limits on the fraction of planets in the galaxy that host life, although
such missions tend to have relatively limited capabilities of constraining the
prevalence of technosignatures at mid-infrared wavelengths. Yet search-ing for
technosignatures alongside biosignatures would provide important knowledge
about the future of our civilization. If planets with technosignatures are
abundant, then we can increase our confidence that the hardest step in
planetary evolution–the Great Filter–is probably in our past. But if we find
that life is commonplace while technosignatures are absent, then this would
in-crease the likelihood that the Great Filter awaits to challenge us in the
future.

The search for spectroscopic biosignatures with the next-generation of space
telescopes could provide observational constraints on the abundance of
exoplanets with signs of life. An extension of this spectroscopic
characterization of exoplanets is the search for observational evidence of
technology, known as technosignatures. Current mission concepts that would
observe biosignatures from ultraviolet to near-infrared wavelengths could place
upper limits on the fraction of planets in the galaxy that host life, although
such missions tend to have relatively limited capabilities of constraining the
prevalence of technosignatures at mid-infrared wavelengths. Yet search-ing for
technosignatures alongside biosignatures would provide important knowledge
about the future of our civilization. If planets with technosignatures are
abundant, then we can increase our confidence that the hardest step in
planetary evolution–the Great Filter–is probably in our past. But if we find
that life is commonplace while technosignatures are absent, then this would
in-crease the likelihood that the Great Filter awaits to challenge us in the
future.

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