One of the nearest stars to our solar system is sending unusual radio signals through the galaxy that are puzzling scientists.
Researchers at an observatory in Puerto Rico first picked up the activity in May coming from Ross 128, a relatively small star around 11 light years from Earth.
“Right now we don’t have a theory to say how this star could do this,” said Abel Méndez, director of the Planetary Habitability Laboratory at the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo.
The patterns don’t match those normally coming from stars such as Ross 128 and so could be caused by interference between the star and the receivers on Earth.
However, the structure of the waves means they are more likely originating in deep space.
Mendez notes that there are many possible explanations including a new type of solar flare. Alien activity is one of the least likely explanations, he said.