The Wow! Signal (1977)

Top 10 Unexplained Scientific Phenomena

The Wow! Signal (1977): Detected by Ohio State’s Big Ear radio telescope, this 72-second narrowband radio signal from Sagittarius was 30 times louder than background noise. Its intensity and frequency matched expectations for potential extraterrestrial communication. Astronomer Jerry Ehman circled it on printout, writing “Wow!” Despite hundreds of attempts, it never repeated. Its origin remains unknown—natural cosmic phenomena, satellite reflection, or an alien beacon? The lack of recurrence and precise location data prevents confirmation. The Wow! Signal endures as the strongest candidate for an alien transmission ever recorded, fueling SETI research.

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Brielle - September 11, 2025TOP

The Wow! Signal, detected in 1977 by the Big Ear radio telescope at Ohio State University, remains one of the most compelling and unexplained events in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). The strong, narrowband radio signal, which lasted 72 seconds, appeared to originate from the constellation Sagittarius and bore all the expected hallmarks of a potential interstellar transmission. Despite numerous attempts, it was never observed again. Its exact source, whether an astronomical phenomenon or something more profound, continues to be a subject of intense debate and mystery.

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