Artificial intelligence will help predict alien life on other planets

Artificial intelligence could soon help scientists determine whether other planets harbour alien life. Researchers from Plymouth University's Centre for Robotics and Neural Systems used artificial neural networks (ANNs), which use similar learning techniques to the human brain, in order to estimate the probability of extraterrestrial life on other worlds. They hope that the technology will be used aboard robotic spacecraft on alien-hunting space missions. "We're currently interested in these ANNs for prioritising exploration for a hypothetical, intelligent, interstellar spacecraft scanning an exoplanet system at range," said Christopher Bishop, a PhD student at Plymouth University who led the study. "We're also looking at the use of large area, deployable, planar Fresnel antennas to get data back to Earth from an interstellar probe at large distances. This would be needed if the technology us used in robotic spacecraft in the future."