The radio signal lasted 72 seconds, and was too strong to be interpreted as normal background noise, and the researchers highly ruled out that it came from Earth.
When astronomer Jerry Eyman reviewed the data, he wrote the word “Wow!” next to it, and it has since been known as the “Wow signal!”
Despite repeated attempts, scientists were unable to monitor the signal again or determine its source, which kept it a scientific mystery for about five decades, without conclusive evidence of its connection to an alien civilization.
Its discovery came about two decades before the existence of the first planets outside the solar system was confirmed, while the number of planets discovered today has exceeded 6,000 planets. Advanced techniques are used to study the possibility that some of them contain signs of life. (space.com)
