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This is one of the things SETI struggles with. Their entire system is designed around the assumption that radio waves are going to be the way these advanced civilizations communicate. It might just be likely they use lasers or other methods and maybe treat radio as an antiquated backup.

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>Their entire system is designed around the assumption that radio waves are going to be the way these advanced civilizations communicate.

Yes, but don't think of it like Sweet 98's greatest hits. SETI specifically looks in the hydrogen frequencies because they're less noisy. This goes with the assumption that if they're at least as smart as us, they'll have similar astrophysics knowledge, and therefore know that a radio signal there would be easier to pick out against background.

Using line of site communication such as laser would probably not be the best way for interstellar communications. Largly because as empty as the universe is. It's hard to shoot a straight line in any direction and not hit something, and also the high energy requirements.

Lasers are only being used in this case for bandwidth issues not latency issues. As both lasers, and radio travel at the speed of light.

SETI is using the most likely method of detecting communications as we don't know of any faster means to communicate than EMR.

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