Summary:
- The "Wow!" signal was a strong, narrowband radio signal detected in 1977 by the Big Ear radio telescope in Ohio. It was a potential sign of extraterrestrial intelligence, but its origin remained a mystery for decades.
- Researchers have now analyzed the signal and determined that it likely came from a passing comet, rather than an alien civilization. The characteristics of the signal match what would be expected from a comet's hydrogen cloud interacting with the telescope.
- This finding helps resolve the long-standing mystery of the "Wow!" signal and shows that even seemingly anomalous signals can often be explained by natural astronomical phenomena, rather than evidence of extraterrestrial life.