Why Search for Astronomical Anomalies? | Beatriz Villarroel

The discovery of anomalies in astronomy has historically pushed the boundaries of research. From the discovery of quasars to pulsars to the modern fast radio bursts (FRBs), science seldom makes as fast jumps in progress as when a new phenomenon emerges. In this talk, I review how some previous “anomalies” over decades have become mainstream science, and how the searches for anomalies, and hopes of finding signs of extraterrestrial intelligence, serves as a driving force. In light of this, I will present the search for astronomical anomalies with the Vanishing

& Appearing Sources during a Century of Observations (VASCO) project, that includes automated searches for anomalies as well as a citizen science project. I will present the current status and highlight the most interesting results.

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Published on December 6, 2023

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