TED: The most mysterious star in the universe | Tabetha Boyajian

What was the primary goal of NASA's Kepler mission?

• To explore the surface of Mars

• To find planets outside our solar system

• To map the Milky Way galaxy

• To study the Sun's atmosphere

What was the purpose of the Planet Hunters project?

• To involve citizens in analyzing Kepler data

• To develop new space telescopes

• To create a database of known planets

• To train computers to recognize star patterns

What was unusual about the light patterns observed from KIC 8462852?

• The star's brightness increased by 50%

• The light dips were irregular and lasted longer than typical transits

• The light patterns were perfectly symmetrical

• The star emitted radio signals

What was the reaction of the science team when they first reviewed the data from KIC 8462852?

• They ignored the findings

• They immediately confirmed it as an alien structure

• They suspected an error in the data

• They found a new planet

Which of the following was NOT a proposed natural explanation for the light anomalies?

• A young star surrounded by a cloud of material

• A swarm of comets in an elliptical orbit

• A black hole passing in front of the star

• A collision between planets

What is a Dyson sphere?

• A type of star with unusual light patterns

• A hypothetical structure built by an advanced civilization to capture energy from a star

• A new type of telescope used in the Kepler mission

• A natural phenomenon caused by a swarm of comets

Why was the idea of alien megastructures considered?

• Because the star emitted radio signals

• Due to the star's rapid rotation

• Due to the lack of heat signature from the star

• Because the light dips were perfectly symmetrical

What was the outcome of the proposal to observe KIC 8462852 with the Green Bank Observatory?

• It led to the discovery of a new planet

• It was rejected due to lack of evidence

• It confirmed the presence of alien life

• It was leaked to the press, generating widespread interest

What role did amateur astronomers play in the ongoing investigation?

• They developed new computer algorithms

• They discovered a new planet

• They funded the Kepler mission

• They provided additional observations with their telescopes

What is the significance of finding another star like KIC 8462852?

• It would confirm the existence of alien life

• It would suggest a common natural phenomenon

• It would indicate a flaw in current astronomical theories

• It would prove the Kepler mission's failure