Detecting advanced extraterrestrial civilizations by identifying industrial pollution in their atmospheres is a compelling idea. However, recent research suggests that this method may not be feasible with current technology.

A study explored the possibility of detecting polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), compounds associated with fossil fuel combustion, on exoplanets as potential technosignatures. The team focused on specific PAHs, including naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene, and pyrene, analyzing their absorption characteristics in Earth-like atmospheres. 

Their simulations indicated that even large ground-based telescopes with apertures of 6 to 10 meters would lack the necessary signal-to-noise ratio to detect these PAH signatures effectively. Consequently, the study concluded that identifying such technosignatures using current Earth-based telescopes is impractical.

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