The Wow! Signal: It Wasn't Aliens.

On August 15, 1977, the Big Ear radio telescope in Ohio recorded a 72-second burst perfectly aligned with the hydrogen line. This is the frequency that many scientists associate with interstellar communication. Astronomer Jerry Ehman circled the printout and wrote one word: “Wow!”

For decades, theories have ranged from alien transmissions to passing comets. But the evidence points to a far more down-to-earth source. One that matches the timing, frequency, and conditions.

An MRI machine.

The Timeline That Fits

Just weeks before the Wow! Signal, on July 3, 1977, the first full-body MRI prototype, Indomitable, completed its first human scan. This experimental system had minimal shielding and used extremely high-power radio pulses to excite hydrogen atoms.

MRIs operate at a base frequency of 64.56 MHz. Multiply that by 22, the 22nd harmonic, and you arrive at 1420.4056 MHz. That’s the hydrogen line. The Wow! Signal was detected exactly there.

How It Could Reach Ohio

In 1977, shielding on a prototype MRI wouldn’t necessarily contain every bit of harmonic energy. Under the right conditions, a signal could travel hundreds of miles. On August 15, 1977, those conditions were ideal:

• Stable high-pressure systems over both Long Island and Ohio.

• Warm, humid air with calm winds — perfect for tropospheric ducting.

• A C1-class solar flare earlier that day, energizing the ionosphere.

• A moonless sky, minimizing background interference.

With these factors in place, the 22nd harmonic from Indomitable, or another MRI in operation, could have slipped through the atmosphere and been picked up by Big Ear’s receiver.

For those who want to see exactly how the numbers line up, here’s the full breakdown of formulas, calculations, and all.

MRI Harmonic Resonance as a Terrestrial Source of the Wow! Signal by Karen Nussbaumer — Ac.

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