Scientists who determine Earth’s exact position in the universe have encountered an unexpected problem: signals from mobile phones, Wi-Fi networks, and satellite internet are disrupting their work. These measurements—crucial for the functioning of satellites that enable navigation, communication, and Earth observation—rely on faint radio signals from black holes in distant galaxies. But modern technology is flooding the skies with radio noise, making those signals harder to detect, geodesist Lucia McCallum explains. Here's why black holes matter and how humanity is risking the accuracy of global systems.
Why Do We Need Black Holes?
Satellites have become essential to modern life—from GPS in smartphones to climate monitoring, power grid management, and online banking. To function correctly, they must maintain precise positioning relative to Earth. However, Earth itself moves around the Sun, and the Sun moves through the galaxy, requiring a stable cosmic reference frame.
Supermassive black holes at the centers of distant galaxies are some of the most stable and remote objects known. Scientists use their radio emissions as fixed reference points. Using Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), a global network of radio telescopes captures these weak signals, allowing researchers to separate Earth's movement from satellite orbits. This system forms the basis of the so-called “global geodetic chain,” which underpins modern navigation.
The Problem: Tech-Generated Radio Noise
To detect the faint signals from black holes, scientists rely on radio telescopes that operate within specific frequency bands—akin to lanes on a “radio highway.” These bands are strictly regulated by international agreements, with some reserved exclusively for radio astronomy. But in recent decades, human-made radio noise has surged:
Mobile networks: Six generations of mobile technology (1G to 6G) have occupied new frequencies. Wi-Fi: Wireless networks add interference to an already crowded spectrum. Satellite internet: Thousands of satellites—like those in the Starlink constellation—transmit signals that overlap with frequencies used for astronomical observation.Previously, the “radio highway” had plenty of open lanes. But today, black hole signals—already extremely weak—are often drowned out by powerful human-made noise. This threatens the accuracy of satellite systems that support logistics, navigation, and even banking operations.
Why This Matters
Without precise geodetic measurements, satellites can drift off course, potentially causing failures in:
GPS navigation: Positioning errors of even a few meters could disrupt transportation and logistics. Climate monitoring: Imprecise satellite data could hinder efforts to track climate change. Economics and infrastructure: Disruptions in power grids, online banking, and global supply chains could have severe consequences.Scientists estimate that even a small drop in geodetic accuracy could increase satellite positioning errors by 10 to 20 centimeters, which is critical for modern technologies.
What Can Be Done?
To preserve geodetic accuracy, scientists are proposing several solutions:
More protected radio frequencies: International radio conferences should reserve additional bands for observing black holes. Radio quiet zones: Establish protected areas around key radio telescopes where mobile and Wi-Fi signals are restricted. Cooperation with providers: Work with satellite internet companies to prevent their signals from interfering with telescopes. Technological improvements: Develop more sensitive telescopes capable of picking up weak signals in noisy environments.However, these measures require global coordination. Since radio frequencies are regulated at the national level, achieving effective protections is complicated—especially when VLBI depends on telescopes across the globe, forming an Earth-sized virtual instrument.
Context: Radio Noise and Science
Radio interference is not a new issue. As far back as the 1990s, astronomers began shifting to higher frequencies to avoid interference from emerging mobile technologies. But by 2025, the rapid growth of satellite constellations—Starlink alone operates over 6,000 satellites—has brought the situation to a critical point.
According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the radio spectrum available to scientific research has shrunk by 15% over the past 20 years.
Public concern is growing. Posts on X (formerly Twitter) echo frustration from scientists and users alike. One comment read:"We’re losing the cosmos to Wi-Fi and 5G. If we don’t protect telescopes, both navigation and science will suffer."
Still, some are hopeful. Emerging technologies like AI-powered signal processing might help isolate black hole signals from background noise.
The Future: Balancing Science and Technology
Scientists emphasize that raising public awareness is the first step. Most people don’t realize that their Wi-Fi router or smartphone could interfere with fundamental science. Future solutions might include:
AI filtering: Algorithms to separate human-made noise from astronomical signals. New telescopes: Instruments operating at alternative frequencies or using quantum technologies. Global agreements: New international treaties to protect scientific radio bands, similar to protections established in the 1960s for radio astronomy.Without such measures, geodesy—and by extension, many critical aspects of modern life—could lose its precision. The risk is not just to science, but to navigation, communication, and the global infrastructure that now depends on space-based systems.
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