How did the Allen Telescope Array support the search for extraterrestrial intelligence?

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artist's conception of Kepler-186f — extraterrestrial intelligence An artist's conception depicts Kepler-186f, the first Earth-sized extrasolar planet found in its star's habitable zone.

The Allen Telescope Array (ATA) supports the search for extraterrestrial intelligence by providing a dedicated instrument designed specifically for round-the-clock SETI observations.1

Jointly built by the SETI Institute and the University of California at Berkeley and named after its principal funder, Paul Allen, the array began operations in 2007 in northeastern California. The facility utilizes an array of small antennas—initially 42, with a design capacity of 350—to conduct its search. This configuration allows the ATA to be significantly faster than previous experimental efforts in scanning for potential transmissions from other worlds.1