Even though we have not yet discovered any evidence of alien life, it doesn't mean it isn't out there, beyond our reach. Researchers have now developed a mathematical model showing aliens may communicate across space via quantum physics.

A quantum communications network exists on Earth, and efforts are well underway to make it a reality. Information transfer would be faster and more secure thanks to certain properties of quantum mechanics, we need to figure out how to make it work.

The fact that quantum networks are fragile and susceptible to interference is one of the major hurdles that must be overcome before they can be established. It was found that such networks would not break up in space according to this latest study.

'Generally, quantum states are thought of as fragile, and if there's any external interaction, you end up destroying them,' said lead author Arjun Berbera of the University of Edinburgh.

They checked for potential decoherence by calculating the movement of X-rays across the emptiness of space with Jaime Calderón-Figueroa, a fellow theoretical physicist at the University of Edinburgh.

According to the researchers, quantum particles could be beamed across hundreds of thousands of light-years at least if photons – particles of light – were used as quantum particles.

Partly, this is because space has a much lower density of matter than Earth, and the 'cleaner' environment means fewer interferences. Quantum communication networks would not be affected by gravitational pulls.

'In particular, photons in the X-ray region below the electron mass seem capable of establishing quantum communication across interstellar distances,' write the researchers.

It is only speculation that alien life forms might communicate with each other or try to contact us through quantum networks - but it gives astronomers another potential sign of life to watch out for.

It may take a fully functioning quantum computer to decode a quantum signal since it has a 'considerable amount of information transfer' possible. It will probably take several years for transmissions to reach their destinations, even with quantum communication: Information still can't travel faster than the speed of light.

This finding adds quantum communication to the list of possible ways aliens may communicate with each other - or perhaps even be trying to communicate with us. 'Theoretically, a quantum signal could be detected coming from an astrophysical body or even from an extraterrestrial civilization,' write the researchers.