text: Our quest for the perfect garden could be ruining our chances of making contact with ET. This is according to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory who is objecting to proposals by iRobot to release a radio wave-guided lawnmower. It claims iRobot's machines will interfere with its sensitive radio telescopes which astronomers are using to pick up signs of alien life. Our quest for the perfect garden could be ruining our chances of making contact with ET. This is according to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory who is objecting to proposals by iRobot to release a radio wave-guided lawnmower. iRobot is famous for creating self-guided Roomba machines . The problem is the frequency band proposed for the lawnbot is 6240-6740 MHz - the same one several large radio telescopes operate on. 'We'll see the whole thing with our electronics,' Harvey Liszt, spectrum manager for the observatory, told Bloomberg. 'It's a distortion.' iRobot, who has created self-guided Roomba vacuum cleaners, has filed a request with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to use airwaves for its latest design. The Massachusetts company says its vision is to create lawnmowers that are guided wirelessly from beacons on poles stuck into the lawn. Existing models use wires hidden in the ground to set boundaries, rather using airwaves. Astronomers that the frequencies iRobot wants to use are the same as they use to detect methanol – a key sign of star formation. There is already a ban on the use of mobile phone close to the Green Bank Telescope (pictured) in West Virginia, which the National Radio Astronomy Observatory owns . The company claims its device could 'make this necessary chore easier' and reduce the 38,000 injuries caused by walk-behind mowers each year. According to Bloomberg, iRobot claims the astronomers' concerns are exaggerated and said the chances of its gardening technology will interfere with space exploration are 'infinitesimal'. But the National Radio Astronomy Observatory argues that the frequencies iRobot wants to use are the same as they use to detect methanol – a key sign of star formation. iRobot has offered to place a notice in user manuals that states: 'Consumer use only; use must be limited to residential areas.' Researchers at the Parkes Observatory claim they have finally found the source of these 'alien' signals - in their kitchen microwave . For years, scientists have been trying to uncover the source of mysterious radio signals being picked up in Australia. Theories have ranged from evaporating black holes to extraterrestrial communication and mergers of neutron stars. Now researchers at the Parkes Observatory claim they have finally found the source of these 'alien' signals - in their kitchen microwave. Scientists knew the strange signals, known as perytons, originated somewhere near to the planet, but they had no idea just how close. The researchers were able to replicate the emission of perytons by opening the microwave door while the device was still running. Within a fraction of a second, the microwave activity was picked up by the reader and the source of the perytons revealed. 'Subsequent tests revealed that a peryton can be generated at 1.4 GHz when a microwave oven door is opened prematurely and the telescope is at an appropriate relative angle,' the authors wrote. But this doesn't go far enough, say astronomers. They want the company to implement 'exclusion zones based on geolocation' to keep lawnmowers at least 55 miles (89km) from telescopes. iRobot responded by saying: 'The NRAO observatories for the most part are not closely surrounded by residential areas, at least no residential areas with lawns. 'A review of the observatory locations on Google maps also shows that many are surrounded by desert or forests, not environments where residential lawn equipment is used.' NRAO replied: 'This claim is most charitably characterised as silly.' There is already a ban on the use of mobile phone close to the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia, which the National Radio Astronomy Observatory owns. Both iRobot and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory have yet to respond to DailyMail.com for comment. iRobot, who has created self-guided Roomba vacuum cleaners, has filed a request with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to use airwaves for its latest design. The Massachusetts company says its vision is to create lawnmowers that are guided wirelessly from beacons on poles stuck into the lawn .
target: iRobot is creating wireless lawnmowers guided by radio waves .
  Gadget and observatories will both use the 6240-6740 MHz band .
  Astronomers say it could prevent them from detecting methanol .
  iRobot says chances of interference occurring are 'infinitesimal'