For decades, we have been sending radio signals, and sometimes even images, into outer space, in the hope of establishing contact with extraterrestrial civilizations, but have not received any response yet. Maybe we are doing something wrong?
40 years ago, the Arecibo radio observatory in Puerto Rico sent a pictographic message into space. And since the invention of radio broadcasting and television, mankind has been constantly (and unintentionally) sending signals into space that can be intercepted by other civilizations.
Most recently, at a conference organized by the SETI project (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence - Search for extraterrestrial intelligence). It was discussed that the traditional methods of communication for earthlings using images and language may be incomprehensible to alien creatures. Or worse, our messages may be misinterpreted.
Humanity has long sought to inform the Universe of its existence.
However, we started sending messages into space seriously only in the 20th century. With a message transmitted by the Arecibo radio telescope over a distance of 21,000 light years to the outskirts of the Milky Way, scientists hoped to establish the first contact with an extraterrestrial civilization.
The message was a series of digital images with a total of 1679 bits of information each. Today, these pictures resemble the very first video games in their primitivism.
If the aliens manage to play back the recording at 162/3 rpm, they will be able to hear audio greetings in 55 Earth languages, including the "message of peace and friendship" recorded by Kurt Waldheim.
Promotional video:
Earth in pink light
So what is the best way to communicate?
One thing is certain: it will be very difficult to create a universal message that will not become obsolete over time.
If we want interplanetary dialogue to last for centuries, we first need to be honest about who we are and what is happening on our planet.
If we lie, intelligent civilizations capable of intercepting and decrypting the signals of terrestrial radio and television broadcasts will suspect that they are being bullied. There are a huge number of unresolved problems on our planet, and we do not even know if humanity will survive as a species by that time when the answer to our message reaches Earth. However, despite all the difficulties, we - earthlings - cherish hopes, especially hope for ourselves."
Author: maksim26ru