Astronomers are preparing to transmit radio messages to Proxima b - the closest Earth-like planet to us. At the moment, two options are being considered: either build it yourself or rent a ready-made powerful transmitter for transmitting messages into deep space. In addition, the question of what exactly should contain this message is sorted out - after all, we do not want to create a bad first impression.
“If we want to start messaging in a multi-generational perspective, we need to first learn how to do it,” said Douglas Vacoch, president of METI (Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence).
The idea for METI generally overlaps with NASA's Cyclops project. The project, proposed in the early 1970s, involved the creation of a giant network of 1,500 radio telescopes to search for signals of extraterrestrial intelligent life in a radius of up to a thousand light years. Unfortunately, due to a lack of funding, it was eventually closed.
In turn, the non-profit organization METI plans to raise funds of $ 1 million annually through crowdfunding campaigns. By 2018, the organization wants to start sending laser or radio signals towards Proxima b, a planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, the closest star to the Solar System, located about 4.25 light years away.
Among METI's primary concerns is deciding what kind of message we should send in terms of probability and according to the hypothesis that other life forms might have discovered the same mathematical laws as we did. In addition, scientists are going to revise the Drake equation, formulated in 1961 by Frank Donald Drake, astrophysicist and professor of astronomy at the University of California Santa Cruz, and designed to determine the number of extraterrestrial civilizations in the Galaxy with which mankind has a chance to come into contact.
Of course, not everyone agrees that trying to attract the attention of extraterrestrial civilizations (if any) to us is a great idea. In a recent Nature Physics article, physicist Mark Buchanan expressed his fears over the desire to find extraterrestrial civilizations, stating that in the end, "we could get into trouble." Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking shares Buchanan's opinion, commenting on the fact that extraterrestrial civilizations may turn out to be much more advanced technologically. And so much so that in their view we will look the same as in our view ordinary bacteria look.
Despite the criticism, experts at METI are convinced that the benefits of "communicating with space and more expanded knowledge of our place in it" can cover all possible risks.
“Perhaps it is we who should take the initiative and make the first contact,” says Vakoch.
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“The role of science is to test hypotheses. Through the work of METI, we will be able to empirically test the hypothesis that whoever seeks will always find."
Of course, this is not the first time that humanity will send messages into space, but METI plans to do these transmissions much more often and much further than before.
“Perhaps the best argument for METI is that someone finally needs to take the first step,” says Andrew Fraconti of Foothill College.
"After all, if everyone who can send such messages decides only to receive them, then the galaxy will remain silent forever."
NIKOLAY KHIZHNYAK
