If humans ever come into contact with extraterrestrial life, experiments like this are essential.
Messages from space are nothing new. For decades, experts have received all kinds of radio signals from space. In many cases, even modern physics can't explain them. Other times, the message originates from a man-made device, such as a dying spacecraft sending an SOS. In this case, the message came from the Red Planet.
Cryptic signal. To prepare for a possible encounter with extraterrestrial life, the SETI Institute and A Sign in Space project collaborated on a unique interstellar communication experiment. Experts from both institutions sent the message, designed by artist Daniela de Paulis, from the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter on May 24, 2023. Three ground-based observatories received it.
The message consisted of a series of white dots arranged in five groups on a black background. It simulated an extraterrestrial signal transmitted from Mars, which the team broadcasted for anyone on Earth to try to decipher. Now, after more than a year of speculation, a father and daughter have found the solution, according to the European Space Agency (ESA).
A challenge for the future. After the three radio astronomy observatories on Earth intercepted the signal, the task was to extract the message from the raw radio signal data and then decipher it.
ESA recently stated: “In just 10 days, a community of 5,000 citizen scientists gathered online and managed to extract the signal. The second task took longer and required some visionary minds.”
Cosmic puzzle. Twelve months later, artist de Paulis received a simple, retro-style image of five amino acids in her inbox. Ken and Keli Chaffin, a father-daughter team, had deciphered the mysterious message.
The Chaffins deciphered the message through simulations, interpreting it to represent cell formation and five amino acids—a set of essential components of terrestrial life. Encoded in a molecular pattern, they linked these elements to cosmic structures, like star clusters and cosmic webs.
“Life” in one message. Experts stress that this message is far from trivial. Amino acids, foundational to life, are of particular interest to astrobiology, which explores the possibility of life beyond Earth. Their inclusion in the message prompts us to consider the origin of life on other planets, connecting biology’s essentials to cosmic mysteries.
Cultural interpretations and reflections. Despite the Chaffins’ work, the meaning of the message remains unclear. The SETI Institute and ESA encourage public discussion on digital platforms. De Paulis crafted the message to inspire reflection on how people interpret concepts beyond their cultural boundaries, testing humanity’s approach to interplanetary communication.
“Now that the cryptic signal has been deciphered, the quest for meaning begins. Like any art piece, the interpretation remains open,” ESA noted. This experiment underscores the challenge of decoding an extraterrestrial message: understanding cultural or symbolic content may be the greatest obstacle. Technical and cultural filters could make direct communication with other species a stimulus for human creativity and reflection on our view of the cosmos, preparing us for what may come on an unexpected day.
Image | ESA
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