The Dozen Times Humans Have Tried to Communicate With Extraterrestrials

 

The Dozen Times Humans Have Tried to Communicate With Extraterrestrials

The quest to communicate with extraterrestrial life has long captivated the human imagination. Throughout history, scientists, researchers, and enthusiasts have devised numerous methods to reach out beyond our planet, hoping to make contact with intelligent beings elsewhere in the cosmos. Here, we explore twelve notable attempts at such communication.

1. The Arecibo Message (1974)

The Arecibo Message is one of the most famous attempts to contact extraterrestrials. Sent from the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, the message was a three-minute binary transmission. It included basic information about humanity and Earth, such as our DNA structure, the Solar System, and a depiction of a human being. The target was a star cluster called M13, located about 25,000 light-years away.

The Arecibo message with color added to highlight its separate parts. 

2. The Pioneer Plaques (1972 and 1973)

The Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 spacecraft were the first human-made objects to leave the Solar System. Each carried a gold-anodized aluminum plaque depicting a man and a woman, the location of Earth in the galaxy, and basic information about the spacecraft's origin. Designed by Carl Sagan and Frank Drake, these plaques serve as time capsules intended to convey our existence to any potential extraterrestrial finders.

3. The Voyager Golden Records (1977)

Launched aboard the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft, the Golden Records are phonograph records containing sounds and images selected to portray the diversity of life and culture on Earth. Curated by a team led by Carl Sagan, the records include greetings in 55 languages, a variety of music, sounds of nature, and images depicting human life, animals, and landscapes.

The Voyager spacecraft with the Golden Record attached to its side.

4. The Evpatoria Messages (1999 and 2003)

In 1999 and 2003, scientists used the 70-meter radar dish at the Evpatoria Planetary Radar in Ukraine to transmit detailed messages to nearby stars. The 1999 message, known as "Cosmic Call," included scientific and mathematical data, while the 2003 "Teen Age Message" featured music and drawings from teenagers around the world. Both were designed to communicate human knowledge and culture.

5. The Rosetta Project (2004)

The Rosetta Project aimed to create a modern version of the Rosetta Stone, archiving languages from around the world. While primarily an Earth-based initiative, its creators considered it a potential way to communicate with extraterrestrials by showcasing human linguistic diversity. The project culminated in a nickel disk containing over 1,500 languages, which was included aboard the Rosetta space probe.

6. The A Message from Earth (2008)

Sent by the European Space Agency's Cebreros deep space antenna, this message targeted the exoplanet Gliese 581c. Composed of 501 text messages from people around the world, it included personal greetings, hopes, and questions directed at potential extraterrestrial recipients. The messages were collected via social media and other platforms, making this a uniquely participatory effort.

7. The METI Efforts (2017-present)

Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence (METI) International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to actively sending messages to extraterrestrial civilizations. Since 2017, METI has transmitted several messages using radio telescopes in various countries. These messages have included musical compositions, mathematical sequences, and scientific information, all aimed at initiating contact with intelligent life beyond Earth.

8. The Wow! Signal (1977)

While not an intentional communication attempt, the Wow! Signal remains one of the most intriguing potential contacts with extraterrestrials. Detected by Jerry R. Ehman while working on a SETI project at the Big Ear radio telescope, the signal appeared to come from the constellation Sagittarius and lasted for 72 seconds. Despite extensive follow-up, the signal has never been explained or repeated.

The Wow! signal.

9. The Zelenchukskaya Message (1999)

In 1999, Russian scientists sent a message from the Zelenchukskaya observatory to four nearby stars. The message included information about Earth's location, basic scientific data, and cultural content. This effort was part of a larger initiative to communicate with extraterrestrial civilizations using a variety of methods and messages.

10. The Hello from Earth Message (2009)

As part of National Science Week in Australia, scientists transmitted a message to the Gliese 581 system using NASA's Deep Space Network. The "Hello from Earth" message consisted of over 25,000 text messages from people around the world, covering a wide range of topics from personal greetings to philosophical questions. This project highlighted the global interest in communicating with extraterrestrial life.

11. The Cosmic Call Messages (1999 and 2003)

Similar to the Evpatoria messages, the Cosmic Call transmissions were part of a series of attempts to communicate with extraterrestrial civilizations. Sent in 1999 and 2003, these messages included detailed scientific and mathematical information, as well as cultural content. The goal was to provide a comprehensive introduction to humanity and our planet.

12. The Red Dots Message (2020)

In 2020, a group of scientists and artists collaborated on the Red Dots project, sending a message to the nearby star Proxima Centauri. The message included sounds, images, and data designed to convey human culture and knowledge. This effort was part of a broader initiative to engage the public in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and to explore innovative ways to communicate with potential extraterrestrial civilizations.

Humanity's efforts to communicate with extraterrestrials have spanned decades, incorporating a variety of methods and messages. From binary code and phonograph records to social media messages and artistic collaborations, these attempts reflect our enduring curiosity and hope to connect with other intelligent beings in the universe. While no definitive contact has yet been made, each message sent into the cosmos represents a small step toward bridging the vast distances between civilizations and expanding our understanding of our place in the universe.