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As part of the unique "Sign in Space" project, scientists successfully conducted an experiment simulating extraterrestrial communication. Scientists of the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter of the European Space Agency (ESA), reported the Science Alert.
In May 2023, a device in Mars orbit sent a special signal to Earth, which was received by three ground-based observatories. More than 5000 scientists from different countries of the world participated in deciphering the message. The project was implemented with the support of the SETI Institute, Green Bank Observatory, ESA and the National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF) of Italy.
A year later, an American team consisting of Ken and Kelly Chaffin managed to decode the signal. Using the Margolus cellular automaton, the researchers converted the three-dimensional information into a two-dimensional image. As a result, five clusters of white dots and grids were discovered, reflecting molecular structures — the potential foundations of life (image above — ed.).
The author of the project — artist and radio operator Daniela de Paulis — received the decoded image in June 2024. It shows the five amino acids in a retro-graphics format, where the dotted elements encode the atomic numbers of the elements and the types of chemical bonds characteristic of organic molecules.
The research team is currently inviting the public to contribute to the interpretation of the message via a Discord channel. The experiment aims to assess humanity's readiness for potential contact with extraterrestrial civilizations, taking into account various scenarios — from cultural exchange to warnings about possible threats.
