A Sign in Space is an interdisciplinary project led by media artist Daniela de Paulis, in collaboration with the SETI Institute, the European Space Agency, and other international partners. The project aims to simulate the process of receiving, decoding, and interpreting a message from an extraterrestrial civilization. On May 24, 2023, the European Space Agency’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter transmitted an encoded message to Earth, which was received by three large radio telescopes. The public was invited to help decode and interpret the message through the A Sign in Space Discord server.
Decoding Process
The decoding process for the A Sign in Space project began with separating the contents of the message from the electromagnetic radiation picked up by the telescope, resulting in a file of binary data. Decoding a real extraterrestrial message may require the collaboration of individuals from various disciplines, such as astrophysicists, linguists, computer programmers, and hackers. The project’s website, A Sign in Space Official Website, provides a platform for individuals and groups to participate in decoding and interpreting the content of the message.
Societal Implications
A Sign in Space aims to explore the societal implications of detecting a signal from an extraterrestrial civilization. The project encourages global collaboration and fosters an open-ended search for meaning across all cultures and disciplines. By simulating the receipt of an extraterrestrial message, the project allows participants to consider the potential impact of such an event on human culture, science, technology, religion, and politics.
Participants
The A Sign in Space project involves an international and interdisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, artists, outreach professionals, and more. The project has received widespread attention and support, with press coverage reaching more than 150 million people, and participants from over 168 countries visiting the project’s website. The project’s Discord server allows participants to discuss the decoding process and share their findings, thoughts, and artistic and scientific inputs.
Summary
A Sign in Space is an innovative project that simulates the process of receiving, decoding, and interpreting a message from an extraterrestrial civilization. By engaging the public and experts from various fields, the project aims to explore the societal implications of such an event and foster global collaboration in the search for meaning.