Synopsis
The paper proposes an updated version of the Voyager Golden Records launched in 1977, called “Message in a Bottle” (MIAB). The goal is to communicate the story of humanity to extraterrestrial civilizations or future intelligent beings. MIAB aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of modern human society, the evolution of life on Earth, and humanity’s hopes and concerns.
The message is intended for civilizations at different levels of advancement. It contains both analog and digital content across three sections. The introductory section establishes communication through universal concepts. The teaching section shares elementary information to develop basic understanding. The detailed section offers complex knowledge on topics like science, culture, and technology.
MIAB’s structure relies significantly on visual dictionaries for efficient communication. Two key dictionaries cover fundamental mathematics/physics and details on the Solar System/Earth. Precise celestial coordinates and timestamps based on globular cluster movements specify MIAB’s spacetime origins.
The paper discusses proposed message names like “Earth’s Record & Archive” and methodology for content design. This includes public input to represent humanity’s diversity. MIAB ultimately aims to inspire global unity and preserve civilization’s legacy, even if humanity disappears. It is the beginning of a series on messaging extraterrestrial intelligence to portray humanity’s essence and achievements.
