What are Interstellar Radio Messages?

John Spacey, updated on August 07, 2016

An interstellar radio message is the transmission of radio signals designed to travel great distances through space in an intelligible format. Transmission is directed towards a star outside our solar system in a noise-resistant format with redundancy in order to increase the chance that they may be detected by an extraterrestrial intelligence.

Messages Enroute

Dozens of high-powered messages have been sent to a variety of star systems in our galaxy that will reach their destinations between 2029 and the year 25974. Messages typically contain short peaceful greetings. In 2001, Russia's Institute of Radio-engineering and Electronics broadcast a 14 minute music concert by teenagers to the constellations Delphinus, Ursa Major, Gemini, Virgo, Hydra and Draco that will arrive between July 2047 and February 2070.

Risks

Broadcasting high powered messages that are likely to be received if advanced extraterrestrial civilizations exist may be considered an existential risk.

Despite the scientific probability that extraterrestrial life may exist, we are currently unable to detect extraterrestrial radio messages that indicate intelligence. This is considered a paradox as advanced life is predicted to exist but seems to be remarkably quiet.

According to a theory known as the Zoo Hypothesis, alien civilizations may consider the Earth too primitive to be contacted. In this scenario, a message from us may trigger peaceful and productive communications and interactions.

Darker theories can also be devised to explain the apparent radio silence of the galaxy including that civilizations that transmit their presence are destroyed or assimilated by an intelligence that is listening.

What are Interstellar Radio Messages?

Messages Enroute

Risks

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