The Rest Is Science What We Said To Aliens
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Nov 27, 2025 Explore humanity's attempt to connect with extraterrestrial life through the Arecibo message. Discover the intriguing reasoning behind the choice of the number 1,679 in its structure, and the essential elements encoded in it, including DNA. Delve into the Fermi paradox and ponder why we haven’t received a reply. The hosts also humorously evaluate whether we might be among the first intelligent species, while discussing the exciting potentials of fusion energy and CRISPR technology for the future.
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Origins Of The Arecibo Message
- Michael describes the Arecibo message posters he put on his wall and how they were created for an episode of Minefield.
- He recounts sending the 1,679-bit binary message aimed at M13 and explains its semi-prime structure and decoding challenge.
Semi‑Prime Grid Reveals Meaning
- The Arecibo message contains exactly 1,679 pulses because 1,679 = 23 × 73, two primes, hinting receivers to arrange the bits into a 23×73 grid.
- Correct arrangement (23 cols × 73 rows) reveals a non-random pictogram; the wrong orientation looks like noise.
Decoding Test With Mathematicians
- Michael ran a decoding exercise giving the bit-string to mathematicians and students and asked them to crack it.
- None of the groups were able to decode the message unaided, showing its practical difficulty.