Stuff You Should Know METI: Existential Threat? Probably Yes
Apr 20, 2023
Explore humanity's intriguing attempts to contact extraterrestrial life and the ethical dilemmas that arise. From historical initiatives like the Golden Records to the whimsical projects by NASA, the discussion offers a mix of humor and caution. Dive into the risks of broadcasting our existence and ponder the readiness for potential contact with advanced civilizations. The episode tackles serious questions about cosmic communication while light-heartedly touching on plant crimes, revealing the complexities of reaching out to the unknown.
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Early METI Concepts
- Early METI proposals included Carl Friedrich Gauss's idea to plant wheat fields in geometric shapes.
- Joseph von Littrow suggested digging trenches, filling them with kerosene, and setting them ablaze.
First METI Broadcast
- In 1962, Soviet astronomers sent a Morse code message to a star 2,000 light-years away.
- The message consisted of three words: "World", "Lenin", "USSR".
METI Brainstorming
- In the 1970s, scientists including Frank Drake and Carl Sagan brainstormed METI strategies.
- One rejected idea involved detonating nuclear warheads on the far side of the moon.