Summary
In this fascinating episode of "Stuff You Should Know," the concept of Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence (METI) is thoroughly explored. Since its inception, humans have attempted to communicate with potential extraterrestrial beings through various methods, such as cutting forests into right triangles or emitting Morse code messages into space. The practice gained prominence in the 20th century, as evidenced by the 1974 Arecibo message, which included binary codes representing numbers, human DNA, and the solar system, among other data.
Presently, the METI Institute, spearheaded by Douglas Vakoch, has sent multiple binary-coded messages to an exoplanet approximately 12 light years away from Earth. However, this practice has been fraught with criticisms, including concerns about the risk of attracting potentially dangerous alien attention and the so-called unauthorized diplomacy of METI—the concept that humanity should agree as a whole before taking action regarding extraterrestrial communication.
The episode delves into the Declaration of Principles for Activities Following the Detection of Extraterrestrial Intelligence, a guideline stating that any response to an alien message should occur only when there is global consensus. Critics argue that this principle should apply to outbound messages as well, in order to promote a coherent and united approach to potential interplanetary communication.
As the conversation unfolds, the guest suggests implementing international laws to regulate communication with extraterrestrial intelligences. But despite opposing views, many supporters of METI believe that advanced civilizations may be waiting for humanity to signal its readiness for contact. Counterarguments are made, highlighting the possible disclosure of Earth's presence through existing TV and radio signals, the Dark Forest Theory of quiet survival, and potential dangers posed by contacting unknown, potentially hostile extraterrestrial beings.
Through this captivating episode, listeners are encouraged to ponder the complexities and ethical dilemmas involved in METI and its potential consequences for humanity in the search for extraterrestrial life.
