Skip to comments.
Animated GIF to be beamed into space as part of alien communication effort
The Verge ^
| 6/17/13
| Jacob Kastrenakes
Posted on 06/17/2013 12:46:28 PM PDT by LibWhacker
In 2008 NASA decided to send one of the heights of modern art — The Beatles' 1969 track "Across the Universe" — into the cosmos. And for 2013, one of the pillars of internet folk art is preparing for takeoff: An animated GIF is about to be sent into space for the first time ever. The message will be beamed over a giant radio dish in California tomorrow as part of the inaugural transmission of Lone Signal, a project that's hoping to communicate with extraterrestrials. The GIF will be sent toward Gliese 526, a potentially habitable solar system 17.6 light years away. It should arrive there around 2031.
The GIF features a balding man scratching his ear and has been titled "Humans watching Digital Art." Lone Signal specifically invited the GIF's creator, conceptual artist Kim Asendorf, to contribute a message for the satellite's debut transmission. If you're disappointed with what may be aliens' first impression of Earth, you have reason both for concern and relief — for a nominal cost, Lone Signal will soon allow anyone to send their message of choice out toward the stars.
TOPICS: Astronomy; Science
KEYWORDS: aliens; animated; beamed; ear; earwax; finger; gif; lone; message; nasa; signal; space
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-80, 81-100, 101-120, 121-135 next last
To: LibWhacker
yeah, because they’ll obviously know the format
/face palm
bitmap... monochrome... the only format easily deciphered
of course, I’m in the same camp as the deep space scientist in “battleship”... this is just a bad idea. the friendly ones have no reason to show up and talk to the technological equivalent of frogs.
the bad ones... they like frog legs...
101
posted on
06/17/2013 3:26:41 PM PDT
by
sten
(fighting tyranny never goes out of style)
To: LibWhacker
On Gliese 526 that gesture is a declaration of war.
102
posted on
06/17/2013 3:28:22 PM PDT
by
Lurker
(Violence is rarely the answer. But when it is it is the only answer.)
To: Slyfox
103
posted on
06/17/2013 3:53:36 PM PDT
by
patriot08
(NATIVE TEXAN (girl type))
To: Silentgypsy
Are they trying to nauseate the aliens?I am.
104
posted on
06/17/2013 4:01:52 PM PDT
by
Slings and Arrows
(You can't have IngSoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein)
To: a fool in paradise
105
posted on
06/17/2013 4:06:37 PM PDT
by
Half Vast Conspiracy
( Because police powers are essential to the public good that abusing them is so offensive.)
To: Liberty Valance
HA I almost swallowed my cigar butt!
106
posted on
06/17/2013 4:13:58 PM PDT
by
PhiloBedo
(You gotta roll with the punches and get with what's real.)
To: MrB
You guys are cracking me up! What a relief from the cop shooting kittens thread.
107
posted on
06/17/2013 4:15:24 PM PDT
by
PhiloBedo
(You gotta roll with the punches and get with what's real.)
To: Slings and Arrows
You are a smashing success, if my rxn is any index.
To: Darksheare
Git. Year. Sari. But. Odor. Hear.
109
posted on
06/17/2013 4:41:06 PM PDT
by
null and void
(Republicans create the tools of opression, and the democrats gleefully use them!)
To: Bubba_Leroy; Salamander
Salamander did that, dinshe?
110
posted on
06/17/2013 4:44:56 PM PDT
by
null and void
(Republicans create the tools of opression, and the democrats gleefully use them!)
To: null and void
It's why they take the cows...
111
posted on
06/17/2013 4:49:59 PM PDT
by
null and void
(Republicans create the tools of opression, and the democrats gleefully use them!)
To: a fool in paradise
Metaphysical bananas
112
posted on
06/17/2013 4:56:57 PM PDT
by
Daffynition
(Stand Your Ground)
To: Slings and Arrows
Beam this
113
posted on
06/17/2013 4:59:35 PM PDT
by
Daffynition
(Stand Your Ground)
To: Berlin_Freeper
114
posted on
06/17/2013 5:03:34 PM PDT
by
Conspiracy Guy
(To stay calm during these tumultuous times, I take Damitol. Ask your Doctor if it's right for you.)
To: null and void
I am already here.
I have always been here.
115
posted on
06/17/2013 5:48:59 PM PDT
by
Darksheare
(Try my coffee, first one's free.....)
To: null and void
Oh, hell no.
Best way in the world to give your dog OCD.
No lasers, here.
[just lotsa whips and spikes]
;D
116
posted on
06/17/2013 7:37:06 PM PDT
by
Salamander
(Can't sleep...the clowns will eat me.)
To: Salamander
What if the image they send doesn’t work on the alien computer and it is interpreted as a declaration of war?
117
posted on
06/17/2013 7:38:20 PM PDT
by
GeronL
(http://asspos.blogspot.com)
To: GeronL
Then we send this.
118
posted on
06/17/2013 7:40:09 PM PDT
by
Salamander
(Can't sleep...the clowns will eat me.)
To: GeronL
Or this...no one can be mad at this.
119
posted on
06/17/2013 7:41:24 PM PDT
by
Salamander
(Can't sleep...the clowns will eat me.)
To: Salamander
What if that were a vile image to their society?
120
posted on
06/17/2013 7:42:29 PM PDT
by
GeronL
(http://asspos.blogspot.com)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-80, 81-100, 101-120, 121-135 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson
