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Scientists to send illustrations of human body parts to space in hope of attracting aliens

New DelhiEdited By: C KrishnasaiUpdated: May 25, 2022, 03:54 PM IST
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Photograph:(Agencies)

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Apart from the pixelated illustrations, the scientists have also included a portrayal of gravity and DNA.

In the hope of grabbing the attention of aliens,  scientists are planning to send illustrations of human body parts to space.

According to Soch Fact Check, NASA is not working on a broadcast to launch images of naked humans into space. There have been misleading reports earlier which suggested that the experiment is being conducted at the behest of the US space agency.

Moreover, this experiment is not being funded by NASA. It appears to have stemmed from a study recently published in arXiv — an online database of non-peer-reviewed publications — about a hypothetical means to send a message to potential alien lifeforms somewhere in the Milky Way galaxy. 

The proposal, "A Beacon in the Galaxy" (BITG), was presented by 11 researchers from a range of institutions, including NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 

The scientists believe that a proper contact can be established with another life form, which has been tried and failed for 150 years, by sending a pixelated illustration of a naked woman and man waving “hello”, in an attempt to look inviting.

Apart from the pixelated illustrations, the scientists have also included a portrayal of gravity and DNA.

The scientists believe a binary-coded message is most likely to be understood by aliens.

“Though the concept of mathematics in human terms is potentially unrecognizable to extra-terrestrial intelligence, binary is likely universal across all intelligence,” the scientists said in their official project document.

NASA plans to send this illustration into space

“Binary is the simplest form of mathematics as it involves only two opposing states: zero and one, yes or no, black or white, mass or empty space.”

They added, “The proposed message includes basic mathematical and physical concepts to establish a universal means of communication followed by information on the biochemical composition of life on Earth, the Solar System’s time-stamped position in the Milky Way relative to known globular clusters, as well as digitized depictions of the Solar System, and Earth’s surface.

Notably, this isn’t the first that scientists have tried to beam naked pictures of humans into space.

The Pioneer 10 in 1972, and the Pioneer 11 in 1973—missions both contained illustrations of naked humans attached to their antennas, ready and waiting for any aliens that may like a little peep.

Note: The original version of the story 'NASA will launch naked pictures of humans to space to attract aliens' have been amended to rectify an erroneous impression which suggested that the US space agency was sending images of human body parts. Necessary changes have now been made to reflect the updated information.

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