Unexplainable Podcast Episode Summary: "How to Talk to Aliens"

Release Date: March 26, 2025
Host: Vox
Episode: How to Talk to Aliens

Introduction to Extraterrestrial Communication

In the "How to Talk to Aliens" episode of Unexplainable, hosted by Ann and Thomas, the discussion delves deep into the complexities and nuances of communicating with extraterrestrial intelligences. The episode explores the historical attempts humanity has made to reach out to alien civilizations, the challenges inherent in such endeavors, and the emerging field of xenolinguistics that seeks to bridge the communication gap between humans and potential alien species.

Historical Attempts to Communicate

The conversation begins with a reflection on humanity's longstanding efforts to send messages into space, highlighting notable attempts such as the Arecibo Message and the Voyager Golden Records.

Arecibo Message (1974):

Ann introduces the Arecibo Message, an interstellar broadcast sent from the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.

Ann [04:16]: "Scientists have been trying to message aliens for decades. The first one I want to tell you about is the Arecibo message sent in 1974."

The message was a binary-coded transmission intended to convey information about Earth and humanity, including images of the solar system, DNA structures, and human figures. However, as Thomas points out, the message's vast distance of 25,000 light-years poses a significant challenge:

Thomas [05:07]: "Wait, so they're sending a message that will take 25,000 years to get there?"

Ann acknowledges the impracticality of expecting a timely response:

Ann [05:07]: "Exactly. And then another 25,000 years if we were to get a reply to come back. So for a total of 50,000 years."

Voyager Golden Records (1977):

The episode then transitions to the Voyager missions, where both Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft were equipped with Golden Records containing sounds and images representing life on Earth.

Ann [06:14]: "In 1977, we sent two spacecraft into space as part of the Voyager missions... They used long play records with binary information."

Despite the ingenuity, the lack of a universal playback mechanism renders the message akin to sending a "message in a bottle" into the cosmic ocean:

Ann [07:50]: "It feels a little bit like writing a little message, sticking it in a glass bottle, sealing that glass bottle, and then just throwing it into the ocean."

Modern Approaches to Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Doug Vakic, a former SETI Institute researcher and founder of METI International, discusses more intentional methods of sending messages closer to home to increase the chances of interaction.

Doug Vakic [05:28]: "It was really just a demonstration that we can create a message based on some ideas of math and science."

In 2017, Vakic spearheaded a project to send a targeted message to a star just over 12 light-years away, significantly reducing the potential wait time for a response.

Ann [09:07]: "In 2017, this is exactly what Doug did. We sent a message from a radio transmitter north of the Arctic Circle to a star just over 12 light years away."

This method aims to establish a "round trip interstellar pen pal" relationship with the possibility of receiving a reply within approximately 25 years.

Thomas [09:46]: "Yeah, 25 is a little shorter than 50,000, for sure."

Challenges in Communicating with Alien Civilizations

The episode meticulously outlines the myriad challenges in establishing meaningful communication with extraterrestrial beings:

1. Understanding Alien Perceptions:

   • Sherry Wells Jensen, a linguist collaborating with METI, emphasizes the importance of recognizing that alien perceptions may differ fundamentally from human ones.

     Sherry [15:55]: "A lot of my job as a blind human being is... to think about what blind aliens might be like or how their language might be different from ours."

2. Language Evolution and Decoding:

   • Languages evolve over time, and the sheer time scales involved in interstellar communication could render our messages obsolete or incomprehensible.

     Ann [16:30]: "Language changes over time. 900 years ago, English was totally different. If something takes 25,000 years to get to an alien, our language is going to change a lot."

3. Assumptions and Biases:

   • Humans often anthropomorphize aliens, assuming they might share similarities with humans, such as appearance or sensory modalities.

     Thomas [15:15]: "One big issue is that people often assume aliens would look like us. Like the little green people with bigger eyes."

4. Intention vs. Interpretation:

   • There's a significant risk of miscommunication where the intended message might be interpreted entirely differently by the recipient.

     Ann [18:29]: "We have to make sure that our intentions are clearly communicated, but without a shared context, it's incredibly challenging."

Xenolinguistics: A Framework for Alien Communication

To address these challenges, METI International and experts like Sherry Wells Jensen advocate for the development of xenolinguistics, a theoretical field dedicated to understanding and creating languages that could be comprehensible to extraterrestrial intelligences.

Sherry Wells Jensen [19:27]: "Xenolinguistics is the attempt to study a hypothetical alien language and to meet ET somewhere in the middle."

Key aspects of xenolinguistics discussed include:

• Building from Universal Concepts:

  • Starting with fundamental concepts like counting, frequencies, and wavelengths to establish common ground.

    Thomas [10:00]: "They started with the basics of counting, and then they increased that to the basics of frequencies..."

• Creating Multiplicity in Messaging:

  • Sending multiple variations of messages to increase the likelihood that at least one form will be understood.

    Sherry [20:27]: "Maybe I need to make not one message, but a jillion messages... send it again."

• Reducing Abstraction:

  • Utilizing less abstract forms of communication, such as pure scientific data, rather than culturally specific content.

    Ann [10:28]: "They started with the basics... it feels like a lot less abstract than sending a message about the basic building blocks of human life."

Ethical and Practical Considerations

The episode doesn't shy away from the ethical debates surrounding METI's activities. Stephen Hawking's cautionary stance is highlighted, drawing parallels between potential alien contact and Columbus's arrival in America, which had disastrous consequences for indigenous populations.

Ann [21:53]: "Stephen Hawking once said that if aliens visit us, we... the outcome would be much as when Columbus landed in America."

Despite the low probability of successful communication and the potential risks, experts like Sherry advocate for humility and careful consideration in METI's endeavors.

Sherry Wells Jensen [22:45]: "We cannot ensure that what we're saying will mean the same to whoever receives it... but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try. We have to go into this with a huge double scoop of humility."

Xenolinguistics as a Mirror to Human Understanding

Beyond its primary goal of facilitating interstellar communication, xenolinguistics serves as a tool for introspection, allowing humanity to examine its own language, biases, and societal structures.

Sherry Wells Jensen [23:29]: "The good of the discipline is not just to prepare for what is to come... it's also a tool that we can use to examine who we are and what it is that we do and how language works for us."

This self-examination encourages a broader perspective on human communication and community, both on Earth and potentially across the cosmos.

Conclusion

"How to Talk to Aliens" provides a comprehensive exploration of the complexities involved in interstellar communication. From historical messaging attempts like Arecibo and Voyager to modern strategies spearheaded by METI International, the episode underscores both the ingenuity and the profound challenges of reaching out to extraterrestrial intelligences. The introduction of xenolinguistics offers a promising yet speculative framework for overcoming communication barriers, emphasizing humility and curiosity as essential virtues in humanity's quest to connect with the unknown.

Notable Quotes:

• Ann [04:16]: "Scientists have been trying to message aliens for decades. The first one I want to tell you about is the Arecibo message sent in 1974."

• Thomas [05:07]: "Wait, so they're sending a message that will take 25,000 years to get there?"

• Sherry Wells Jensen [15:55]: "A lot of my job as a blind human being is... to think about what blind aliens might be like or how their language might be different from ours."

• Sherry Wells Jensen [20:27]: "Maybe I need to make not one message, but a jillion messages... send it again."

• Sherry Wells Jensen [23:29]: "The good of the discipline is not just to prepare for what is to come... it's also a tool that we can use to examine who we are and what it is that we do and how language works for us."

This detailed summary encapsulates the rich discussions and insights presented in the episode, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and philosophies surrounding the concept of communicating with extraterrestrial life.