In one of my uni classes my teacher is a massive Star Trek fan. So, since the subject is about communication she decided to focus the first lesson on communication with other species of the intergalactic type. In 1977 NASA sent a Voyager spacecraft into space containing images and sounds portraying the diversity and culture of life on Earth. This is known as the Golden Record. I had heard about the Golden Record briefly before, since I am so intrigued with learning about what else is out there, but I had no idea what sort of things were on the record. The spacecraft explains our mathematical system, evolution, and even has images of how we consume…

Now I know it was the 70’s but is this really the best picture NASA could come up with to explain how we humans consume? This is not how you make friends with aliens! Just look at the guy in the middle… This represents our whole planet, and we have a semi bald guy hoeing into a grilled cheese sandwich whilst remaining eye contact with the camera. Something about that makes me feel uncomfortable…

The Golden Record does reveal a lot about Earth including a map on how to find us in the Solar System. Let’s just say there are intelligent life forms that are travelling through galaxies out there. How can we be sure that they mean well? We are basically giving them our home address with everything they need to know about us to take the whole planet over. Has any one seen Invasion of the Body Snatchers? War of the Worlds? Man of Steel?

In 1977, the same year that the Golden Record was sent into space, a radio signal (known as the “Wow!” signal) was received from outer space that lasted 72 seconds. To this day we still don’t know where it came from.