For those who don’t know, the Wow! Signal (learn more here) is an extraterrestrial radio signal picked up by Ohio State University’s Big Ear radio telescope on August 15, 1977. It lasted 72 seconds, and has never been heard again. Many believe it could have been a signal sent out by intelligent life somewhere far off in space, where others feel it could in fact simply be something from our own planet that found its way back.
We’ll likely never know the origins of the Wow! Signal, but National Geographic has decided to send out a response just in case there’s an intelligent species somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight (and beyond) to receive it. Even better, they want that response to come from YOU.
Continue reading to find out how your message to another world could find itself beamed out to space.
On June 29th, NatGeo is putting together a massive Twitter event where you can submit your best 140-character message to be sent out to space. And hey, even if you can’t be part of the June 29th event, they’re willing to let you submit your messages ahead of time. Just head to National Geographic’s Wow! Reply page for all the information you need.
In addition to all of the Twitter messages being sent out, NatGeo also contacted a group of “VIPs” to record video messages to send out to potential eager alien ears. This group consists of various figures including actors and scientists, musicians and sports figures, artists and writers, and so on. The bigger names of those taking part are being kept under wraps for now, but it should be entertaining to hear their messages to extraterrestrials.
The list of VIPs also included some not-so-well-known names, including none other than yours truly. Anyone who knows me knows that videos and talking and all that stuff you kids are so into is not at all my “thing.” Quiet and shy, I often am. There’s a reason I’m so fond of writing. Still, the offer to have a message of mine beamed out to space alongside some incredibly talented and respected people of all wakes of life? That was something I could not pass up. The video result is nothing you’ll find me bragging about, but if you’re eager to see me make a fool of myself for the sake of the glorious unknown that is our universe, just head to the link above and you should find me. I’ll probably be hiding behind an ad for Jack Links beef jerky, if I had to guess.
Most importantly, jump on this chance to Tweet your message to a place no Tweet has gone before! How often does someone offer you the chance to beam something that came from your brain into space? If it’s more than this one time…we should hang out more.
