Extraterrestrials leave two Japanese scientists “on read”

In 1983, two scientists who were under the influence of alcohol decided to send a message into space to verify the existence of extraterrestrials.

The reply to this message, which is supposed to come this week, has not arrived (yet). But let’s not lose hope, there is still time to receive it. Like these two astronomers, we would like to prove the sceptics wrong and maybe there is life beyond this planet. So we revisit this amusing story from forty years ago, when 13 simple drawings depicting the evolution of life on Earth and the Japanese word 乾杯 meaning “cheers” were sent to Altair, a star about 16.7 light years away. At the time, there was speculation that its orbit might harbour a planet where life was possible.

Do you think they are still thinking about the answer?