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diff --git a/76654-0.txt b/76654-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..502d602 --- /dev/null +++ b/76654-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,538 @@ + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76654 *** + + + + THE NEW SCIENCE OF SPACE SPEECH + + By Vincent H. Gaddis + + How to talk to Martians, dolphins and creatures + from the farthest stars--not tomorrow, but now! + + +A giant ear to listen to the whispers from infinity is being built at +Sugar Grove, W. Va. This 600-foot radio telescope, largest ever +designed, will cost $100 million. When completed, its massive antenna, +covering 6½ acres, will be trained on the mighty stellar mainland far +beyond our solar system. + +Astronomers believe that it will pick up cosmic impulses originating in +stars from 60 to 80 light-years distant--seven times farther than +America’s largest existing radio telescope. + +Meanwhile, a scientist in the Virgin Islands talks to a frisky dolphin. +And the aquatic mammal replies, imitating the man’s words with uncanny +accuracy. + +And at centers of learning in the United States and abroad scholars +patiently work over mathematical charts and word lists, seeking formulas +that will solve the problem of space speech. + +These diverse activities are unified by a common purpose--to intercept +and to interpret a possible message from outer space. + +This signal across the vast void of the spaceways from intelligent but +alien beings will be, perhaps, the most momentous event in human +history. It could come tomorrow, or it may not be received for a century +or more. + +When it does come, man should be prepared to reply. This means we must +devise some new method of communication that will transmit thoughts to +non-human alien minds. + +In awarding a contract for a space speech project, Dr. Dale W. Jenkins, +chief of the National Space Administration’s environment biology +programs, stressed the great need for this knowledge. + +“We have not yet determined whether there are any communications +directed at earth from outer space,” he said. “If we do make contact, we +will have to work out systems of understanding.” + +This understanding is an all-important requisite as man reaches out +toward the stars. + +Understanding, however, will also have to be applied by man to himself +when he joins the community of civilizations beyond. + +Once interstellar intercourse is established, it will herald a new era +in which man will have to recognize another species or form of life as +intellectually his equal or more likely his superior. A recent +psychological study of the possible effects of outer space contacts +indicates that it will deflate human egoism with far-reaching +consequences to his culture. + + * * * * * + +The problem of space speech is two-fold. + +First, there are the techniques to be used in actual physical contact +with other world inhabitants; second, the far more complex problem of +exchanging concepts through the medium of radio communication. + +Suppose you are a space explorer. You have landed on Mars or Venus and +for the first time you are meeting intelligent creatures that are the +products of a completely different line of evolution. + +You possess five relatively well-developed senses. If the beings are not +hostile, you must first determine if they have the same senses, only +some part of them, or additional senses that man does not have. + +For example, they may have a sense similar to extra-sensory perception +and communicate with each other through telepathy. If you can exchange +thoughts with them, that is fine. If you cannot tune in on their mental +wavelengths, you’re in trouble. + +The sense of smell is practically limited to attractive perfumes and +repulsive odors. Taste has the same limitations. Touch has been used for +communication between humans, as in teaching the blind and deaf, but it +requires physical contact (certainly a risky act when meeting strangers) +and is limited to elementary concepts at best. + +The only practical senses--of those which we humans possess, at any +rate--for direct communication are sight and hearing. + +If our Martians or Venusians have these senses--and if their reasoning +processes are similar to those of humans--then communication could +probably be established in the same manner with which we teach our +children. + +You could use “sign language.” You could point to your mouth and move +your jaws to indicate you thought refreshments should be served. You +could point to their head or heads (if they had them) and then at your +own head and say “head.” With time and patience, a basis for +communication could be established. + +But suppose their methods of communication are entirely different. +Suppose they use antennae, like ants, or gyrations, like bees. + +Dr. Karl von Frisch, the German zoologist, discovered that when a bee +locates a rich source of nectar, she returns to the hive and performs a +dance. The number of times she turns reveals the distance, and her +position in relation to the sun and the hive gives the direction. + +This “breakthrough” into subhuman communication required controlled and +sustained observation. It will have to be the necessary procedure if man +encounters creatures with similar characteristics with his present +knowledge. + +Von Frisch’s discovery was a one-way avenue of understanding. But if the +ants and the bees were much larger and more intelligent, we can assume +that a demonstrative style of language could be devised for mutual +communication. + +To our scientists it is obvious that before our spacemen confront alien +beings on a distant planet, we must learn the fundamentals of developing +communication with a non-human but intelligent species right here on +earth. And this is now in progress with “Project Dolphin.” + + * * * * * + +Bottle-nosed dolphins are not fish, but aquatic mammals. Often, but +inaccurately, called porpoises, they are well known as clever, +frolicsome entertainers at marineland exhibits. + +Dolphins are by far the most intelligent animals other than man, and +their brain power in some respects may even be superior to man’s. The +dolphin brain is 40 per cent larger than the human, although smaller in +proportion to body weight, and the cerebral cortex--the layer of gray +matter that originates rational thought--is just as complicated. + +Dr. John C. Lilly, a neurophysiologist and a noted authority on the +mammal, is in charge of the project. The research is principally being +conducted at the Communications Research Institute of Charlotte Amalie, +located at the U.S. Navy base on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. + +Dr. Lilly is working under a contract awarded in 1962 by the National +Aeronautics and Space Administration. The contract is for basic +scientific research “on the feasibility and methodology for establishing +communications between man and other species.” + +Dolphins have a complex vocal language. They talk to each other with +sharp, high-pitched whistles and they talk almost continuously. Dr. +Lilly has determined that the dolphin distress call is “an undulating +sound,” with a rasping noise made periodically for range-finding. + +Interpreting the dolphin vocabulary will not be easy since the creature +emits heavy breathing sounds and there are other masking noises. + +In experiments with ESB (electric stimulation of the brain), Dr. Lilly +located the portion of the dolphin brain that created a feeling of +pleasure. The dolphin almost immediately learned how to turn on a switch +producing the current. For comparison, in similar tests it was found +that monkeys required 300 or more tries before they attained their +ability. + +One day the electrical device broke down. The dolphin, annoyed at losing +his pleasurable sensation, began making a series of sounds in imitation +of the laboratory equipment. Dr. Lilly made a tape recording of these +sounds. + +Later the doctor played back the recording and in order to more +distinctly hear the sounds he decided to run the tape at one quarter its +normal speed. + +It was then that Dr. Lilly made an astonishing discovery. + +With exaggerated slowness, he listened to his own voice on the tape +announcing the footage--“three, two, three”--and the dolphin immediately +and clearly repeated the words in high-pitched whistles. Other tape +recordings of what had seemed to be an unintelligible series of squawks +and quacks, when played at half or quarter speed with the sound volume +lowered, confirmed the discovery. + +The dolphins were not only distinctly imitating the human words they +heard, but were compressing their mimicry as to time. They were talking +at a rate eight times faster than humans. + +One dolphin, Dr. Lilly recalls, “mimicked my speaking voice so well that +my wife laughed out loud, and he copied her laughter.” + +When one of the doctor’s assistants who had a southern drawl talked to +one dolphin, the animal’s voice came back in clear imitation ... +complete with the southern accent. + +The next step--and it’s a big one--is to learn the dolphin language. The +high-pitched, high-speed chatter must be broken down into definite +meanings. + +Dr. Frank D. Drake, director of Project Ozma (the recent attempt to +receive possible messages by radio telescope), considers the dolphin +language study to be of great importance. + +He says the project “needs the skills of the radio astronomer in +extracting signals from noise, and then the work of the linguist, and, +perhaps, the cryptographer. It could well be, if the dolphin studies are +correct, that we have right here on earth another intelligent race that +is even more alien than some we might encounter in space.” + + * * * * * + +Second, there is the problem of interpreting and transmitting +information through radio communication. + +In April, 1960, Project Ozma was launched. The 85-foot radio telescope +of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at Green Bank, W. Va., was +focused by government scientists on two stars in an attempt to pick up +artificially produced signals. + +The stars were Tau Ceti and Epsilon Eridani, 11 light-years or about 66 +trillion miles away. They were chosen because they were similar to our +own sun in size and rate of rotation. + +The frequency at which natural hydrogen emits radio energy in space is +1,420 megacycles, and thus it is a universal constant. Dr. Drake tuned +the receiver on both sides of this band. + +Day after day the impulses were transmitted to a pen that traced erratic +lines on a moving paper roll. But no repetitive pattern appeared that +would indicate deliberate signals. + +Early in 1961 it was announced that Project Ozma was being suspended. It +is expected to be resumed when the new 600-foot radio telescope is +completed. + +The failure of Project Ozma to receive a message during a few months in +operation is no surprise. In fact, it would not be a surprise if no +signals were received during daily operation for a millennium. + +There are known to be at least 100 quintillion stars. Focusing on one +random star in the hope it has a planet having intelligent life beaming +signals in our direction is like trying to find a specific drop of water +in the ocean. + +When a reporter during Project Ozma asked if there was any word from our +remote fellow creatures, one scientist told him to come back in 10,000 +years. + +Yet certain factors may improve these chances. Advanced beings might +periodically check the solar systems nearest them to see if they have +company. It is not unreasonable to suppose that there is regular cosmic +conversation between greatly developed cultures, and if we could detect +a channel we might be able to plug in on the party line. + +We can only hope, however, that they are using a method we can detect. +Man has only recently emerged from savagery and is only beginning to +look beyond his little world. To the cosmic callers, our most advanced +equipment might be as primitive as smoke signals are to us. + +Again, we might be trying to contact beings so entirely different from +us that we would have no common ground upon which to build +understanding. They might not even respond as we do to the same stimuli. +Their appearance, evolution, structure, environment and thinking +processes could even be beyond the limits of our imaginations. + +But a signal could come--an impulse from out of the boundless abyss +telling us we are not alone. What would be the nature of this message? +And how could we reply? + +Assuming that our senders are using radio wavelengths and have enough +similarity to us for mutual understanding, we would first have to +isolate the signals from the hash of natural static. + +Next, we would have to “crack the code.” The usual cryptographic +techniques, which depend on some basic knowledge of the language and +letter frequencies, would not be adequate. We can only hope that the +callers give us some clues. + +Scientists expect any messages received will be mathematical in nature, +since mathematical principles may be regarded as universal constants. + +The message might be a simple numeral progression or the numbers of a +constant, such as the wave length of the hydrogen atom or the speed of +light. + +They might send _pi_, for example, the ratio of the circumference of a +circle to its diameter. It’s a non-stop number, but we would understand +if it was worked out to six or eight decimal places. “_Pi_ from the sky” +would be the story of the ages. + +Once we had received this signal for recognition and replied in equally +simple terms would come the real problem of interpreting or devising a +means for transmitting speed. + + * * * * * + +Hans Fruedenthal, professor of mathematics at the University of Utrecht +(Netherlands), has devised a system he calls Lincos (meaning “Lingua +Cosmica” or “Cosmic Language”). It consists of teaching the meaning of +certain sounds by using numbers. The numbers would be signified by +“dots” or “beeps”; the sounds by radio signals of various frequencies +and lengths. To illustrate the method, let us assume that the sound +“bloop” stands for “equal.” Three dots would be sent, then bloop, then +three dots. This would be repeated with other numbers until the +listeners associated the sound with equal numbers. + +The concept of “less than” would similarly be sent by several dots, +another sound (like “tweet”), followed by a greater number of dots. The +reverse--like a greater number of dots, another sound, and a lesser +number of dots--would signify “greater than.” Once these concepts were +understood, the operative signs like add, subtract, etc. could be +taught. Thus a mathematical vocabulary would be established. + +Next would come transmitting the length of our basic time unit. The +Fruedenthal system would send, say, a four-second dash, followed by the +Lincos sound for “second,” then four dots. Using different dash lengths +with corresponding dots and the same sound, it is assumed that the +recipients would observe that the length of the dash was proportional to +the number of dots. + +Time concepts (including universal constants) would lead to teaching +units of physical length. + +Upon this foundation of mathematics, time and dimensions, Lincos +develops an ingenious and extensive language for a detailed description +of earth, its inhabitants and our culture. + +Lincos, of course, assumes that the listeners are capable of +understanding our mathematical concepts and that their reasoning +processes are similar to ours. It illustrates one great fundamental +difficulty in alien communication: whatever system we use, it has to be +devised within the limitations of our one-planet knowledge and +experience. + +The basic principle of association (that is relating numbers to sounds +to teach meanings) can be used in other systems. Some form of +association, probably beginning with objects and sounds, will be +necessary to teach dolphins a human language. + +One other fundamental means of communication is being considered by +scientists. This is the use of geometrical designs or symbols which +would then evolve into pictures. It would be most practical in +interplanetary communication. + +A picture, as the Chinese say, is worth a thousand words. + +In interstellar communication, geometrical figures could possibly be +signified by numbers. Thus the pi ratio would denote a circle, three +equal successive numbers an equilateral triangle, four equal numbers a +square, and so on. + +From this elementary basis, a method of translating sounds into drawings +could be developed. This might take the form of having electrical +circuits attached to pens or tiny lights respond to various sounds, thus +transcribing the pictures to paper or film. + +The correct interpretation of whatever messages we receive will be of +extreme importance. An error could be disastrous. + +We need only recall the difficulties we have had in translating early +records of our own species to know that interpreting the signals of +otherworld beings may be very difficult. Egyptian hieroglyphics were +given many translations that contradicted each other before the Rosetta +Stone was found. In one example, there were 12 different translations. + +Should this problem develop, we can only hope that the other-worlders +are friendly, tolerant and patient. + +Then there is the time factor. + +If, during Project Ozma, a signal had been received and a reply sent, it +would have been 22 years before we knew whether our answer had been +received. A reply to a message from 80 light-years away received by the +new radio telescope being built would take 160 years for confirmation. + +Living languages are fluid. As new words are coined, others become +obsolete. Definitions change with passing years. + +King George I of England, upon inspecting Sir Christopher Wren’s +masterpiece, St. Paul’s Cathedral, told the famous architect that his +creation was “amusing, awful and artificial.” Sir Christopher was +delighted with the royal compliments. + +Three centuries ago amusing meant amazing, awful meant awe-inspiring, +and artificial meant artistic. + +With time as dimension in universal communication, we would have to +choose our words with care. + +The accelerated scientific progress of recent years will doubtless +continue, with new ways and means of cosmic communication being +developed. Radio astronomy itself is barely three decades old. +Revolutionary techniques in interstellar contacts may be just around the +corner. + + * * * * * + +Has radio communication with alien beings already occurred? This is a +startling possibility. + +On August 22, 1924, the planet Mars approached to within thirty-four and +a half million miles from the earth. Radio broadcasting stations were +silenced and scientists listened for a possible message from across +space. + +At the suggestion of the late Dr. David Todd, professor emeritus of +astronomy at Amherst College, the U.S. Government through diplomatic +channels requested that all countries with high-power transmitters +silence their stations for five minutes every hour from 11:50 p.m. +August 21 to 11:50 p.m. August 23. + +Station WOR, Newark, N.J., reported receiving a word translated as +“Eunza.” Other stations announced receiving strange signals. + +Twenty-three years later, in 1947, Gene Darling, an early “ham” operator +and General Electric Co. employee in Schenectady, N. Y., said he and an +assistant had failed to turn off a test transmitter. “It kept on sending +out automatic code signals,” he said, “and fearing criticism, we never +told of our mistake.” + +But something else happened during this 1924 test period of silence that +remains a mystery today. + +C. Francis Jenkins, of Washington, D. C., had only recently invented a +radio photo message continuous-transmission machine. He was asked by Dr. +Todd to take a record of any signals received during the periods of +silence. + +The recording device was attached to a receiver adjusted to the 6,000 +meter wave length. Incoming signals caused flashes of light, which were +printed on the film by an instrument passing over its surface from side +to side. The film was in a roll, 30 feet long and six inches wide, and +it was slowly unwound by clockwork under the instrument and light bulb +which responded to transmitted sounds. + +When the film was developed, it disclosed a fairly regular arrangement +of dots and dashes along one side, but on the other side, at almost +evenly spaced intervals, were curiously jumbled groups each taking the +form of a man’s face. + +Scientists at the radio division of the National Bureau of Standards and +military code experts examined the film and admitted it was a freak that +they couldn’t explain. + +“The film of faces is a permanent record that can be studied,” Dr. Todd +said, “and who knows just what these signals may have been?” + +There have been other incidents. Marconi, the father of wireless, heard +strange signals in 1921. And in 1928 Prof. A. M. Low, famous English +scientist, listened to a “mysterious series of dots and dashes.” + +Ham radio operators have occasionally reported curious stories. In QST, +official organ of the International Amateur Radio Union, July, 1950, +issue, Byron Goodman, assistant technical editor of the magazine, tells +of a ham receiving strange signals. + +Certain unexplainable “echoes” were heard by scientists in 1927, and +again in 1928 and 1934 while they were experimenting with the +capabilities of radio. The Danish scientist, Hals, and two Scandinavian +experimenters, Størmer and Petersen, received echoes from 280,000 to +2,800,000 miles from the earth. + +Dr. Arthur C. Clarke reported that in a series of tests in Holland radio +echoes of eight seconds delay (corresponding to a reflector at a +distance of 744,000 miles) were obtained repeatedly in 1946. + +What is the explanation? + +Dr. Ronald N. Bracewell, professor of electrical engineering at Stanford +University and co-author with J. L. Pawsey of a standard textbook +(_Radio Astronomy_, Oxford University Press, 1955), has a theory. He +suggests that some of these echoes may have come from a satellite in +orbit around our sun. + +If highly advanced beings have achieved space travel, placing a +satellite in a solar system would be more practical than beaming radio +signals continuously at thousands of stars for thousands of years. + +Dr. Bracewell suggests that the experimental broadcasts included trigger +signals that caused the satellite to respond with echoes. If the +satellite’s reply was repeated by man, the satellite would probably +release its store of information. + + * * * * * + +If man does make contact with a superior alien civilization, what will +happen? + +Recently the Brookings Institution released a report on this question. +The study was made for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration +at a cost of $96,000. + +If intelligent life is discovered on other worlds, the report warned, +the stability of earth’s civilization will be threatened. It recommended +a psychological preparation of human beings prior to the discovery. + +“While the discovery of intelligent life in other parts of the universe +is not likely in the immediate future,” the report said, “it could +nevertheless happen at any time.” + +This is the lesson of history: When a culture is faced with a superior +culture, it either disintegrates or is changed drastically. + +Japan, when it was opened to the outside world, succeeded in adjusting +to the new conditions. The Aztec culture collapsed. + +Our beliefs, institutions and culture have been based on the premise +that man is the most intelligent of creatures. Would we be able to +assume a subordinate role? + +Perhaps Dr. Otto Struve, the noted astronomer, was thinking about this +when newsmen were interviewing him about Project Ozma. “I’m not so sure +we should even answer if we did receive such signals,” he said. + +Psychological preparation will certainly be needed. + +Dr. Harlow Shapley, the Harvard professor emeritus of astronomy, after +allowing for all elements of chance among the known stars, +conservatively estimates that there should be a million planets with +life-producing elements and conditions. + +In all the vastness of space and eons of time, there must be intelligent +life in myriad forms seeking other intelligent life for interstellar +companionship. + +When the signal comes, man will answer. + +END + + +[ Transcriber’s Notes: +1. This story appeared in the August 1963 issue of _Worlds of Tomorrow_. +2. The original publication used "earth" to refer to the planet "Earth" + consistently and "man" to refer to the collective "Man". Retained. +] + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76654 *** |