Imagine collaborating with aliens from Alpha Centauri to construct a wormhole teleporter. Whether it’s for dinner or interstellar diplomacy, effective communication is crucial. But how do we discuss construction details like materials and dimensions when we’ve never visited each other’s planets? If you asked me to create an arc 300 cubits long without knowing what a cubit is, the result might not meet your expectations. Therefore, we need a universal way to communicate about the universe, using ideas rather than specific artifacts.
We’d start with basic materials. Instead of sending a sample of lithium across space, we could describe it as “the atom with 3 protons, 3 neutrons, and 3 electrons.” Water would be “the molecule that combines one atom with 8 protons and two atoms with 1 proton.” This approach allows us to establish a shared understanding of materials.
Once we’ve agreed on materials, we can define time. We could instruct the aliens to use the atom with 55 protons and 78 neutrons, emit a photon in a specific way, and count 9,192,631,770 oscillations to define one second. With time established, we can define distance by measuring how far light travels in 1/299,792,458th of a second, which we call a meter.
However, defining mass presents a significant challenge. Currently, a kilogram is a specific lump of metal on Earth, which isn’t a concept we can easily share with distant aliens. In the near future, we’ll adopt a more sensible way to define mass. We might instruct the aliens to gather 21.5253873 septillion atoms with 14 protons and 14 neutrons, or measure the mass lost by an atom or molecule after emitting a photon that oscillates approximately 135.6392534 septillion septillion times per second. One of these methods will become our new kilogram. Although the atom pile method seems simpler, it’s more complex and costly in practice.
Once we establish a universal way to communicate about mass as an idea rather than an object, we can build our wormhole teleporter with the Alpha Centaurians. Then, we can invite them to Earth, share a meal, and show them the metal chunk that once defined mass for us.
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Engage in a collaborative game where you and your peers take turns describing different atoms using only their proton, neutron, and electron counts. This will help reinforce your understanding of atomic structures and how they can be used to communicate material properties universally.
Participate in a workshop where you will use everyday objects to simulate the definition of a second and a meter. This hands-on activity will deepen your comprehension of how time and distance can be universally defined using atomic properties and the speed of light.
Engage in a debate with your classmates about the pros and cons of different methods for defining mass. Discuss the practicality and challenges of using atom counts versus photon oscillation measurements, and propose your own ideas for a universal mass standard.
Work in groups to simulate a communication exchange with an alien civilization. Use the concepts of universal language discussed in the article to convey complex ideas about materials, time, and distance. This role-playing exercise will enhance your ability to think critically about cross-cultural and cross-species communication.
Explore online platforms like Skillshare to find tutorials related to interstellar communication, physics, or any other topic of interest. Share your findings with the class and discuss how digital resources can aid in learning complex scientific concepts in today’s digital age.
Universal – Applicable everywhere or in all cases; in physics, often refers to laws or constants that are consistent throughout the universe. – The universal law of gravitation explains the attraction between any two masses in the universe.
Communication – The process of transmitting information from one entity to another, often involving encoding, transmission, and decoding of data. – In computer networks, effective communication protocols are essential for data exchange between devices.
Materials – Substances or components with certain physical properties used in the creation of objects, devices, or structures. – The study of superconducting materials is crucial for developing efficient energy transmission systems.
Time – A continuous, measurable quantity in which events occur in a sequence, often considered a fundamental dimension in physics. – In relativity, time dilation occurs when an object approaches the speed of light.
Distance – The amount of space between two points, often measured in units such as meters or kilometers in physics. – The distance between two charges affects the magnitude of the electrostatic force between them.
Mass – A measure of the amount of matter in an object, typically measured in kilograms, and a fundamental property in physics. – The mass of an object determines its resistance to acceleration when a force is applied.
Atom – The smallest unit of a chemical element, consisting of a nucleus surrounded by electrons. – Understanding the structure of the atom is essential for studying chemical reactions and bonding.
Photon – A quantum of electromagnetic radiation, often considered a particle of light with zero mass and energy proportional to its frequency. – Photons are emitted when electrons transition between energy levels in an atom.
Kilogram – The base unit of mass in the International System of Units (SI), defined by the Planck constant. – The kilogram is used as a standard measure for mass in scientific experiments.
Digital – Relating to technology that uses discrete values, often represented in binary code, for processing and storing information. – Digital circuits are fundamental components of modern computers and electronic devices.
