With all the extraordinary scientific developments that happen everyday, sometimes we forget about science-past, even when it's still science-present. For example, how many of you know (without an Internet search!) what The Golden Record is?
I didn't. Well, that is to say, I didn't know what it was called. The Golden Record is the album that was sent into space with Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. It's purpose was "to communicate a story of our world to extraterrestrials." Launched in 1977, both Voyagers are now well on their journeys into the cosmos. However, we may be in for something of a wait before we get a response from alien life. Scientists estimate that it will take the Voyager probes approximately 40,000 years to arrive at the nearest star.
While we await a "how do ya do" from our far away neighbors, we might ask ourselves, "Er...so what exactly is on that record?" The Golden Record contains, amongst other things, "116 pictures and diagrams about our global civilization and our species, greetings, samples of the world's great music, the brain waves of a young woman in love and much else."
I particularly like the list of included musical compositions. The Golden Record has everything from Bach to Chuck Berry. Rumor has it that when Bach was suggested for inclusion on the album, Carl Sagan quipped, "Bach? Now that would just be bragging."*
For more info, check out the links above. They'll lead you to Nasa's Voyager webpage and Carl Sagan's official website. Happy nerding!
*I have nothing to back this statement up. That's why it's rumor, people.
Sounds like something Sagan might say; and I have to admit, he's got a bit of a point. I'd be interested in knowing what a bunch of aliens might think of the Rolling Stones, though; plus, by the time "someone" gets it, if "we're" still here, noone will remember or be aware of it; so it could be one great big mutual "huh?" moment. :)
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