In May 2023, a signal resembling an extraterrestrial message was transmitted from Mars by the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter and captured by three observatories on Earth. This was part of “A Sign in Space,” an art project by the SETI Institute that invited global citizen scientists to decode the message. After nearly a year of analysis, citizen scientists Ken Chaffin and his daughter Keli cracked the visual puzzle in June 2024, identifying the message as configurations symbolizing amino acids—building blocks of life.
Despite uncovering the signal’s visual form, the message’s intent remains open to interpretation. The visualized clusters, which flash in motion for just a fraction of a second, hint at biological elements but carry no definitive explanation. The project’s lead, Daniela de Paulis, emphasized that in a real-life scenario, humanity would be on its own to determine the meaning of an extraterrestrial message.
A community of citizen scientists refer to the original visualization of the extracted data as the "starmap." A Sign in Space
For the Chaffins, the message’s ambiguity invites endless theories. Ken speculated that it could depict the formation of life’s essential compounds in space, aligning with the concept of panspermia, where life’s elements spread throughout the universe. For Keli, the experience was a deeply personal journey, interpreting the project’s message like a Rorschach test. The team continues to seek ideas from the public while de Paulis compiles interpretations for an upcoming book.
