91download.com supports a wide range of platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Dailymotion, Reddit, Bilibili, Douyin, Xiaohongshu and Zhihu, etc. Click the download button below to parse and download the current video
In the vast expanse of the cosmos, our tiny blue planet orbits silently. A recent image, captured by the Cassini spacecraft on July 19th, 2013, offers a unique perspective of Earth from Saturn. It's a reminder of our minuscule presence in the universe, prompting us to contemplate: if our planet were to vanish, what legacy would we leave behind?
The premise of the upcoming series "You, Me and the Apocalypse" got me pondering this question. What if we knew Earth had only 34 days left before a catastrophic event? What would we do? For me, it would be a race against time to compile a bucket list of human experiences, knowledge, and emotions—everything that defines us. This list wouldn't be for personal fulfillment; it would be a message to the future, a time capsule sent far into space, preserving our essence for whomever or whatever may find it.
But how do you craft a message for an audience that might exist millions or billions of years in the future, potentially devoid of any familiar senses or cognitive frameworks? The answer lies in the universal languages of mathematics and physics. The Arecibo message, for instance, is a binary digit semi-prime number carrying information about humanity, destined to reach the M13 star cluster in 25,000 years.
Our planet has also been inadvertently broadcasting its radio and TV signals into space, creating a bubble of human culture expanding at the speed of light. However, these signals may稀释 over vast distances, making them impractical for long-term communication.
Enter the physical time capsules, like the LAGEOS-1 satellite, which carries a plaque designed by Carl Sagan, or the EchoStar XVI communications satellite, featuring images of Earth and its inhabitants. These satellites, orbiting high above our planet, serve as modern pyramids—monuments to human achievement and a record of our existence.
But what if our entire solar system is lost? We have sent interstellar messages aboard probes like Pioneer 10 and 11, Voyager 1 and 2, and New Horizons. These contain special messages, such as the Pioneer plaques, which convey information about humanity through universal scientific concepts, like the hydrogen atom's hyperfine transition.
The Voyager probes carry a golden record, a compendium of human sounds, images, and languages. It's a message of hope, a token of our desire to survive and join a community of galactic civilizations. This record represents our hope, determination, and goodwill in the vast cosmos.
The concept of the Library of Babel, a digital repository of every possible combination of English letters, highlights the power of language and the infinity of expression. While it contains every permutation of text, the true value lies in the intention behind the words—a distinction between what could be said and what has been intentionally expressed.
As we stand on the cusp of history, we are in a unique position to explore language and its possibilities. What should we send out into space? What unsaid truths will we be the first to articulate? The answers to these questions could shape our legacy, ensuring that our message to the future is not just a recording, but a testament to our existence and our quest for understanding.
In the end, as the series "You, Me and the Apocalypse" premieres, it serves as a reminder that every moment is a potential message to the future, and every one of us has the power to craft that message.
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook