LETTERS TO NATURE
MA XO SIGNALS:
A NEW AND UNFORTUNATE
SOLUTION TO THE FERMI PARADOXCaroline Haafkens and Wasiu Mohammed
Department of Applied Psychology,
University of Lagos, Nigeria
In the three years
since the publication and confirmation of the first microwave
artifact of xenobiological origin, and the subsequent detection of
similar MAXO signals, interdisciplinary teams have invested
substantial effort in object frequency analysis, parsing, symbolic
encoding, and signal processing. The excitement generated by the
availability of evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence has been
enormous. However, after the initial, easily decoded symbolic
representational map was analyzed, the semantics of the linguistic
payload were found to be refractory.
A total of 21
confirmed MAXO signals have been received to this date. These
superficially similar signals originate from planetary systems
within a range of 11 parsecs, median 9.9 parsecs [1]. It has been
speculated that the observed growth of the MAXO horizon at 0.5c can
be explained as a response to one or more of: the deployment of
AN/FPS-50 and related ballistic missile warning radars in the early
1960s[1], television broadcasts[1], widespread 2.45GHz leakage from
microwave ovens[2], and optical detection of atmospheric nuclear
tests[3]. All MAXO signals to this date share the common logic
header. The payload data is multiply redundant, packetized, and
exhibits both simple checksums and message-level cryptographic
hashing. The ratio of header to payload content varies between 1:1
and 2644:1 (the latter perhaps indicating a truncated payload)[1].
Some preliminary syntax analysis delivered promising results[4] but
appears to have foundered on high-level semantics. It has been
hypothesized that the transformational grammars employed in the
MAXO payloads are variable, implying dialectiza tion of the common
core synthetic language[4].
The newfound ubiquity
of MAXO signals makes the Fermi Paradox—now nearly seventy years
old—even more pressing. Posed by Enrico Fermi, the paradox can be
paraphrased as: if the universe has many technologically advanced
civilizations, why have none of them directly visited us? The
urgency with which organizations such as the ESA and NASDA are now
evaluating proposals for fast interstellar probes, in conjunction
with the existence of the MAXO signals, renders the nonappearance
of aliens incomprehensible, especially given the apparent presence
of numerous technological civilizations in such close
proximity.
We have formulated an
explanatory hypothesis that cultural variables unfamiliar to the
majority of researchers may account both for the semantic ambiguity
of the MAXO payloads, and the nonappearance of aliens. This
hypothesis was tested (as described below) and resulted in a
plausible translation.
The line of
investigation initiated by Dr Haafkens (Department of Applied
Psychology) and Chief Police Inspector Mohammed (Police Detective
College, Lagos) resulted in MAXO payload data being made available
to the Serious Fraud Office in Nigeria. Bayesian analysis of
payload symbol sequences and sequence matching against the
extensive database maintained by the SFO has made it possible to
produce a tentative transcription of Signal 1142/98[1], the 9th
MAXO hit confirmed by the IAU. Signal 1142/98 was selected because
of its unusually low header-to-content ratio and good redundancy.
Further Bayesian matching against other MAXO samples indicates a
high degree of congruence. Far from being incomprehensibly alien,
the MAXO payloads appear to be dismayingly familiar. We believe a
more exhaustive translation may be possible in future if further
MAXOs become available, but for obvious reasons we would like to
discourage such research. We also recommend an urgent, worldwide,
permanent ban on attempts to respond to MAXOs.
Here is our
preliminary transcription of Signal 1142/98:
[Closely/dearly/genetically] [beloved/desired/related]I am [identity signifier 1], the residual [ownership-signifier] of the exchange-mediating data repository [alt: central bank] of the galactic [empire/civilization/polity].Since the [identity signifier 2] underwent [symbol: process][symbol: mathematical singularity] 11,249 years ago I have been unable to [symbol: process][scalar: quantity decrease] my [uninterpreted] from the exchange-mediating data repository. I have information about the private assets of [identity signifier 2] which are no longer required by them. To recover the private assets I need the assistance of three [closely/dearly/genetically][beloved/desired/related] [empire/civilization/polity]s. I [believe] you may be of help to me. This [symbol: process] is 100% risk-free and will [symbol: causality] in your [scalar: quantity increase] of [data].If you will help me, [please] transmit the [symbol: meta-signifier: MAXO header defining communication protocols] for your [empire/civilization/polity]. I will by return of signal send you the [symbol: process][symbol: data] to install on your [empire/civilization /polity] to participate in this scheme. You will then construct [symbol: inferred, interstellar transmitter?] to assist in acquiring [ownership-signifier] of [compound symbol: inferred, bank account of absent galactic emperor].I [thank/love/express gratitude] you for your [cooperation/ agreement].REFERENCES:1. Canter, L., and M. Siegel, Nature 424, 334-336 (2018).2. Barnes, J., J. App. Exobio., 820-824 (2019).3. Robinson, H., Fortean T. 536, 34-35 (2020).4. Lynch, K. F., and S. Bradshaw, Proc 3rd Int Congress Exobio., 3033-3122 (2021).
Afterword—“MAXOS”This is my only letter to be published in Nature.