N::>A I ec.\-y\\ c.a\ :.fuu.f'f\.().

\
\Jo\ "'l" I
No. 1
UNCLASSIFIED

Key To The Extraterrestrial Messages

H\' H. l~Al\ll'All:N~:

( l11d11s.•i/i1'1i

/Ir. C11111p11ii:111' pn•s1•11tt'fl a ~1·ril'11 u{ 29 1111•ssa111•.• fr11111 111111•r .<pan• i11

"/frtmt1•m•.•trial /nt1•llipenn>." NSA Ttthnical J1111mal. Vol. XI. No.~­
{lfl. 1111 Jf. arid in th1• Sp1~·ial Mathrmatir.• a11d l•."11.ei111~·ri11.e ls.•111· 11{ tlr1·
.J1111riml.1111. I Ii If. '/'lw /111l111ri11p article dl'11~lups n k1•y tu tht's<' nit•ssa)l•'s.
/'amJ1ropl1 numlwr.• parallel the .•trial numbers of the me.•sagrs rppri11t1'd
i11 th1• a11111'11di.r b.•/1111•. Thi11 iiid11des lrm m•w .<i•rir·.•--:111 1111d .'// ·--11111
i11d11d1'fl i11 lht• pn•i·iuus articl1•.

Al en>r'.I' step in I he solution we mnke a iiuei;s at 1he menninii.

E\·i1h•111·1• will quickly ncnrmulate to verify or refute thi11 iiuess. The
pm<sihilit \' of amhiti:uit y of two l'onsi!\lent 11(11111 inns it< \"l'ry remnll•.
Only in the !:1st slep~. where ,·erilil·ation is thin. •·nuld this lmppen.
l. Then• are :H symbol~. in the order ii:fren h~· this me!<."'-'ll?e.
:!. His e11uivalent tu AA. C to AAA. etc. That is. A= I: B = :!: (' = :1:
D=.J: E=f1: F=6: t:=i.
:I. The s~·mhol L means the two thinj!s that fnllow ;1re till' sanw.
LXY nw:m" x =~·.
-1. Em·h sta!l•nwnl h;1s :i s~·mhuls. mul hPj!ins with L. Tiu• ·I sy111h1•l"
afler L mm<I he cun>'iilered as two thiniii1. 1-:m·h statement has a K ""
the third lelll'r. whid1 must Ill' tht• s1:1r1 uf lht• s1•1·1111d 1hinl(. ls
H= l<AA: C =KHA; C = KAB: D= KCA'? If KBA means B+A. it tits.
fi. Tht•st• \"erify our l'nm;lu,.inus on .J. Tht> til"l'I llll':lns 1;= I ~-t:.!+:11.
tlu• lasl llll':lllS I I (:.!I ;11=11 ( :!l I· :t.
Ii. E11d1 has tiw symhol11 ''"in -1. They llll'llll l=M:!I: :.!=1\1:11:
I = l\l:t!. Olwinusl~· :vi X Y means x - y.
i. These trnnsl;:ue N= 1-1: N=2-:!: N=:l-:J. N st:md" for
zero. U.
8. These translate I =011: ll=OOI: 2=-01:.!: :!=021; U=0112:
U=OW: 4=022. e\c. OXY meani> the product XX Y.
9. Th~e \"eril); the cunclusions ol" 8. The tirst sa\"s that 6= l X :?x:l,
the last 4Xl5X61 =(·I Xiii x6.
N11t1•: So far we lun·e seen two kinds uf symhoL~: digits A throuith li
and N. and 01>eratorio L. K. M. and 0. The two diii:its following the
nperator are the nperancls.
Ill. Trnnslates intn ·l=H:.!2: :!~H21: 1-~H:?O: :t-ltll: 1-ltlO.
HX Y must me:m X'. exponentiation. R is another binary operator.

13 UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED l•:XTllAH:lllll•:STlllAI.

11. Translates inlu 2·' "I ·1-4; :t' =I I 7: 2 '~ :! X ·I: :!' - ··I. n•ril\ini:
our previous conclusions.
12. Translates into :1'~ 4 1-1>; :S'=:1x:1. ~·urlher vNiliraliun.
Note: In our culture we use 1>arentheses lo i:rou11 dos1·I~· as,;11riated
lnms, mul as a first step ii helps, 1•ven though ii is 1101m•rt•ssarv.111 put
in parentheses. To du so unamhiguously. start al lhl' rii:h1 a111l rt•a1I
left Io I he first opera I or symhul; put parenl lll'ses ah11111 I ht· upt•ral ur
and the lwu quanlitics 111 its rii:ht. Hcpcat 11111il no pair 111' pari•111lw,;l's
contains mure than an operator ancl two quanlilies.
l:S. Translates into .J =2·'; .J= I I 7; .J-1· I "":ix:I; .11 I :I'. lllt'rc-
fore -1-' H.
M. We can only introduce parentheses hy assmninJl I' is an
npl'ralur. so WI! Jll•I 2 l'R·I; 4 .- 1'112; I - 1':1:1; and :1 l'li:!. Thus
I' X Y = X ,. Y, 1livision.
II>. Assume ti is an operator, gelling l!J2; 112:1; 11:1.1; I Ifill; lllili;
U78; U2"3' = Ll89. The smaller is first in each c11se; so perhaps 11 X \'
means X precedes Y or X < Y.
16. The new character (~ must be an operalor. Tr:msnillt'd ii i:i\'l•s
usQ: 0=1; Q: 1=3; Q: l=l+l; Q: O=IXI; <l: 2'=2; (l: :.!··.:l;
ll: H(I =II II =2J; QIQ: :J=:JI: Q: 8< 7.
Clearly Q means "lhe following statement is false." Tlll'n !ht• lll'XI 111
the last is read "it is false that :l.c:I." <ll. will be lr11nslale1l ;e.. Tiii'
second new symlml is nnl clellr, except that ii is an op11ra111r whose
opcramls aru state111ents, n11t 1pu1111i1ics, a B1111lcan opcral11r.
N11t1•: <l is an 11pcral11r wilh 1111ly one opt•raml, unary.
17. l'ulling in )larcntheses shows that S is also a unar~· 11pl'ral11r
u11erating on statements. Trnnscrihecl they art•: S: I -- I: S: I· :!:
S: 2,d 11; S: l=IXI; S: 0=1-1; S: UIHi-:IXlil (I_ ti' till:
S: Ill I I 11 Cl-- 21 I. It is a1111:1rent thnt S ml':ms "tht• foll11wi11~ stalt•-
nwnl is true" ur "ii is :1sSt'rtcd that." The lll'XI lu 1lw last 11ll'ssai:1·
shows that llXY m1•:111s "X implies Y" or "Xis a 1·11nsi•q111•111·1• 111 Y"
11r mayhc• "Xis loi:irnlly t•1111iv:ilenl lo Y."
IH. Onr rule for 11arentheses hreaks down unless 'I' is a dillt•r1·111 kind
11fsy111h11I. '1'111' lirsl mcssai:c shuws thal T 11111y ht> a 11nar~· upt·ralur 1111
quanlilicH, su that A'I' or TA is a quantity. The thir1I 111c•ssa1!t' shuws
lhal it musl hethelirst,i;inceTislasl. l'nllini:in part•nllwSL·s lhis \\av
givcR IT= I; 2'1'= l'l'-1-1; li'I'= 21'-!· :~'I'; 6'J'~, :rrx 2T; 7'1'-c 7: 111'1' R.
T musl he an ~riding. On 1111e digit it 111ak1•s 1111 cli1Tn1•11l't'. 11 r11111hi111·s
I he two digits Ill 111 make B. Oclal aril lmll'I it•'!
l!I. Transcribes In 12:1'1'= I XH' 1-(:lXB'-l·:IJ;
:121'1'=:1><8' I 12X8' 11 XB"J;
1!ifi7T .., MXH' 1 l>XH'I I (liXH' I 7xH"I.
Ch•arly 'I' imlicates Iha! "the Jiren·dini: tli!lils l11n11 an 111·1al
numhcr." l'ossihly it is 1111 uc111I )luint; ii' su, dii:i1s ma~· 111"1"111' allt·r ir.

UNCLASSIFIED 14
 11.11. l'AMl'AIC:NI·: UNCLASSIFIED

.\"11/1·· ll1·1·:111si• 111' 1lw wa~· )!Wlll>ini: is implil'd. it is sulli<·ie111 111 ha'·l' a
111ark..r al 1111' L'llll 111' a 1111111her in order to clear!~· isolate it as a si11J!ll'
1·111ir_, ..
:!II. 111 I r~·i11J! 111 put on p:irentheses it appl'ars I hat \' is alsn an
1•11di11i:. 1\111 this 11m• l'11mhint•s with hnth 1111unritir~ !that is. diµirs.I
a111I 11111·r:ir ur. Tr:111snihini: hy t rl':ll ini: V and t lw prt•1·1•di11i: sn11hul as
a .-i111d1· 1111i1 fur I Ill' I iull' hl'illl(. we J!l'l:
H I 1 A\' implil's 7 =AV.
I \\·ill 11>1· • li1r II hert':lfrl'r. Hl'llll'lllher that we are 11111 sure of the
s1·11''' nl r hi.- ,;,~11. II - :1 11 :.! =A\' II lul\'l' 11111i111•d I he T.
ll1·1111·111lu·r I hal 11Tis11i1ll'I:
:t ,\\' =. 11 =AV':
;, A\' · ti I I A\'.
111llll'111·xt llll'>'saf!1• if wL' L"11111hi11L' thL• 0 aml \' inln nne s~·mhnl llll'
llll'><aJ.!I' d111•s 11111 parsL'. Tr~· l:OV as one symhul. !(et ting
:1 1 1 nov _,. :! = 1:ov;
1; :.!xStJ\'=·:l=SOV:
:1 I)( IV =· • 11 = ncl\i':
II islnll'lhat AV t l'V = l'V+AV:
11 isa tautulully thal AV X PV = PV X AV:
Ir i.-an ich•nrir~· tlmt AV f- tl'V f- T\'1 =!AV -1- PVI I T\':
11 isass1•rtc·cl rhat A\" x II'\' x TVI =IA\' .f P\'1 +- T\':
,\\·,,. B\' - ·AV -- HV ,,,_ BV AV;
A\' ,. BV . AV'" ... 11\1 II.
Tiil' 1111"a11i11)! uf \' musl he that "the pre1·edinll ll'tters aR a llTUUp
han an :1hst rm·t lllL':tninl(, or are a variahll'." V is a lill lt> like a wnrd
~pan•r.

1'1:11/1·· l'ullint: in 11arl'ntlws1•s is now 1·1111111li1·atrcl h~· a1111tlwr rul1•.

Eada Tor \' should hl' pm·kai:1•d with 1m••·1•dinµ s\mhnls. _jusr h1l\\'
man~· 1lc•p1•mlin)! 1111 t h1• parsinµ uf t lw 1111•ssal(l'. Tlu•st• pn••·••1li11µ T will
all 111· di1~ils. Th11s1• prc•n•dinµ \' 1·:111ht•1•xp1•1·1l•d In rt•11r•·t1r as a i:roup.
:! I. I 11111 ini: parc·111 lwsL•s in t lwse llll'ssal(L'~ is dillin1lr 11111 ii Wl' 11111 iL't•
rl1al (I\" appc·ars i111•ad1. Thr~· flwn transL"rihe int11:
11 I:! 1 dli>DV' - 1>1>1>v x all=. uvp = D1>1>v I
l:.!~-1>111>\'I;
ll\'ll-d>Vllt1- l=llVl=· ll=DV'I:
11\'l t ·, HV I lt1--· llV I=. 0= HV- HV';
II is tru1• that 11\'IAV-~ BVllAV7 IWI:
It is tnw rhat IJVIAV <. BVllH\' <.AV l-
l1111rd1·r t111·11111pl1•te the 11arsinl! we hacl In assume that ll\-' was a
hinar\' 11pPratur. ancl in 1•vl'ry rase the operands art> stalt>ments. It is
dc·ar fru111 till' ali:1·hra that ll\I llll'lllls "or." The last nwssai:e sh11ws
I hal (I nll'alls -,: . ral lwr I han < ns I harl it.

15 UNCLASSIFIED

I
UNCLASSIFIED ~:XTHAn:1mt:S-l'IUAI.

22. We nolice that 1'V is used in every mes!!Hge. and parnllels I Ill'
usnge of UV. Assuming TV is a binary Huulcan o)IP.rntor, thl• ml'ssagl's
11arse.
It is false that TVjAV ~ BV II BV SAVI:
II is false that TVIAV = HV llAV ~ HV I:
2
TVIAV =4 llOS AV I=. AV =2;
AV> IW ~-, · I BV !>AV I or I BV =AV I:
It is true that not TV c:v HV = · <:v or HV;
It is true that UV and HV =·TV 1:v UV;
AVorlllVorCV) = (AVorBVlorCV;
'l'VIAVTVIHVCVll = 'l'VllTV AV BVJCVI;
TVIAVIBVorGVll = TVIAVBVlorTVIAVCVI;
AV or TV I BV CV I = TVIAV or HV llAV or C:V I.
ll isa111mrent that 'l'V means "nnd." Not ire that I. is us1·tl lwrl'
lo mean "logically equivalent to," all hough I han•
written 11 = •
11

Note: ll is used here for < , not !> .

l~il her I here is n miHI ake, or I he usngc varies.
2:\. The pnrsini: follcrH until we realize that. .JNV ot:i:urs in ead1
mes.~agc, 111111 is 1m1hnhly a word. BAV and CAV also oct:ur in t•ad1
message. They I ranscrihe into:
.INV IHAV or CAVI RAV;
.INV BAV IBAV anrl CAV I:
.JNV I BAV or C:AV II BAV aml CAV I;
.fNV llAV CAV = · BAV = (BAV or l'AVI;
.fNV BAV CAV = · CAV = (llAV 11ml CAVJ.
Tlw last two conclusions lrn1k likl• sci theory statenll'nls .. IN\' parws
like 11 binary operator .• INV X Y could mean "X cunt ains Y" in I he sci
theory sense. Then if UV is "or" in the set tlll'ory i<ensc, tlw union. and
TV is "111111" in the sci theory 1<Cnse, the inlcrsc1:1ion, lhl· stal1•11u•nts
11l111vc ran h" rnwrillcn:
BAV U CAV ~) BAV
BAV::) BAV n CAV
BAV U CAV -) HAV () CAV
BAV :--i CAV = · BAV = IHAV U C:AVl
BAV:) CAV = · CAV = (HAV () CAVI.
24. NK V looks like a hinary 011ernlor of whid1 al lt•asl llll' lirsl
O)IN11111I is a qmmlily ..JAV is uniformly lhe second 0111•r11111L Frum :!:I
uhuve we are alert to sel. I henry sl al emenl s. Con Id ii ht• I hat NI\. V says
soml'I hing is a member of some set'! Try it. They he1·ome
J1.IAV; 21.IAV; :11.IAV; 41.JAV; 51JAV; 61.IAV; 71.IAV; 111.IAV;
121.JAV; AV1JAV =·AV+ 11.JAV .
.JAV is the !'let of positive inlejlers! It lits!

UNCLASSIFIED Hi
 UNCLASSIFIED

:!f1. Tlwsr parsl.' i111 o:

fl :111d :!h .JAV;
Ill and :!l 11nd :u, ,JAV;
ll·laml l'ill ·lAV:
((ii :md llHll and IOI le ,JAV:
11\V -) Nl\J\'l a1ul 1BV -_) Nl\IVI = · IA\' and B\'1 ~) Nl\I\':
o,.IAV:
/'11.JA\': lft.11\\'; 8',,JAV; 8',.JAV; 8\,JAV: 8"'1JA\'; 8'"",.J:\\':
8 1'"'"1.JA\'; nv •. IAV =· R"'1.JAV;
1ll\'anc!CV1.. IA\' ·~. HV·I CV,,IAV;
IBV :uulC.\'h,JA\' = · IWXCV,.JAV;
mv :mil l·:v1 ..1:\ v =. ttv····1o1Av:
1.':!l-IA\'; I . :!l·IAV: o-a~.JAV: i/lil.IA\'.
'I 'his \'t•rilit•s ht·~·ond don ht I he j:lll'SS of 2.4.
:!Ii. Tlu·ri· is a new word .•!()\'. The llll'.!'.<al(ci> read JA \'1,JO\':
o 11.IO\'; O ·. BV,.IAV = · IW1.JOV:
I 1:!1.IOV: A\' and BV1.JOV =·AV- B\11.JO\I;
lAV a11il II\' in ·lll\11 and O ;" BV = · AV + B\' in .Ill\':
I .; tr1111I in .IA\': I : O not in .IOV;
II is iruc that IAV + BVJ X !CV + DVJ = IA\' X C\'1
CB\' x DV1:
It is trn1• tlml A\' x I>\'....: BV x CV =.AV+ II\' ..._ l'\' ;
I IV. II\' X I IV ;« O;
A\',.IA\' .o 1-..AV .
•f( IV is sr1•n t n ht• the lirhl l!l'llt>rnt ed hy .IA V, in 111 her wurtls. t Ill' sci
111 rali1111al 1111111h1•rs. Tiil' m•xl In thl' l:1sl mrst<:ll!e h:is a i::1rhll'. an
1•x1ra111·1111s1\.
:!'i. This t ra11s..rih1•s 111:
tA\' · 11\'l and tBV = · AVI ~ · HV.AV.H\'.
l '1 .. arl\· 11 V nu•mis "loi:irnll~· c11uival1•11t." or"•. ". "
1,\ \' · · B\'l --~ · tAV = · IJ\'l mnl lliV = · A \ll
IA\'·-~· BVI · = · IAV = · liV) and O:W = · AVI.
:!/'I. Tlll'sc t ransrrih1• lo
f;\i-' .. :1 -,. • I ;v not in .IOV;
f;V' - :! ·.·. 1:\' not in.IOV;
IT\i' "~ !l " · l:V not in JOV;
1:\'' f1· .c;Vin.IEV;
.1ov is in .ll•:V:
.IA V is in .11.:V:
1:\i' = U--1 =·CW not inJEV.
\\'1• ha,·1• a m•w set, containing the rationals, and at least one
irral ional, hnl nut lhl' imaginary v=-I. JEV is probahly the real
1111111h1·rs.

17 UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED ~:XTHAn:1m~:.'iTlllAI.

2!:1. These I ranscrihc In

1 'l." 'in .nw; I -··:I" 'in .lllV;
f' 'in .JllV; I NV" 'in .JUV;
Nl.V .11\V ·• I lassuminti Nl.V is 11111• worrl. A1111llll'r p11ssil1I.,
parsini: is 1.Vt.JBV, 11 = OI
I ti in .ICV; 1/2 in .JCV; I /:I in .ICV; I/ NV in .!CV; N 1.V .ICV
0 lur l.V (.II ~V. 01 .-· 0. Bui 1111' two t·xa11111lt•s s11i:i:t·st lhal
NI. V meiins "a limit of." If NV is 1111 i1111·i:t>r I his Iii s
l'Nlt•cl ly .1
11 l /'l.I' in .JBV; 11- I /:II' in .IBV;

(I 1/4l'in.llJV; (1 !__)•""'in.JBV·
8111fl '

I )Iii'
(I-·
.
NV in.IBV; Nl.V .IBVin.ll•:v.

If Nl.V means limit, then ,1gv cnn111ins the n11mhl'r '" a

verilicat ion uf our gue!'..'I I hat .ll•:V munell t lw real 1111111ht•rs.
Tlw lusl lwo lessons· .;111111111 :11 werr 11111 puhlislwrl wirh 1111'
lirst twenty-nine because it made l11n l11nii an l'xercise.
:10. The laler messages of this 1im111> hove lhe mysll'rious Sl'(jlll.'lll't'S
ABCI), ARCllE, DEFt:, etc, each endinK with STV. H we h11nd1 1hcse
each as a unit, the messaiies parse. They then ~ny .JNV I na111ral 1111111-
her; .INV 2 nalural numher; .JNV :1 nalurnl 1111111hcr; .JN\' l'J.:I ST\'
natural numhcr; conjcclure STV 1111m11s "lhe pwn~dini: is a st•I lur
sequence)," and .JNV means "helonl(s In." There is 1lm1h1 uhout the
lallcr, since we lhoui:hl e:irlier lhal it meanl "n111tai11>1"; A\' lwl1111i:s
tu 1:!:14 · 0• AV is 1111alurnl munht•r; 1:!:14fi or 4fili7 = ·15 as scls: l'J.:14f1
•

and 451i7 = 1:!:14!i67 aslll'ls.

:II. This lust KrlllllJ is of i11111rcs.~ivt• rnai:nil 11111•, ·II 11wssa1:1•s. of
whid1 llll' lhirti1•th is t111ih• loni:. l'ar,.ini: is 1"1s1•d hy till' paralll'I 1'1111·
slrnl'I ion of I he messai:cs. They lrnnsnihe lo:
·IHAV helonl(s In CHAV; .JIUIV hel1111i:s to CllAV; .IHI;\' lll'loni:s 111
CllAV; the sci ,JHAV, .11rnv ..IHC:V, .JHllV, .Jltto:V, .IHF\', .JI{(;\'
hclnni:s 111 C:llAV; !Hince all I he dii:ils appear in llll'se i:rnups. rna~·he
I hey are used like s11hscri11ts anti should he read .m, ..llt,, 1·h·. I; .10,
hf'loni:s lo CUAV; .((),, hel11ni:s lo C:l·IAV; .10,, hcluni:s 111 l'llAV; the
iwl .((),, .10.,, ,(() ,, ,((),, .10-., .10,., .IO,, .10,,., .10 11 , .10, ... 10,,, .JO,,,
.IOo:., .Jo,,,, .JOi:, .JO,.., .Jo.,, .Jo,, helnni:s lo CllAV; II.,, and II, ·.
22 .((), helonl(s In CllAV !This 1111e must he pursed wrnni: 11r i:arhl1·il I;
Ill., hl'loni:s In .IR,; BJ., !ielongs In .IH,; Ill., hduni:s 111 .JI{.; Ill.,
l11·l1111gs lo .m.. ; Bl.,, hcl1111i:s 10 .m,;
AV..,:iancl 12?.AV ·-~· BL11·lml11ni:st11.m.;
AV .. 1:1111111 :12 ~AV . ·.. 111., ,. hr.l1111i:s 111.llt ,;
AV~2:1mul4-l"'AV · ~ · lll. 11 hcl1111i:st11.lll 1;

UNCLASSIFIED 18
 II. II. l'AMl'AWN~: UNCLASSIFIED

A\' · .1;, ancl lili · A\' · , · · Bl.,, heln1111s lo .m . ;

A\' ·Iii ancl I :.!Ii·· A\' · · Bl.11· heloniis lc"llL:
1\ \' • I:.!i ancl 1-1~" AV · · · · 111.,. l11~l1111iis to ,JU,;
Thi• s1•I 111.,, Ill ... lll.11. Ill.,,, 111.,., Bl.,;:, Bl."' lll'lnni:s tn .JO,:
Tiu• s1•t 111.., Ill.,, lll.11. Ill.,,, 111. 1,;, HI., ... HI.,,,, l11•l1111gs 111.IO,;
Thi· s1•t Bl. .. Ill., .. Ill .. ,. Ill.,;,, Bl.,., hcluni:s 111.IO,;
Tiu· Sl'I Ill... :11ul llL, .. mul BL, .. and Bl... , nml BL.,, helnni:s 111.IO,;
Tiu• s1•1 Ill.. Bl.,. Ill. ... 111 ..... Bl.,,, lwloni:~ to ,10,.;
Tiii' s1•1 Bl., ..... 111.,... Bl..,, Bl.,;,, Bl.,,, helongti lo JO,; lnute a i:arhle
lll'rt'. an N is n•111·al1•cl I:
Tlw si•t Bl. 11 , 111.·r..: UI., .. BL.. ·., 111.., .. ln•lnni:s 111.IO,;
Thi· si•I 111.,:;,·1u.,;, Ht .... Bl..,., BL,,. hclnni:s In ,fl), .. ;
Tlw s1·1 111.,. ..' ·111.,'. Iii.,., Bl.::. Bl.,., Hl.,,, HI.::.. HI.,,;, HI.::. HI., .....
BL, .... Bl.,;.,, HI., .. ,, Bl., .. ,, BL, ..·.. Bl., ..... UL, .. ,, HI., ... Bl.,.,. HI.,.,,
Ill.,.,. Ill.,,-., HI.,,, .. Bl.,,,, Hl. 11.. , lil.111. UL,,, beluni:i; lo .JO,,;
Bl., .. ancl Bl..... :ind BL,, .. lll'lnni:s tu .10,,;
Tiii' "''' Bl.,,, Bl.·.1, lll.111 hl'lnnl(s tu .IOi:1:
Tlw sl'l Bl .... .-Bt•. :. l~L .... h1•l1111i:s In .10 .. :
Tiii' s1•l 111.,.,-~t,~ Uj ... , h1•lnn11s In .JO,.;
Tiii' Sl'l Ill..,, nt:.,; BL,,, helclllflS lo .10,.;
Tiu· st•t BL ... Bl.·.. ; HI ..... hclungti to .JO,,;
Thr s1•l Bl.,,, BL·.,,, HI.,.,; ln•longs to ,JO,,.;
The s1•I HI .... , Bl..,, lll.11: hel111111s to .JO,,;
Thi· s1•1 Bl. .... Bl.,;.. , HI..,.. l11·lnngs tn JO,,;
CllA \' hdurtj!s lo KSl'V.
Tiii' I ransnipti1111 h•aVl's a Int lo he resnln·d. Th1•re are se\'eral words
I h1• m1•anini:s of which arl' yet In be determined. The word CHAV (or
I'll.I st'l'lllS In he• r1•ntral. 'l'hl're are 111'\'l'll words ,JH, nnd 1•i;!hh•1•n
w11rils .111 .. ancl md111f I h1•st• lll'l11ni:s lo l'llAV. Th1•n• an· !Ill wurds Ill.,.
c·ad1 111 whid1 !'l'l'llls lo h1•lcn1i: In a 11nic1ue .10,. I )ues each also ht•lnni: tun
11ni11111• .IH.'! \\'ith I his hint we i:an strai11hlen out the garbll'd llll'i<.~ai:1•
ah11\'t•: it n•ails "II< AV and AV< 22 = • JO,,. belongs to CHA\'";
1lll'rt' was a V omit 1t•1l. 1 was alsn able tu re1111rse six other me&1ages. I
will nol hun• you wilh the delails, sini:e the list abu\'l' has hl'l'll
1·orrt•1·11·d.
Sin1"1• 1•m·h Bf., hl'lnnt:s In 11111• ,JH, and .10., lhl'SC 1·:111 he di~play1•d in
a 111a1rix
.m, .m, .m, .m• •11t• .1n• .lit
.10, Ill., HI .. Ill.,. Bl.,, Bl.,,, m.., BL.,,
.10 .. Bl.. Bl., 111.., Ill.,, Bl.,,. HI.,., Bl.1111
.JO, 1\1 •.. 111., .. HI •.,, Bl ... Bl.,, I
. JI), Ill ..; 111.,,, 111. ... Bl.,;, HI.,,,
.10. Bl., 111.i; Bl.,, Bl .... BL.,,
.111.. Bt. ... Bl.,.. Bl.., HI .. , Hl.,,,

HJ UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED ~:X'l'llAH:Hll~Sl'lllAI.

-- --
.JO; BL,, RI.,. BLu Bl ..., HI.,,,.
JO,., BL,, 81.,, BL., BL.. BL,,.
,.,,,......

r
.Jo,, 25 47 71 72 7:1 74 7fi 71i 77
IUO IOI 102 111:1 UM 1115 !Oil 1117
1:11 1:12 I :1:1 1:14 1:15 1:11; 1:17
140 141 1'12
.10,, BL,. Bk... HI.,,.,
.Jo,, Bl.., Bl.., HI.,,,
.JO,. BL:111 BL,, m....
.Jo,,. BL,, HI.,,, HL,,,
.10,. HI~,. BL., Hl.,,,
.10,, HL,:1 BL.,, HI..,.
.10,.. HI.,. BL,. BL,,.
.10,, BL:i• HI.,; HLm
JO,. BL,. BL.. Ht.,,..

Rememher that theRe are not decimal numbers. There is only one ,:ell
wilh mure than one entry, and the subi;cri11ts in it in decimal nolalinn
are 21, :J9, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 6H, 6!1, 711, 71, H!l, !JO,
91, 92, 9:1, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98. 'l'he larger part or the entries is system-
atically di11trilmted in the first eight rows. This su101csts the 11eriodic
table nr the chemical elements! On cons11ltin11 a table we lind, 1mre
eno1111h, that elements 57 throui;h 71 are rare earths, and ure lum11ed
inlo one cell. Sorne, hut nnt all, authorities also li11t 11!1 thro1111h 10:1 OR
rare eurl hs ...:hm1enh1 21 and :mare Hc:1111di111n 111111 VII rimn.
CllAV must mean the 11eriodic tohle .•II{, means column x, and .JO,
means row y. Bl,. means element Z. The meoninr: nr KSl'V is nol
known, eii:ce11t that ii. is a i;eneralization nl' "1ieriodic I ahle." l t may
merely mean table, ur scientilic fuel, or university 11uhjccl.
l.onkin11 hack over lhe exercise we 11ee we hove 11e11elratl'd the
meanini; of the basic symbols, and even more im11orlanl, have learned
some or the syntax rules or the notation, and have caui;ht misl akes in
the process. We have a rew words for sophisticated conce111s, and, given
more data, with a little labor we could eslahlish its tronslatinn.
The conce11ts used here are lhe basic ones ol' number, sels, and
1>hysical constunl s which any cultures must share. How hi1.arre the
synlax and values nr a cullure could he I cannnt conjci:turc, hul 1111y
civilizations ca1mble or i;endini; a message ucroti& space must have numy
things in common.

UNCLASSIFIED 20
 II. 11. I 'AMl'All:N~: UNCLASSIFIED

APPENDIX
1ll'1·1·nt I~· a iwrit•K 111" radio meKsai:es was he-ard coming from outer
spm·1·. Tiii' I rnnsmission waK not 1·11nt inuuus. but cut by pau!lt'S into
pi1·1·1·s whid1 rouhl he t:1ken m1 units, for they Wl'rt' rl'llt'ated U\"l'r :md
11\"t•r ili?ilill. The 11:111111.•s 11h11w here as 1mnctuatinn. The various cumhi-
nal ions hil\"I' heen re11rcsente-d by le-tiers of the alphabet, Sil that the
messaj?cs 1·m1,he wrillen down. Each message except the first is gin•n
h1•n• only 1111t·e. The serial number oft he message has been sup11lied for
1•ad1 rl'fl'n•m·e.
Alll'l IH 1:11.JKl.MNOl'\IHSTllV
Allt:llt:l 1:11. IKIJINOl'QHS1'llV
Allt:llt:H:llJKl.llNOl'QM e I c
2 AA. II AAA.C. AAAA.U. AAAAA.E. AAAAAA.F. AAAAAAA.C
.l I.AA. 1.1111 .. I.CC. l.llD. LEE. U"F, LCC
4 l.BKAA . I .CKllA . l.CKAll. LDKCA. l.IJKllB. IJlKAC: I .EKDA.
U:KC:H. I .t:Kl\C. Lt:KAIJ. Lt"KEA. l.FKDB. l.FKCC. LFKBD.
l.t.KAt: . .
ti I .t"KAK~ I .t"KCKllA. l.C:KAKBD. LCKCKAC. l.KAKllCKKABC
6 l.AllllA. l.llMl:A. l.AllCB. LCllDA. l.llMIJll. LAllDC LDllEA.
l.t:Mt:ll . l.l!lli:C . l.AllED
• l.NMAA . 1.11111111. LNllCC . l.Nllllll. l.NllEE . l.Nllff . l.NllGI>
II l.AUU. I.NONA. l.llOAB. l.BOBA. l.NONB. l.NOllN. l.lll188;
1.110A11. u·µA•·. u·o11c
'J 1..-UAlll\!: .. U"OCOBA. L.-UllOCA: l.OIJOt:t"OODEt"
Ill l.lllUlll 1.1\HllA. l.AHllN. l.l:HCA. l.AHCN
11 1.Hlll:KIQJ. l.l!llCKAG. 1.HlleOl!l.I. LRllBD
I:• 1.HCHKllt:. U<CllOCC
I.I l.IHHI". 1.IKAl:. · 1.K.JAOl:C. l.K.IARCll
1-1 1.111'.ll>. 1.111'.Jll. l.Al'CC. l.Cl't"ll
15 UAB. UBC: UCO; U&J; UFJ; UCJ; URBCRCB.
16 QI.NA: QI.AC; Ql.AKAA; QLNOAA; QLRBBB; QUBB; QHL.AAL.AB;
QQLCC: QWG.
17 SL.AA : SUAB; Sl.BKAA ; SL.AGAA ; SLNllAA ; SHLFOAFUPFF ; SHL.AALBB
18 LATA, l.BTKATA; l.El'KBTCT; LFTOCTBT; l.GTG; LANTJ.
19 l.ABCTKOARJllKOBRJAC;
LCBATKOCRJBKOBRJAOARJN;
LDE.-CTKKOUKJCOERJ BKOF11J AOGRJ N;
;:u ltl~Ul.UVI 1:AV. aoavnorvn.
HI AAUll"l\'1.111¥ SLUVIPVtVUHPVTV.
111 l"Alll U1MAVB S.O&VOPVSYOOH'PYSV.
Ill t:A \ii tKAAV Hql.AVIVQl.•A\"IVllVIV
1111..:11,11v1111:11v. HQl.A\llYQl.l'AVl''lllVH
tn t 11"~;uv11·sov ~I Hl.NM ......IVIOIUWCUVUIJLIDVUIJlJDV
111.l:llf.IVl.HUUllJV" RIYl.ADVU91APVl..AROVI
:W,.KAlil'\iKl"\11,V talVl.llVUl•V~VllVI.

21 UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED KX1'HATKllH&o;THIAI.

SUVLAVBVQLAVIY. HNavnavc".JAVNK~KIYl:Y.llV
SUYUHIVUIVAY HNKVTVIVC'V.I AVHK\"lJIY\"V.I AV
22 Q'(VUAVIYUIWAV. HHKVTVIV(.'UAVNKVfllVCVJH.
QTVl.AVBYQLIVBV. QNl'.Vf'AIJH,
trTYl.RAVBfUIAVl.AVk. QlllCVIA&IAV.
MQU•V•VUV•lliVHLIHV. Qn\WCJAY.
atQTVCYHYUYQCYQHV. QNIVPCt'JAV
SllQU'tGVllVTVQIMlllY
l.UVAVUVBVtVUVIJVJ.VIVCV, •• NKv.IA'r.IUV .
UY. .A.IUY.
LTYAVTVllV<:nn YAVlm:v.
••vuBV.l&VKKV"'l.IUV.
L1'Vt.V,1VIJVt:YH'WTVAVM't1VAYl:Y.
NKVf'AIJOY .
LUVAVT\l'HVCVTVIJUVHVllVAVCV
...KVTVAVllV.IOVNICVMAYRVJUV.
;t;J JllllYUYHAVl'.AVllAV. KTVNKVTVAVHJUVQlJlllVNll.Vl'lY&VJOV.
JNYBAVTVIAYCAV. QIHCYPAN.fAV.
JNVUVBAVCAVTVBAVCAY. QllKYHH.IOV.
IUNVHAvr:avr.MVllVflAVtU. su1p1vHvt>1:v11v1·u1vnunvnv
H.IH"•hHt:A'V\.l;HtVHHUY. tullOAVIJfClllYCYlll'&VllWl'ACVUY. QLOIVll\'I
llTY.IWVhAVc:AV.INVCAVBAVl.IAVCH. tMrlKVAV.IAVUllNAAY.
ILIJIVllAVl:AYJNVQc:AVQltAV,
SHTV.JNVH&VCAV.JNVCAYUAV.JNVBlVUlV '2"1 HTVHAVtlVUflVllilH'fA.VaV,
,. NKY,UAV.
JllVAVllVfVHAVMVllllVAV
HYH't'AVBVTVMAVllVHllVAY
NKVtLIAV,
llKVCJAV. 2& Hl.RCYBCQNKVCVJOY.
NKVD.IAV. IUGVBBQNKVGVJQV
llKVl-:JAV. 11.JICVIEQllKYCVJOv.
NKVfJAV Hl.llCYIEllK'fCYJEY,
NKVGJAV. llKVJOVJEV.
NKUA.T.JAV, llkV.IHJEY.

..
NKVABTJAW. HUlGVHllNAQNKVCVJE.V
HNIUiAV.I AVNKVKAV'AJAV
29 lllO'IWIBllNAJIV,
KHT'IH.IAV .
NKVIWICIDILJBY .
NKYTYr.-ABC.IAV.
1111.'lllMDllNA.JIV,
NKVfYWTAt;TJU'.
lllVllAIUIVIDIAJBV
NKVfVTVCCTAllNTIJIAT JAY,
UILVJ9VA.
HTVJNVAVNIYJNVBVNllVJNYTVAVIVllllY.
llK'IPUJCV.
NKVN.IH.
NKVrA&JCV.
NKVJJA'I,
NKVPACJCV.
NKVfUB.IAV.
NKVf'ANVJCY.
NKVR.JC.IAV.
LNLVJCVN
NK\'tlJh,IA'i.
MKVIUU.Htlll.11v.
NK\"R.JJ.JAV.
NKVRllAf'AL"C'JHV.
NKVR.llNT.IAV.
NKVHllAPAW.lllY.
NKVN.IANNT.JAV
llKVRHP•MJAHNTMJa11nJav.
NICVK.JANNNT.IAV
NKYHllAf'ANYNVJIV.
HNKVKV.JAYHk'IK.18V II.II
NKVlfLVJBVJEV.

30. JNVAJAV:
JNVBJAV;
.INVCJAV:
JNVABCSTVJAV:
HJNVAVABCDSTVJNVAVJAV:
l.UVABGIJESTVDEFGSTVDESTV :
LTVABCDESTVDEF'GSTVABCDEFGSTV;

31 . ,INVJRAVCHAV;
JNV,JRBVCHAV;
JNVJRGVCHAV;
JNVJRAVJRBVJRCVJRDVJREVJRFVJRGVSTVCllAV .
•JNVJOAVCHAV:
JNV.JOBVCHAV:
JNVJOBBVCHAV;

.. UNCLASSIFIED 2:1
 II. 11.1 'AMl'AH:N~~ UNCLASSIFIED

INV.IOA\'.108VJUCV.JODVJOEVJ0t"V.JOGV
.IUAJJV.JOAAV.JOABV.IOACVJOADVJOAEV.IOArYJOAGV
.IOlltlV.J08AV.JOBBVSTVCHAV.
Jl'rVI lllAVLIAVllBT.INVJOAVVCHAV:
.lflVBJ.AV.JRAV .
.ltl\'BI l\V.IRAV
lfl\'J\I .1 ";.l);J<\'
.111•;111.J1V.IRllV
IJJVl<l.Al\V.lllllV.
11'.'T\'IJl IA Vl'IJl IAl\TA \'.I llVBI .A\'\'. II< I\1· .
ll\'TVQllAVACTQll8B'f AV.INVBI .A\'\' IRI'\'
llVTVQllAVBCTQllDllTAV.INVBl.AVV.JRIJV.
llVTVQAVllt'.TQllFM'AV.INVl\l.AVV.IRF.V.
llVTVQllAVF'GTQllAIWTAV.INVBl.AVV.IRFV.
tlVTVQllAVABl:TQllAllBTAV.INVBl.AVV,JRGV:
,JNVBL.AVlll.CVl\l.ACVBL.llCVBLllEVlll.FGV
e1:-A.11Cvsrv.10Av .
•INVfil'.RVBL.llVBl.ADVlll.BDVBLDFV
Blr.ilVBl.ACtwSTVJOBV:
.JJiflll.F.V81.AF.VBLCGV81.FAVBI .Al\AVSTV.IOCV .
:.JNVTVTVTVTVllLFVBl.AFVBL.llNVBLFBVBLABBVSTV.IODV.
·.INVBJ.G\1'81.AGVRl.l>AVBl.FCVRl.ABCVSTV.IOEV .
. INvBl~ANNRl.BNVBl.l>8VBl.FllVlll.A81>VSTVJOFV .
.i11Vlli.AAYBl.llAV81.DCVl!l.FEV81.A8F.VSTVJOGV:
.• IH'I Rl.ABVlll.BBVBL.DDV BLFFV 81.AllFVSTV .I OANV .
.IJJVlll .llF.VBl.llGVBI .GA VBl.GBVBI .GCV BLGDV
111.A;EVRL.!:F'Vlll .Gl:Vlll.ANNVRLANA VRI .ANBVllL .ANCV
111.AllOVlll .At:EVl\1.AllfVBL.ANGVllLACAVllLACllV
Bl.ACCV81.ACllV81.ACEV81.ACFV81.ACGVBl.ADNV
111.AllAVRl.Alll!VSTV.IOAAV:
.INVTVTVBLBF"V81.ENV81.AANV.JOABV .
.JllVRl.BGVBl.EAVBl.AAAVSTV.IOACV:
.INVBl.CNVBLEBVBl.AABVSTVJOAC!V .
. lllVl!l.CAVlll.ECVBl.AACVSTV.JOAEV:
.I llVBI .CllVRl.EOVlll.AAOVSTV.JOAFV .
.lNVlll.CCVlll.F.F.Vlll.AAt:VSTV.IOAl;V .
. lllVlll.CllVBl.EFV81.AAFVSTVJOBNV:
.lllVlll.t'F:VlllEGVlll.AAl:VSTV.JOBAV ·
.INVlll.CF'VBLFNVllLAllNVSTVJOBBV:
.JNVCllAVKSPV

23 UNCLASSIFIED