RuBisCo Stars

RuBisCo Stars is an interstellar radio message[1] sent from the Arecibo radio telescope on November 7, 2009. The message contained the DNA sequence for the RuBisCO protein used by terrestrial plants to perform photosynthesis. It was sent to three nearby stars (GJ 83.1, Teegarden’s star, and Kappa1 Ceti). In a letter of support sent to Arecibo, Dr. Peter Weigele (staff scientist at New England Biolabs) wrote, “RuBisCo is not only the most abundant protein on earth, it is THE molecule, in all its many forms, that uses the energy supplied by photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide into food. The choice of this molecule for broadcast communicates the central importance of our sun in sustaining life as well as an implicit understanding of the role of CO2 in our biogeochemical systems. This is a message that is both timely and timeless – for the Universe and here on Earth!”[2] This was the second interstellar message initiated by Joe Davis.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Alexander Zaitsev (September–October 2012). "Classification of interstellar radio messages". Acta Astronautica 78: 16–19. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2011.05.026.
  2. ↑ Paul Gilster and Joe Davis (Nov 18, 2009). ""RuBisCo Stars" and the Riddle of Life". Centauri Dreams. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  3. ↑ Alexander Zaitsev (2011). "Clasificación de Mensajes de Radio Interestelares".

See also

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