Overview: A Global Message for the Cosmos
What if every corner of humanity could send a single message to the stars? The HUMANS project—short for Humanity United with MIT Art and Nanotechnology in Space—aims to do just that. Led by researchers at MIT and supported by partners around the world, the initiative collects personal reflections on life, love, and the universe from thousands of people in more than 65 languages, with the goal of distilling these voices into a deep space broadcast. The messages will be etched onto an eight-inch wafer using advanced nanotechnology and launched into space in 2027, echoing humanity’s timeless curiosity about our place among the stars.
The Voices Behind the Mission
Two young voices highlighted the human focus of HUMANS. Saanvi Singh, a Year 6 student from Epping Public School, describes a journey from a single cell to a species capable of harnessing Earth’s resources—and perhaps, one day, exploring space. “We started off as a single cell that couldn’t see, think or feel and we became an evolved species that has a power to harness all the resources on Earth,” she said, adding a hopeful note about space futures. Rishabh Dilip Nair, another student, emphasizes humanity’s social nature: “Humans are expressive, emotional beings,” he said, noting that love and laughter are as essential as science. Their reflections are part of thousands of voices gathered from around the globe, expressing personal truths about who we are and what we hope to become.
A 50-Year Moment in Space History
The HUMANS project also marks the 50th anniversary of NASA’s Voyager mission, which launched in 1977 with the Golden Record—a time capsule of Earth’s sounds, greetings in many languages, and images. Dr. Maya Nasr, a science engineer at Harvard University and the Environmental Defense Fund, explains that HUMANS builds on Voyager’s legacy but with modern technology and a more introspective aim. “We wanted to get this kind of shared story that echoes the timeless legacy of Voyager and the Golden Record,” Nasr said, noting that HUMANS prioritizes a self-portrait of humanity as it sees itself today, rather than a simple catalog of Earth’s life and sounds.
Innovation at the Core: From Sound to Spiral
What sets HUMANS apart technically is the intimate format of the message. Instead of a straightforward audio recording, participants’ words are being converted into audio waveforms etched as spirals on a vinyl-like wafer using nanotechnology. The eight-inch disk, essentially a modern “record” for space, holds a mosaic of human voices, stories, and hopes. Project organizers say this approach makes the transmission a tangible, durable archive that future civilizations—artificial or otherwise—could study.
Australia in the Global Spotlight
Across Australia, thousands are contributing at dedicated audio booths operated by the Powerhouse museum. Powerhouse CEO Lisa Havilah notes the project’s role in connecting local audiences with global conversations about space and science. In Sydney and Parramatta, people are adding their personal messages to the archive, with the Powerhouse Parramatta slated to host the project’s inaugural space exhibition late next year. The Australian participation adds a national dimension to a worldwide effort, underscoring the country’s ongoing involvement in space history and education.
Looking Ahead: What the 2027 Launch Could Mean
When the HUMANS wafer launches in 2027, it will join a lineage of humanity’s space messages, standing as a contemporary portrait of who we are. Dr. Nasr notes that the project’s deeper purpose is to reflect our evolving self-awareness—our curiosity, compassion, and creativity—rather than merely to signal that life exists elsewhere. It invites future explorers to listen not just for machines or signals, but for the human story spoken in many voices and languages, a mosaic of our shared humanity.
What This Means for the Public
HUMANS invites people everywhere to participate in a moment of collective reflection about life, love, and the universe. For students like Saanvi and Rishabh, the project makes science personal, linking classroom curiosity with a grand cosmic stage. As the project moves toward its 2027 launch, it also serves as a practical reminder that science is not only about equations and experiments but about the human stories that drive discovery.
