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COSMIC CODE
Computers are essential tools in the efforts to collect
and analyze new data about gamma-ray bursts. The language that a
computer speaks is binary numbers. When you type the letters d-o-g on
the keyboard the computer does not see a d, an o, or a g. The computer
interprets it as a series of ones and zeroes. Binary numbers are based
on the base-2 system as opposed to the base-10 system with which we
work on a daily basis. Units in the base-10 system are labeled ones,
tens, hundreds, thousands, etc. Base-2 units are labeled one, two,
four, eight, sixteen, etc. Look at the chart below. The base-10
numbers 8, 28, 50, and 129 have been written in base-2 for you.
|
512
(29) |
256
(28) |
128
(27) |
64
(26) |
32
(25) |
16
(24) |
8
(23) |
4
(22) |
2
(21) |
1
(20) |
|
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
28 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
50 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
129 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
The next column in the chart would be the units 1024, then 2048, then 4096,
and so on.
Below is a coded message. Use the decoder to crack the binary code and
translate the gamma-ray fact. The message is displayed from left to
right horizontally. Here is an example of how to use the decoder:
000100 = 4 = d 001111 = 15 = o 000111 = 7 = g
Divide the class into groups. Cut the message into horizontal
strips and distribute one strip to each group. Have each group decode
their part of the message. Once they have decoded their strip, have
them place their work on the board. The pieces of the decoded message
must then be put in the proper order to reveal the gamma-ray fact.
COSMIC CODE MESSAGE DECODER
1 = A 18 = R
2 = B19 = S
3 = C20 = T
4 = D21 = U
5 = E22 = V
6 = F23 = W
7 = G24 = X
8 = H25 = Y
9 = I26 = Z
10 = J27 = 1
11 = K28 = 2
12 = L29 = 3
13 = M30 = 4
14 = N31 = 5
15 = O32 = .
16 = P33 = ,
17 = Q34 = !
COSMIC CODE MESSAGE
000111
000001
010100
010100
000101
010010
000111
001000
000101
000001
011001
010011
001001
010011
000101
000011
100000
|
000001
011001
001000
000101
010100
001101
001000
000101
010010
001101
000010
010111
010010
000011
000100
001001 |
001101
010011
000101
001110
001001
001111
010100
010101
010011
001101
10101
000101
010011
001111
000010
000100 |
001101
000001
001101
000101
000011
000110
001001
001110
000101
000001
010010
010010
010100
010110
011001
000101 |
000001
010010
001111
010010
000110
001100
001110
001001
100010
010010
010011
000101
000100
000101
000001
001110 |
010010
000101
010011
000111
001111
001001
010100
010110
000111
000001
010100
000110
001001
010010
000011
010100 |
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