Novel: Teacher communicates with alien object using science concepts

Question

Looking for the title of a great book I read wherein a high school teacher uses his broad knowledge of science to communicate with an alien artefact which has mysteriously appeared at the United Nations in NY (I believe this is the location).

Some aspects of the book I remember:

The communication begins when several chemical elements are given to the giant sphere until the elements are exhausted.  
The triple alpha process is brought up at some point in the novel, in relation to the chemicals   
The alien life forms are decided to have either 8 limbs or something like that (a base-8 system was discussed in the book)

It was a great read and quality sci fi can be tough to find!

Yaroslav Kornachevskyi · Answer

Anomaly (First Contact) by Peter Cawdron

Anomaly examines the prospect of an alien intelligence discovering
life on Earth. The technological gulf between humanity and the alien
species is measured in terms of millions of years. The only way to
communicate is using science, but not everyone is so patient.
Humanity's first contact with an alien intelligence is far more
radical than anyone has ever dared imagine. With a technological gap
of millions of years, mankind is barely able to recognize the arrival
of an alien space craft outside the gates of the United Nations in New
York.

"...David Teller taught physics and chemistry to all ages, which was
unusual in New York. Normally, these topics weren't taught as separate
subjects until high school..."

"...Then we started noticing a fine powder falling to the ground. It was
carbon. The bloody thing was simulating the triple-alpha process
required to produce carbon in the heart of a star! Bloody show off."

"...I think it's curious about us. We've exchanged chemical elements.
Elements make up molecules"

book itself

Novel: Teacher communicates with alien object using science concepts

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