When the scientists are dressed in a yellow full body suit, the masks are, in fact, diving full face snorkel masks, without the breathing tube. Even the attachment for action cameras are there.
During the sequence showing all of human history being put into the Human 2.0, there is a brief shot of 'The Cube' from 2036 Origin Unknown (2018), also written and directed by Hasraf Dullul.
Transhumanism is a real area of intellectual theory, as developed by philosopher Max More.
The Space Agency's motto, as shown on the seal, is "verum absque terminos," which means "truth/duty/honor without bounds."
The radio signal from the alien sounds exactly like the pulse from Vega in the movie Contact.