Continuing The Search

After exploring more about the question of, “Are we alone in the universe?” I have concluded that the answer is still yet to be determined. I know this isn’t exactly a final answer to one of this planet’s ultimate questions but, there are too many theories and opinions out there on this topic without any real concrete proof to say we are an alien race’s intergalactic neighbor. This is the same with if we are alone. I believe that with all the studies and NASA projects happening right now, that we are on the verge of a significant discovery that will ultimately answer this question once and for all.

As I continue with my research, I am not sure what my argument or thesis will be for my research argument essay. I still want to do more research on the Kepler telescope to see what methods NASA researchers are using to find “exosolar” planets, using this telescope, which may be able to inhabit intelligent life. I also want to explore more about the theories out there that say we are the only intelligent life in the universe and why the people behind them think this way and what research they have done. I haven’t found many arguments based on religious beliefs, i.e. Creationists, whom believe we are alone. As I look toward the argument essay, I’m still thinking about the quote by Stephen Hawking when he said “we should avoid contact at all costs” when it comes to looking for alien life. When he said “We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn't want to meet.” it makes me feel like we are doomed as a species and cannot be saved so why wreck another world. Are we really still that type of society that would invade another planet to take what they have? Have we not learned enough from the past that war isn’t the answer? I would like to think we have come far enough as a species that this wouldn’t be an issue. These are the questions I will be looking before I begin my final essay.

Hello There! P.S. Nothing here to see.

In my previous blog post I wrote about what would happen if we were contacted by an intelligent alien race. For this post I wanted to explore more about the questions of: Should we respond? and What are the potential risks if we did? In an article from Popular Science written by Rebecca Boyle , world renowned physicist/cosmologist Stephen Hawking, we should avoid contact at all costs. Dr. Hawking believes that, like the movies Independence Day and Battle: Los Angeles, these aliens would only come in search of our natural resources thus hastening our extinction. He goes on to say that, "We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn't want to meet.” I believe that is a fair point. I think we should be afraid to respond to contact if this is the case. In my previous post ("Next Stop, Earth"), I wrote about a 2004 Popular Mechanics article that said the worlds governments have begun preparations on what to do if we are contacted. Do these governments take opinions such as Dr. Hawking's into account? How are we to know if the alien race is looking for a new planet to inhabit if their own is being destroyed? Another article I came across from International Business Times, the author suggested that the current Global Warming trend could prompt an attack on earth by an alien race in order to prevent us from exploring the universe and potentially destroying another planet. Basically saying if we were to make contact and these aliens see what we are doing to the planet, we could face an alien cleanup that would involve getting rid of us. These theories then make me think of the alternative. What if this alien civilization is only trying to make contact to see if they are alone or are just responding to our message? More along the lines of the movie Contact. Not to colonize us and take our resources, but just to say: “Hey, we are here. Have a nice day.”

Alien Invasion?

Friendly Hello?

Of course I would prefer the latter, but the possibility remains that these aliens could be looking for more than just an intergalactic pen pal. So what do we do? Would we just be content knowing that intelligent life is out there and not respond? Or do we take the risk by responding and then preparing for a potential invasion? The way I see it, the only way to really know what any new intelligent species motives are, is to communicate. Unless these aliens give us a rundown on their history that we would believe in their initial contact, I don’t see any other way.

Next Stop, Earth

For this post, I wanted to learn more about what we, as a society, would do if or when we do encounter intelligent alien life. In a 2004 Popular Mechanics article, Jim Wilson, the articles author, wrote that although no government official has come out and publicly announced that aliens exist, they still have begun preparations in the event that we are contacted or even visited. In my previous post, I referenced an Associated Press article (Are We Alone? NASA Expects Answers Soon) that suggested that we are on the verge of discovering planets that are similar to earth and that may contain life. But what do we do if they contact us first? The consensus belief is that aliens will not just appear from another dimension, but rather by another means that we will be able to detect whether it is by interstellar radio or if their UFO flies past the moon, even though I think if aliens are able to build a spacecraft capable interstellar travel, they could probably beat our detection systems. If we do receive a radio signal from an intelligent race, there is an agreement called the Declaration of Principles Concerning Activities Following the Detection of Extraterrestrial Intelligence written by SETI on what astronomers should and shouldn’t do. This agreement is not a federal law but astronomers are encouraged to follow in order to avoid public panic or overreaction if the contact is found to be a false alarm. The possibility of receiving an alien signal leads me to ask: Should we respond? What would the possible risks be if we did? I came across another article from The Guardian about how the earth’s governments need to be prepared in case we are contacted by an alien race. They also argue that a section of the U.N. should be responsible for what they call, “supra-Earth affairs”. This arm of the U.N. would be who would formulate a plan if extraterrestrials should appear. In the event of a personal visit to the U.S.A., by Presidential Executive Orders, the alien visitor would be arrested and quarantined. Any intelligent being, in my opinion, would already have done their research on us and would be prepared for this scenario. What if a UFO appeared in the sky for everyone to see and did nothing? What would we do then? I believe we would attempt to make contact but, what if we received no response? Would we attack or wait it out? First contact, by any means, will greatly change the world as we know it.

The video below provides some thoughtful opinions on this subject from some of the leading scientists in the world:

Can You See Me?

We know that scientists have discovered new planets outside of our own solar system; however, none of them have been suitable to sustain life. After doing some further research on the subject of “Are We Alone”, in an 2010 article by Seth Borenstein from the Associated Press out there that are similar to earth.They believe we are closer than ever to discovering an “Earth-Like” planet that may be able to support life, or may be already, within our lifetime. Based on new information sent from one of NASA’s current projects, the Kepler Telescope, scientists havediscovered over 1,200 planets that may meet the “Earth” profile.What will the response of society be if it is discovered that there are planets out there able to sustain life? Despite the fact that these planets would be outside of our solar system, would society view these planets as possible threats? Or instead of a threat, would we view it as a way to learn more about our universe and try to make contact? I think there would be an effort to try to make contact, whether it is by governments of the world or free lance agencies. Anyway you look at it, I believe this is an exciting time for our society. To potentially be this close to discovering life on other planets is a discovery that is unmatched to date.
, some NASA astronomers feel that we are closer to finding planets

NO (UFO) PARKING

“I come in peace.” “Take me to your leader.” “Live long, and prosper.” I know, nerd alert right? But wouldn’t it be amazing to be able to say these words to another civilization, say…a thousand light years away? Or are we really alone in the universe? There really isn’t any proof of any intelligent life out there that we, as a civilization of our own, have found. But that doesn’t necessarily mean there isn’t other life out there amongst the stars. For me, thinking about how much the universe is unexplored and that we have only seen a drop in the bucket compared to how alrge the universe is, it seems like an awful waste of space if we are the only intelligent life in the universe. I feel it’s just too small minded to believe that we are it and all that there ever will be. However, if there is other life out there, where would it be? Have they made attempts to make contact on their own? Or are they still too primitive? Or maybe they are watching us right now. Are they looking up to the stars and thinking the same? We have made attempts (some still ongoing) to make contact with alien life (Voyager Missions, SETI) but have had nothing to show for it in terms of contact with an alien other than billions of dollars in NASA funding and grants. We still keep trying to make contact none the less. I believe we will make some sort of contact this century, with the way technology has been advancing, it’s just a matter of when, not if. What would be the effects on society when we make contact? Would the information even be made public that we have made contact? Maybe we have and it is being kept under wraps to keep people from over reacting. What if we are alone in the universe? Did we evolve just in the right place at the right time? Are we the start of interstellar colonization? I know I will not be able to find any absolute answers to this question, as stated previously, there is no proof. But maybe I will find some good reasons to be optimistic that there is some alien out there sitting at their intergalactic computer equivalent, and writing the same.

Sources

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43886985/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/are-we-alone-universe-well-maybe/