Are we alone out there? This is a question that humans have been asking ever since we discovered that the Earth is not the only planet in the Universe. Several people have been intrigued with the idea of discovering extraterrestrial neighbours. Maybe it is the lazy part of us that hopes that a technologically superior race will reveal their secrets to us or we just love the idea of not being alone.

The search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) has been quite intense. From the people who used telescopes to observe the "canals" of Mars to the various SETI programs, including Allen Telescope Array, SERENDIP (Search for Extraterrestrial Radio Emissions from Nearby Developed Intelligent Populations), China's 500 meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST), Breakthrough Listen, et cetera.

Photo Credit

With all this search, what are the most likely scenarios if we are eventually able to find extraterrestrial life?

1. We might intercept signals from an intelligent civilization, which gives us their possible location. If we decide to send them a message, they might refuse to reply
2. We might be able to make contact with a superior civilization.
3. We might end up discovering a species with lesser technological capabilities compared to ours.

If the first scenario is what takes place, that will result in probably a dead end (unless we decide to go in search of them).

If the second scenario is what occurs, we have four likely scenario.

• The alien species could share some of technological advances with us, thereby fast-tracking our own technological development. It is up to us if we decide to use this wisely or just get careless with it use the technological knowledge irresponsibly (probably destroy ourselves)

• Stephen Hawkings thinks that if the alien species are like us in any way, they might be a race of conquerors(let's be sincere, that's what we are). If you remember what happened to the native Americans after Columbus landed in North America, you'll know what I'm talking about. There is the probability of us being decimated by these aliens.
  
  Photo Credit

• How about a friendly alien civilization that takes our invitation and visits us? They might unintentionally come with microorganisms which can bring harm to humans.

Now, in the scenario where we find a less technologically advanced civilization, one that is probably a few hundred years behind us technologically, just twist everything I said about a technologically advanced race finding us by substituting the superior civilization with humans while the less advanced civilization takes the role of the humans.

However, we can only sit back and watch what the future brings but all I can say is that we need to be cautious.

---

---

Further Reading

• http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/science/should-try-contact-aliens-prominent-5428487
• https://www.theguardian.com/science/2010/apr/30/stephen-hawking-right-aliens
  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2951184/We-teach-aliens-CRICKET-ET-wants-hear-culture-not-views-science-says-Director-Seti.html
• https://www.centauri-dreams.org/?p=17861
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_for_extraterrestrial_intelligence

---

Thank you for sparing your time to go through this. I remain your humble little boy.

---

---

I am @Illuminatus, I am a Nigerian and I am neither a terrorist, a scammer nor a spammer.

---

---

GIF made by @foundation