Question:

Suppose that SETI picked up an alien civilization signal, how would this discovery impact mankind?

by  |  earlier

0 LIKES UnLike

Suppose that the SETI search is successful, and a clear signal is detected from an alien civilization later this year. What are your opinions on how such a discovery might change things for humankind in this century.

 Tags:

   Report

11 ANSWERS


  1. they will invade us,answer plz http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...


  2. While it would be front page news, my suspicion is that it would quickly stop being a wonder.

    What if the star was 100 light years away? How would you communicate over that distance and how do you deal with a 4 generation time lag?

    Compounding the problem would be if the civilization was further away, say 1,000 light years.

    In "Contact" the message gave instructions on building a device to travel to the civilization. I doubt we'd be so lucky.

  3. It would make lots of us very excited, mostly, scientists.

    It would make some of us very uncomfortable, mostly bible thumpers and people who don't read, but I repeat myself.

  4. this could lead to a invasion

  5. If the message were from the Borg, I think it wouldn't end well.

    It all depends on the message content, and what we make of it. If it were a ghost signal, from a civilization that must already have been dead for 100 million years, because their star went supernova, I suppose we'd be sorry to have missed them. If it were from someone comparatively nearby, wanting to talk to us about playing a game of telephone, it might be fun.

    But if it were the Borg?  Ugh....

  6. I think Mathilda nailed this - pretty much said most of what I would have.

    However, here are a couple additions:

    It depends on whether the astronomers also detected evidence of WMDs.

    and

    For an alternative, somewhat utopian, perspective see the film Star Trek: First Contact.

  7. Some religious people will say they are all demons.

    Some religious people will hastily shuffle through their scriptures to find quotes that 'prove' they already knew about this.

    Some religious cults will spring up based around the alien signal, claiming it's the end of the world/dawn of a new age.

    Generally, religious people will go into a frenzy. Assuming you can get them to accept the signal is real. Just look at the ongoing saga with evolution vs creationism.

    Govts will probably start spending a lot more on space programs and some of the spy satellites will look out instead of in.

    The average Joe will give it about five minutes of brain time, as it won't affect his daily routine in the slightest.

    Scientists will start arguing over what the next step is. Should we try and signal them? Are they aggressive or peaceful? They'll spend decades picking apart the slightest bit of information, and speculate themselves into an early grave.

  8. Impact mankind? With all the religious nut-bars in the world; badly.

  9. It would draw the nations together and we would be permanently at battle stations.

  10. If the aliens civilization can get here super fast then mankind will panic,  but if it takes them as long as it takes us then it will be a big shock and people will go "holy cow there is another life"  and thats all you will get from the people.  People will generally be comfortable knowing there is something out there but it will take 10000 years before anyone can get to us.

  11. in this century?

    well there would sure be loads of rumors going around

    =]

    um it probably wont do much because by the time we figure out how to contact them we will all be dead

Question Stats

Latest activity: earlier.
This question has 11 answers.

BECOME A GUIDE

Share your knowledge and help people by answering questions.