If an Intelligent ET Calls, How Will People React?
Many believe that the chances of finding an extraterrestrial intelligence are improving, and if 2025 turns out to be the year of first contact, how will people react? According to Seth Shostak, a speaker, author, and senior astronomer at the SETI (Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence) Institute, many people would be fascinated and try to reach out to the aliens.
Shostak dismisses the idea that people would panic, stating that most Americans believe that aliens exist. Instead, he says that people would be eager to communicate with the extraterrestrial intelligence. He notes that many would try to broadcast a response to the alien signal, saying, “You can be sure that everybody in the world who has the capability to broadcast a response will try and do so, right. You know, just talk to us, that kind of thing.”
Not everyone would be enthusiastic about responding to the alien signal, however. Some would be hesitant to do so, citing the potential consequences of making contact. Shostak notes that if a society that can hear their signal were to respond, it could lead to unforeseen consequences. He says, “You don’t know what the consequences of doing that might be. And keep in mind that any society that could actually hear anything we said could actually pick up a signal, they would willy-nilly be more advanced technologically than we are.”
Shostak also predicts that some people would view the arrival of an extraterrestrial intelligence as an opportunity, saying, “Maybe they could tell us all sorts of useful stuff that otherwise we’re going to spend the next couple of centuries figuring out for ourselves.” Others might react by trying to decipher the content of the alien signal, with the possibility of putting the signal on the internet for people to try and figure it out.
Shostak also speculates on how religion might be impacted by the discovery of an extraterrestrial intelligence. He notes that the arrival of such a discovery could lead to a profound religious reaction, as people would be forced to question their beliefs. He compares the potential reaction to that of European colonizers who arrived in the Pacific Islands in the 18th century and displaced indigenous religions.
In addition to the possibility of finding extraterrestrial intelligence, Shostak also discusses the potential discovery of microbial life on Mars. He notes that such a discovery would have a significant impact on the public, as it would demonstrate that life can thrive in other places and challenge the idea that Earth is unique.
Finally, Shostak addresses the recent UFO and UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) sightings, noting that while many people believe some of these sightings are caused by alien craft, he is skeptical. He predicts that the discovery of an extraterrestrial intelligence might not come from a biological being at all, but rather a synthetic intelligence.
