How Should Earth Respond to an Alien Message?
What should we say to extraterrestrials? (Courtesy of flickr user Darren Hester)
How would you respond if we received a message from intelligent life in outer space? The SETI Institute would like to know. Their “Earth Speaks” project is soliciting messages (text, sounds and images), but rather than picking a favorite or favorites, the messages are tagged to summarize the content. SETI researchers will then study the tags to capture themes that can then be used when creating a message, should we be contacted by alien life or decide to send intentional messages into outer space.
This message, one of my favorites, was tagged with “caution,” “hope” and “silly”:
Approach us with caution. New things may frighten us and in becoming frightened, we may attack if we feel that is the safest immediate reaction. I send this warning because in the end, We would like to be friends. We will need your help to achieve this. Also, don’t kidnap us and poke us. We hate that.
What would your message say? And should we start blaring a message into space or wait until we’re contacted first?
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Since aliens can supposedly travel great distances across galaxies, I think I’d ask for some help to solve the world’s energy needs. Unless their fuels are dirtier than ours …
Comment by Charles F. — May 21, 2009 @ 9:19 pm
[...] most journalists, especially those with any experience covering science. Unless SETI had gotten a call-back from another planet, somebody was [...]
Pingback by The Hubbub About Ida | Surprising Science — May 26, 2009 @ 11:49 am
I hate when people think of Aliens being more intelligent than Humans. We are Aliens to them. What if they think we are more intelligent? Another thing that bothers me is when people think of ET as being some sort of wierd color with big black eyes. They could be very similar to us in colors, eyes, hair, ect… What makes you think they speak Earth’s languages? It would take time to decipher our words. Thanks
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Comment by Cody P — July 14, 2009 @ 8:15 pm
Message should include that deceit is a major way of our lives, ignorance is widespread. If possible make bigger more public appearance. What do you need or want from us?1st part of suggested message sounds good.
Comment by Ray — July 22, 2009 @ 9:37 pm