While several efforts are dedicated to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI), those from the Post-Detection Hub of SETI are faced with the difficult task of figuring what to do if humans indeed make contact with aliens.
How Will Humanity Respond to Extraterrestrial Life Signals?
Futurism notes how if humans get in touch with aliens tomorrow, humanity will reflect ill-preparedness for such an encounter. This is something that must change immediately as the encounter could take place anytime.
Computational linguist John Elliott from the University of St. Andrews expresses how COVID-19 hit the world that led to a huge mess. Given this, he thinks that humanity will be like chicken without heads should humanity meet extraterrestrial life soon.
Elliott notes how humanity cannot afford to be unprepared for such an encounter in political, social, and scientific aspects. Such an event could take place anytime and it is one that humanity must not mishandle.
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The Need for Intentional Response Planning
With this, Eliott and other specialists are going beyond the pursuit of scanning for alien signals and moving toward answering what to do if such pursuit is fulfilled. At the SETI Post-Detection Hub, Elliott will have to coordinate a unified international response to any extraterrestrial contact. This is something that necessitates much bureaucracy and paperwork.
MSN reports how Elliott expressed the need to have scenarios and strategies in place in order to know what needs to be done and how things should be done.
While several of his peers may be fearful about humanity' response, Elliott does not hold the same fears. Such a question in itself leaves experts divided, as many think that relaying humanity's location may lead to immense chaos.
Elliott, however, thinks of the encounter as an opportunity for linking up and connecting. He notes that if such an opportunity is indeed present, humanity should not miss out on it.
The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence or SETI is an institute that is specifically dedicated to looking for evidence of life beyond earth's horizons. Based in the Silicon Valley near to the NASA Ames Research Center, the institute is passionate about humanity's pursuit of understanding life origins and prevalence across the universe.
While the institute started with just a single project and two employees, it now has around a hundred scientists and various specialists working together on outreach, administration, and education.
Astronomy reports that the James Webb Space Telescope will play a vital role in the search for alien life. Being the most powerful telescope in the world, it serves as a fresh tool to look deeper into the universe and address the timeless search for extraterrestrial life evidence.
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