Tuesday, April 27, 2010

E.T., stay home

Star Cluster NGC 3603
For centuries, man has pondered his place in the universe, asking questions such as what is our purpose; why are we here; are we alone?

As we grew in intelligence, we found ways to listen beyond our own solar system for indications of life among the stars; and then, not being satisfied with just listening, we sent our own man-made space probes to explore our solar system, our galaxy and beyond.

Voyager I, launched in 1977, is currently the farthest man-made object from Earth. Other space probes include Voyager II, Pioneer 10 and 11, as well as the New Horizons space probe launched in 2006. Aboard Voyager I is a golden record that contains sounds and images selected to portray life on Earth. It is intended for any intelligent extraterrestrial life forms that may find it.

Countless men and women have spent their lives in search of life beyond our world, ultimately hoping to find beings like ourselves. Many careers have been made in that pursuit; many have been lost.

And now, Stephen Hawking, the most highly celebrated British theoritical physicist of our time, said yesterday that we might not want to attract the attention of any alien civilization on the chance they may visit Earth, carrying with them diseases which could wipe out the human race and every living thing on the planet.

Aliens could decimate humanity in the same way Columbus affected the lives of native Americans.

I have only one question:

WHY DIDN'T SOMEONE THINK OF THIS SOONER?

2 comments:

  1. I blame Steven Spielberg for creating that ridiculously cute E.T. that made us all think that aliens would come to earth looking like newborns and eating Reese's Pieces, instead of the actual disease ridden, human eating, down right demonic creatures that scientist Steven Hawking describes. Strike up another success for science!

    I bet the DOD already has an E.T. Strike Force (like the movie GI JOE) with advanced, very expensive, never before seen, highly technical, ray guns to defend the USA from just such an attack.

    Unless we're wasting our tax dollars on things like health care and job creation. Man, where is George Bush when you really need him!

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  2. Gosh John -- don't hear from you for a long time, and then BAM! It's a gusher! ;-)

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