Americans encountering Columbus . That didn ’ t turn out so well .” 11 Obviously his concerns are more about aliens inadvertently zapping us with bacteria rather than with ray guns .
Others have warned of catastrophic consequences lifted straight from the pages of science fiction : Marauding aliens that could follow the messages we beam into space like a homing beacon , and come here to exploit Earth ’ s resources , exploit humans , or even to destroy all life as we know it . “ Any civilization detecting our presence is likely to be technologically very advanced , and may not be disposed to treat us nicely . At the very least , the idea seems morally questionable ,” argued physicist Mark Buchanan in the journal Nature Physics . 12
A growing group of astronomers has taken it upon themselves to do more than just listen . Some are advocating for a beacon that is ‘ swept ’ across the galaxy , letting ET know we are home , to see if anyone comes calling . Others argue we would be wise to keep Earth to ourselves . “ There ’ s a possibility that if we actively message , with the intention of getting the attention of an intelligent civilization , that the civilization we contact would not necessarily have our best interests in mind ," says Lucianne Walkowicz , an astrophysicist at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago . " On the other hand , there might be great benefits . It could be something that ends life on Earth , and it might be something that accelerates the ability to live quality lives on Earth . We have no way of knowing .” 13
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We ended last month ’ s Vision column about AI by suggesting that readers start thinking now about some of the ethical matters that will arise as we immerse ourselves in the uncharted waters of robotic relationships . Now , with the possibility of First Contact becoming a reality in your own lifetime , it might be appropriate to face any fears and prejudices that surface when contemplating sharing our planet with alien intelligences . With the state of the world as it is , there are many who believe that contact ( if it hasn ’ t already been made ) is imminent !