OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens?

From	a425couple <a425couple@hotmail.com>
Newsgroups	rec.arts.sf.written, alt.books.arthur-clarke, alt.fan.heinlein, alt.astronomy
Subject	OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens?
Date	2018-04-30 08:36 -0700
Organization	NewsGuy.com
Message-ID	<pc7d5301g00@news1.newsguy.com> (permalink)

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How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens?
By Elizabeth Howell, Space.com Contributor | April 30, 2018 07:00am ET

How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens?
An invasion of Earth by alien flying saucers is a trope of science 
fiction. But what if aliens really did find us?

If aliens reach out to us, what would happen first?

It's a question that has puzzled science fiction fans and scientists 
alike for decades, and we already may have a hint of how people will 
react. On Oct. 30, 1938, a dramatized version of the 1898 H.G. Wells 
novel "War of the Worlds" played on the CBS Radio system across the 
United States. The story details how Martians attacked Earth.

The radio broadcast caused a reaction when people mistook it for a real 
radio report, but accounts vary as to how much of a reaction. Some 
accounts describe nationwide panic, while others say not very many 
people actually listened to the broadcast. The promise of alien life 
stars in Episode 1 of "AMC Visionaries: James Cameron's Story of Science 
Fiction," which debuts on AMC tonight. Still, Search for 
Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) researcher Duncan Forgan told 
Space.com the "War of the Worlds" broadcast may be instructive to think 
about as SETI scientists worldwide update their "first contact" 
protocols. [E.T. Etiquette: How Should Humanity Interact with Alien Life?]

"If you pick the right science fiction — the hard science fiction — it's 
placed in the best possible educated guesses about what will happen," 
said Forgan, who is a research fellow at the University of St Andrews in 
Scotland. He explained that "hard" science fiction refers to science 
fiction that emphasizes accuracy (think the 2015 movie "The Martian," 
for example).

If researchers find a signal today, Forgan said, one of the things they 
will have to manage is a public used to getting constant news updates on 
Twitter and other forms of social media. It's something Forgan and his 
colleagues are already working on. The International Academy of 
Astronautics SETI Permanent Committee created a post-detection protocol 
in 1989 that was slightly updated in 2010; a new update is starting soon 
and should be finished in a few years, Forgan said.

Scientific work
Famed directors James Cameron and Ridley Scott talk aliens in "AMC 
Visionaries: James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction," which premieres 
on AMC on April 30.

For the most part, scientists assume alien contact would happen through 
a signal purposely sent toward Earth. The "acid test" is to make sure 
the signal is verified by multiple observatories, said SETI Institute 
senior astronomer Seth Shostak. "It would take a while to verify, and 
then the people who like to think about these matters say you would have 
a press conference and announce this to the world," he said, but he 
added that wouldn't work unless everyone in the project were sworn to 
secrecy. In this era of news leaks, he said that situation is very 
unlikely to hold.

So, scientists try instead to stick to a protocol that includes 
informing the public. The 2010 IAA protocol only runs to two pages and 
covers facets such as searching for a signal, handling evidence and what 
to do in the case of a confirmed detection.

If the evidence gets out to the public while the scientists are still 
analyzing the signal, Forgan said they could manage the public's 
expectations by using something called the Rio Scale. It's essentially a 
numeric value that represents the degree of likelihood that an alien 
contact is "real." (Forgan added that the Rio Scale is also undergoing 
an update, and more should be coming out about it in May.)

If the aliens did arrive here, "first contact" protocols likely would be 
useless, because if they're smart enough to show up physically, they 
could probably do anything else they like, according to Shostak. 
"Personally, I would leave town," Shostak quipped. "I would get a rocket 
and get out of the way. I have no idea what they are here for."

But there's little need to worry. An "Independence Day" scenario of 
aliens blowing up important national buildings such as the White House 
is extremely unlikely, Forgan said, because interstellar travel is 
difficult. (This feeds into something called the Drake Equation, which 
considers where the aliens could be and helps show why we haven't heard 
anything from them yet.) [The Father of SETI: Q&A with Astronomer Frank 
Drake]

Early SETI work
To find a signal, first we have to be listening for it. SETI "listening" 
is going on all over the world, and in fact, this has been happening for 
many decades. The first modern SETI experiment took place in 1960. Under 
Project Ozma, Cornell University astronomer Frank Drake pointed a radio 
telescope (located at Green Bank, West Virginia) at two stars called Tau 
Ceti and Epsilon Eridani. He scanned at a frequency astronomers nickname 
"the water hole," which is close to the frequency of light that's given 
off by hydrogen and hydroxyl (one hydrogen atom bonded to one oxygen). 
[13 Ways to Find Intelligent Aliens]

In 1977, The Ohio State University SETI's program made international 
headlines after a project volunteer, Jerry Ehman, wrote, "Wow!" beside a 
strong signal a telescope there received. The Aug. 15, 1977, "Wow" 
signal was never repeated, however.

There have been many, many projects since then. As a taste: The SETI 
Institute was founded in 1984; while it may be the most famous of the 
SETI projects, there are many other independent SETIs at universities 
and institutions worldwide that have done work over the decades. One of 
the center's major initiatives was Project Phoenix, which scanned 
nearby, sun-like stars. Currently, the SETI Institute, in collaboration 
with other institutes, is working on a concept called the Allen 
Telescope Array, which has dozens of radio dishes in northern California.

In 2015, the well-known physicist Stephen Hawking and many other 
researchers launched Breakthrough Listen, a project that will scan 1 
million Milky Way stars and 100 nearby galaxies for extraterrestrial life.

Space-based SETI

While searches of alien messages aren't ongoing in space, there have 
been efforts at communicating with any beings that may come across our 
spacecraft.

The Pioneer 10 and 11 probes flew by Jupiter (and in Pioneer 11's case, 
Saturn) to eventually make their way out of the solar system. Before 
their launches in 1972 and 1973, respectively, a Pioneer plaque was 
mounted on board each spacecraft. It shows the form of the human body 
and where the Earth is located in the galaxy.

The twin Voyager probes launched in 1977 to examine the outer solar 
system. Voyager 2 reached interstellar space in 2012, while Voyager 1 is 
still at the edge of the solar system. Each of the spacecraft includes 
two golden records with sounds recorded on Earth, ranging from whale 
calls to music to the word "hello" in many languages. The record also 
has diagrams of the human body and where our solar system is located.

Scientists also transmitted a radio message from the Arecibo Observatory 
in Puerto Rico in 1974. The so-called Arecibo Message includes such 
things as the numbers 1 through 10; the atomic numbers of elements such 
as hydrogen and oxygen; information about DNA; and diagrams of a human 
body, the Earth and our solar system.

In a related field, the study of exoplanets has accelerated in recent 
years with the Kepler mission, which has found more than 2,000 confirmed 
exoplanets alone, as well as other observatories on the ground and in 
space. Scientists are now trying to characterize which of these planets 
may be the most habitable. Atmospheric studies and more detailed looks 
at star activity will be some of the activities scientists undertake 
with future telescopes, such as the James Webb Space Telescope, which 
will launch in 2020.

This story was inspired by Episode 1 of "AMC Visionaries: James 
Cameron's Story of Science Fiction," which airs tonight at 10 p.m. 
EDT/PDT (9 p.m. CDT). A companion book is available on Amazon.com.

Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on 
Space.com.

https://www.space.com/40435-finding-aliens-humanity-reaction.html

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OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? a425couple <a425couple@hotmail.com> - 2018-04-30 08:36 -0700
  Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? a425couple <a425couple@hotmail.com> - 2018-04-30 08:38 -0700
  Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? casagiannoni@optonline.net - 2018-04-30 16:35 -0400
    Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J Heydt) - 2018-04-30 21:09 +0000
    Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Ninapenda Jibini <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-01 03:41 +0000
  Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2018-04-30 15:55 -0500
  Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J Heydt) - 2018-04-30 21:08 +0000
    Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Ninapenda Jibini <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-01 03:42 +0000
      Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J Heydt) - 2018-05-01 05:28 +0000
        Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-01 08:51 -0700
          Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J Heydt) - 2018-05-01 19:37 +0000
            Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-01 13:16 -0700
              Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J Heydt) - 2018-05-01 20:34 +0000
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-01 14:10 -0700
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Quadibloc <jsavard@ecn.ab.ca> - 2018-05-01 15:46 -0700
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-01 16:46 -0700
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? D B Davis <g@crcomp.net> - 2018-05-02 16:23 +0000
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? mvp@web1.calweb.com (Mike Van Pelt) - 2018-05-02 21:57 +0000
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-02 15:08 -0700
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? mvp@web1.calweb.com (Mike Van Pelt) - 2018-05-02 22:42 +0000
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-02 15:53 -0700
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2018-05-02 17:57 -0500
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2018-05-02 16:15 -0700
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-02 16:16 -0700
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Lawrence Watt-Evans <misenchantedpress@gmail.com> - 2018-05-03 02:01 -0400
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? David DeLaney <daviddelaney@earthlink.net> - 2018-05-03 05:36 -0500
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Kevrob <kevrob@my-deja.com> - 2018-05-03 05:05 -0700
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-03 08:13 -0700
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2018-05-03 09:28 -0700
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-03 09:42 -0700
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? David DeLaney <daviddelaney@earthlink.net> - 2018-05-03 21:13 -0500
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Gene Wirchenko <genew@telus.net> - 2018-05-03 20:52 -0700
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Ninapenda Jibini <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-04 05:17 +0000
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? David DeLaney <daviddelaney@earthlink.net> - 2018-05-04 22:08 -0500
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Ninapenda Jibini <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-04 05:17 +0000
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? mvp@web1.calweb.com (Mike Van Pelt) - 2018-05-03 22:08 +0000
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-03 15:55 -0700
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? mvp@web1.calweb.com (Mike Van Pelt) - 2018-05-03 23:24 +0000
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-03 16:39 -0700
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? mvp@web1.calweb.com (Mike Van Pelt) - 2018-05-03 23:56 +0000
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Ninapenda Jibini <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-04 05:14 +0000
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Greg Goss <gossg@gossg.org> - 2018-05-04 06:42 -0600
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-04 08:17 -0700
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Peter Trei <petertrei@gmail.com> - 2018-05-04 08:35 -0700
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-04 11:44 -0700
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2018-05-02 16:14 -0700
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? David DeLaney <daviddelaney@earthlink.net> - 2018-05-03 05:34 -0500
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2018-05-03 16:53 -0500
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-03 15:54 -0700
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? mvp@web1.calweb.com (Mike Van Pelt) - 2018-05-03 23:30 +0000
                Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Cryptoengineer <treifamily@gmail.com> - 2018-05-01 21:44 -0500
    Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Daniel60 <daniel47@eternal-september.org> - 2018-05-01 20:55 +1000
      Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Peter Trei <petertrei@gmail.com> - 2018-05-01 06:17 -0700
      Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Moriarty <blues95@ivillage.com> - 2018-05-01 15:04 -0700
        Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J Heydt) - 2018-05-02 00:06 +0000
          Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Robert Carnegie <rja.carnegie@excite.com> - 2018-05-02 13:40 -0700
            Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J Heydt) - 2018-05-02 21:50 +0000
              Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-02 15:52 -0700
      Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Daniel60 <daniel47@eternal-september.org> - 2018-05-17 16:43 +1000
        Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? hamish.laws@gmail.com - 2018-05-17 00:51 -0700
          Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Robert Carnegie <rja.carnegie@excite.com> - 2018-05-17 01:16 -0700
        Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Daniel60 <daniel47@eternal-september.org> - 2018-05-25 15:07 +1000
  Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? lal_truckee <lal_truckee@yahoo.com> - 2018-04-30 18:14 -0700
  Re: OT - How Would Humanity React If We Really Found Aliens? Ninapenda Jibini <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-01 03:40 +0000

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