If we found magazania aliens, nothing would have happened

Сфера Дайсона

Although the discussion of strange stars KIC 8462852 involving theories about the strange objects in orbit — Roy Dyson or other Magazzini — seem unsubstantiated, we were not too lazy to speculate about what could become of humanity if one of these theories is correct. From the outset, SETI scientists believed that the chances that somewhere in the 1400 light years from us can be an unnatural phenomenon, are extremely low — we just don’t know what causes strange changes in the brightness of stars.

Observations of the SETI Institute with the use of array telescope Allen and optical SETI observations International in Panama showed no signs of extraterrestrial civilizations. But even in the absence of empirical data there is the slightest chance that we hit the jackpot and found Ecumenical friends. Or at least neighbors. Which might no longer.

Attention, question: so what? We often say, and not only we, that it will be the greatest discovery in human history that will change our world. And our opinion about ourselves. With the first part of this thesis is acceptable, but I wouldn’t be so sure about the second. Of course, the realization that we are not alone in the Universe, would be the greatest discovery in the history of mankind. This will happen only once — like the first step on the moon or another object in our Universe, other than Earth.

But to say that it will change humanity… hardly. Among intellectual elites, theologians, artists or philosophers is, no doubt, will cause change in their perspective of our world and opening new paths in thinking, generate new religion and the meanings of life. Religious fanatics who believe that humanity is special because so did God, will receive a blow to the egos that will result in new moves and allegations of fraud. Astronomers and other scientists involved in the search of aliens, will be opened in front of them excited by the possibilities: just think, in the future we will be able to talk with the builders of the mysterious they conform in orbit around the star — if, of course, still there. After all, what we see now happened a long time ago. In the case of the star KIC 8462852 this happened 1400 years ago.

As for the rest… As it will change the lives of poor people in Haiti or Africa? As these billions who were simply fighting for every day life, react to the fact that we are not alone in the Universe? What people around the world will join hands and will send to the sky music from holding hands?

I do not know. In fact, while the discovery of an alien civilization, in the very long term, can have a significant impact on mankind in the short term it will be absolutely imperceptibly. You know who is Neil Armstrong? Many people don’t know, I have no idea, maybe a musician or something. One of the major achievements in the history of mankind made man, whose name many don’t know even in his homeland. Neil Armstrong and his “giant leap for mankind”, the first step on the moon, remain in short term memory, if at all.

The fact is that for most people on Earth to know that we are not alone, not matter, because in life it is not useful, like algebra. And even for those who have a good education and a good status, the discovery of extraterrestrial life will be only a brief flash of curiosity on the radar because everyone is busy with personal life, career, and smartphones. An important discovery can be abstract on the background of the reality of everyday life, and the knowledge that in 1400 light years is (or was) civilization, nothing will give the inhabitants of the Earth for life, in a pocket will not put on us is that spooling. This is interesting, but hardly relevant to our interesting and highly stressful life.

This is a sad reality. This discovery must be important because it puts our civilization and history on a level far beyond our little planet. But since we live on Earth, where wars are fought, diseases and poverty, people are forced to fight literally for their lives, few people appreciate the fact that humanity is not alone in the Universe. And for those who are lucky more interesting to read the news from the stock exchange. And how it will help in choosing a brand new BMW?

However, maybe if we learn that KIC 8462852 or another star is something really important, mankind will lose a modicum of short-sighted selfishness and begin to think about our world and our civilization as a part of something bigger — and more important — than we ourselves and our ambitions and desires. Maybe the idea that somewhere out there someone will help us solve our earthly problems and do more interesting things, to look at the world in a new way.


Date:

by