A very serious study has actually been published on what might happen should humans come into contact with aliens. Two researchers at Sonneberg Observatory in Germany and the University of Hawaii claim that aliens could trigger an apocalypse on earth without ever coming into direct contact with us by simply sending a message containing malicious AI code which could disrupt our power systems.
A very serious research paper has been authored by scientists from Hawaii and has actually been published. It is labeled "Interstellar Communication" and describes in vivid detail why we should destroy alien messages as soon as we have intercepted them.
According to the research paper, there are several strategies which the aliens could deploy in their messages. For instance, they might give common threats such as, "We will make your sun go super nova". It will serve to create panic across the world.
The paper further postulates that our own response to the alien message should be ever peaceful and not contain complex codes. Our messages should be simple, contain plain text and may contain music and images in a simple format.
The researchers further argue that it is nigh impossible to decontaminate the threat of a possible AI attack. Anything more complex than printable images and texts represent technical risks which we cannot with 100% certainty isolate and remove.
There is a high possibility of receiving good, healthy and wholesome text messages from the aliens as well. This can represent a host of opportunities to man. The most important of which is to build a galactic network - like in Star Trek.
Since it has been proven that highly advanced aliens most definitely do not live in our own solar system, or we possibly would have found out and interacted with them at some point, it means aliens who do visit us will come from far away.
Because the aliens have the ability to send a targeted message directly to Earth from massively long galactic messages, it represents a possibility that they have mastered Faster Than Light travel. We would be able to benefit if they could teach us their ways.
It is important to understand the risks and benefits before intercepting and decoding an alien message. If the AI code contained within their message is superior to humanity, it won't be very long before it disrupts our communications.
The researchers conclude that while there is always a risk of intercepting and reading their message, potential for the risk is very small but cannot be entirely eliminated. The benefit is very tremendous and we are encouraged to read them.
This isn't the first time that researchers and scientists have expressed concern at the prospects of contacting aliens. Lucianne Walkowicz told in an interview to NBC News that contact could prove to be catastrophic to the humans.
Lucianne borrows in from the simple rationale that a far more intelligent civilization would obviously want to make us more subservient to them. In much the same way that we regularly do with other creatures around us.
Because as humans we have had our own say and have dictated our own rules governing life, we obviously wouldn't be too welcoming of their message. This can possibly start a war which we will inevitably loose.
Stephen Hawking is one of the most authoritative researchers and physicists around the world and his words carry weight. He claims that 'we're playing a dangerous game by trying to contact aliens." If they become aware of our presence, they might just colonize us.
Given the considerable threat that advanced alien life forms represent to our own civilization, do you believe that it is worth the risk to contact them in the hopes that we might form a beneficial 'galactic network'?
Could it be a far better idea to just sit ducks and try to advance on our own instead of waiting for aliens to contact us? We have our own selfish reasons - to learn from their advanced tech and use it to progress. But is it worth the risk? Let us know in the comments below.