Should We Advertise to the Universe that there is Life on Earth ?

 A debate on this subject between scientists in the SETI field has been simmering in the background ever since the first attempt was made to send a ‘letter to the cosmos’ via the Arrecibo message in 1974.

The debate recently resurfaced in response to NASA’s proposal to rejuvenate the project by setting up a 'Beacon in the Galaxy'.

At first sight, there might appear to be good reasons to be wary of advertising our presence and credentials as intelligent life forms – however friendly we might think a visiting alien species might be.

The key factors which tend to undermine the argument against the proposal, however, are – space and time. 

A detailed look at the implications of the sheer vastness of both of these dimensions has certainly convinced me that the likelihood of our own species ever encountering or even receiving communications from an alien species is very low.

You can see why in my recent blog entitled ‘Are we Alone in the Universe’.

Even if any of them managed to get here intact, the likelihood they would survive in the 'sea' of opportunistic pathogens which we all inhabit is even lower....

To all with the time and resources to do it - Happy signalling….just don't expect a reply any time soon.

Viv  

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