The physics of our situation (roughly 300 billion galaxies in the universe, each with roughly 100 billion stars, each with an unknown number of planets) make it literally impossible that we are alone (at least as impossible as you winning the powerball every day for the next hundred years). The big question is whether ET intelligence has visited us.
Agreed, certainly. I have been a science fiction fanatic since I first cracked open one of Heinlein’s “juveniles” back in my preteens.
However, one interesting thing about science fiction fans in general (at least the ones I know) is that while we hope, indeed pray, for the existence of extraterrestrials and that they might make open contact with humanity during our lifetimes, we have no desire to be included in the ranks of the Roswell-type UFO conspiracy kooks.
If extraterrestrials can be proven to exist, why would they be kept secret? And please, do not insult me with the idea that somehow such proof would cause “worldwide panic”.
The bigger question is whether ET intelligence is going to *serve* humanity in a galactic smorgasboard.
The bigger question is whether ET intelligence is going to *serve* humanity in a galactic smorgasboard.