Humanity, as we know it, has always existed in a cosmic vacuum. The cold darkness of space has always been a mystery. We’ve had our hypotheses and conspiracies but for the most part, we’re still wondering, is anyone out there? The existential threat of universal loneliness looms large over the collective psyche of mankind. We’ve even managed to set foot on the Moon but as far as space travel is concerned, that is as far as we’ve gotten. This is why the launch of the James Webb telescope could be a boon for astrophysics and humanity, in general. Scientists hope that the telescope will give them a bit more insight into the mysteries of the known universe. Another side-effect of these deep space studies is that we could potentially discover actual alien life!
That is a very real possibility. If you do believe that extraterrestrial life exists, the James Webb telescope could be our best bet of finding it. To this end, NASA has outlined a plan on how it plans to break the news to the public regarding the discovery of alien life. In the document, NASA states, “Our generation could realistically be the one to discover evidence of life beyond Earth. With this privileged potential comes responsibility. The magnitude of the question of whether we are alone in the Universe, and the public interest therein, opens the possibility that results may be taken to imply more than the observations support, or than the observers intend.
The researchers propose a progressive system where evidence would be presented on a scale of one through seven, starting with the detection of a biological signal and ending with definitive confirmation of the presence of alien biology.”
You can check out the image below of how NASA plans to go about it.
NASA is right, our generation could be the first to find life outside our planet and what we do with that information is critical. Going even further, what would we do if we came in contact with a sentient, intelligent alien lifeform? Does NASA also have protocols for a situation that could potentially change the world? These are fascinating questions that do not have any answers, as of now. But as FBI agent Fox Mulder’s poster states “I Want to Believe”.
Also Read: A huge asteroid is moving toward Earth's orbital path
from General News https://ift.tt/3sLiKbx
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