When we finally gain proof that life exists on other worlds, what effect will it have here?

Question

We live in strange and excitiing times:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090617171821.htm

So when (not if) we can finally hold up incontrovertible proof of life on other worlds how will it effect the mindset of those of us on Earth?

Can we expect a resurgence of pulp Sci-Fi? Will the panic mongers go on with renewed vigour about us being seeded here for harvest by some superior species?

Will religion finally collapse under it's own weight and, if it does, what will replace it?

Will the movie makers get their act together and give us a new series of Star Trek?

Will you want to try a burger made out of a newly discovered life form, or should McDonalds keep it strictly earth-grown?

Any thoughts at all about how the discovery of life out there will effect us puny earthlings will be much appreciated.

Answer 1

We already have the proof. We are not yet at liberty to share that proof with you, Mr. Lime, and the others like you. The reason is precisely what you've surmised: that it will have a profound impact on the mindsets of the vast majority of Earthlings (basically everyone except the Zimbabweans, the Inuit, and a small percentage of the Kiwis).



As to your other most excellent questions...



Sci-Fi resurgence?Yes.



Collapse of religion? No, quite the opposite.



A new Star Trek series? Yes. In fact, contract negotiations have already started with Bill Shatner and (believe it or not) Adrian Zmed to headline the latest Rick Berman production, Star Trek The Silver Years.



ALF burgers? If you only knew. Suffice it to say that the "beef" at several national chains contains a small amount of a very tasty life form already. Perhaps you've noticed that burgers seem especially scrumptious lately?

Answer 2

The fed chairman walks into congress and has a closed door session of congress. No press. The next thing that happens in GW Bush and the dem congress starts handing the banks billions of of tax payer dollars with no questions asked and no accountability of where the money will go. Obama gets in office and increases the amount to trillions and congress approves it. Do you really need more proof than that? The fed wasn't even around until Woodrow Wilson was president. And just by coincidence that is when they started taking money out of peoples paychecks for tax. since then we have had 2 world wars, a great depression, a cold war, Vietnam, Iraq, 9/11 and the recent financial crisis. All of them took money out of the pockets of individuals. The cost of military hardware is astronomical. We've spent trillions. Need more proof? A few years ago we had a presidential election between John Kerry and George Bush. Both were members of the skull and bones, a small elite group that includes several presidents and high ranking members of government and business. In the vastness of America, how do you explain that this tiny group produces so many powerful men? Then there are groups like the Council on Foreign Relations, the Trilateral Commission, and the Bilderberg group. All have members that are some of the most powerful people in Government, Media and Business who make policies throughout the world. Need more proof? Google any of the above groups,the illuminati, the Rothschilds . There's a ton of information on all of them. The mainstream media doesn't mention them much because guess who owns the media?

Answer 3

It is likely that pretty much everyone will have something to say if the information of incontrovertible proof of life on other planets was given to the public. It is likely a number of people already know of EBEs on other planets and have decided against releasing that information to the public simply because we have too much to worry about on our own planet and could not stress such a detrimental blow to the human psyche.



Though if the information somehow did gain release it could go many different ways. The bible itself has already been interpreted by many as having some sort of an implanted code and the biblical book Ezekiel seems to vaguely imply flying saucers. Even the oldest paintings and art, both biblical and non-biblical, have what seems to be spaceships and alien figures put into them. It wouldn't be far fetched to think that some people would say that it has been in every religion since the beginning of documentation. Others will differ from that opinion obviously, sticking to old beliefs. Doubt is the only thing that is certain. If anything is going to replace religion it is doubt, and hopefully a subsequent compassionist view on the world.



Star Trek uhh... blows.



It is almost certain that we won't be able to eat any sort of otherworldly creature seeing as though it didn't spend billions of years growing with this worlds bacteria. Are immune systems are likely to act very poorly towards any sort of alien ingestion.



Personally I hope if we discover any sort of life I hope it would be only as a result of their intervention on the human race. To make our wrongs right, abolish money, and make us completely self sustainable. Perhaps even take us to a whole new level of spirituality.

Answer 4

I am actually first going to argue with you about 'when' versus 'if'.



I do not think it is that inevitable of a foregone conclusion and may well turn out that (a) life outside this solar system is simply impossible to detect (or at least impossible to confirm) or even (b) this solar system is host to the only life in the universe.



Hypothetically speaking, IF we discovered life outside this solar system, I think the impact of that discovery is zero. I've given this a lot of thought and I'm serious about it. Example A: We discover a planet virtually identical to ours and confirm the presence of humans virtually identical to us on that planet. Does this prove we must be the product of some universal grand design? I say it looks that way. Is that design the creation of a creator being or an evolved genetic process that is common throughout the universe? Uhhh... I dunno! Impact on me and my beliefs? Nil. I honestly don't see any discovery like that as profound or even really all that interesting. Furthermore, IF humanity ever travels beyond this solar system, it will do so ONE TIME and one time only, and that will occur after the sun goes through its red giant phase AND its white dwarf phase (appx 10 billion years from now) THEN IF humanity has survived and developed appropriate technology, we will embark on a quest to find a new planet that will in all likelihood conclude with the end of thisa epoch the universe long before we ever find a new planet.



This is it. This one blue shpere is all we're ever going to get. Life outside the solar system doesn't matter because we're never going to meet, we're never even going to communicate. Maybe, one day, someone will say, "Look! I've confirmed the presence of life on planet X2Z!" and we''ll all take a look then say, "Huh! Isn't that something?" and that's about as spectacular as it's ever going to get.



Sorry to buzzkill but those are my conclusions and I think they're pretty credible. Sci-fi is great entertainment - Real life in a universe as large as this one with the kinds of distances between stars is something else.

Answer 5

I think that when we do have that proof, a new and exciting journey will begin here on Earth: the journey of physically reaching those planets/galaxies. Sounds impossible, but I believe that humans will not be able to resist the idea of a "new" Earth, a new place to live and grow. We will attempt to get there.



I also believe that there will be a fast-spreadig panic here. It's like the time that a "joke" was played over the radio once, I believe in the 40's or 50's. Officials came over the radio, saying that a UFO had just landed on Earth, and creatures were coming from the starship. People were listening to the radio, and everywhere in America, panic took over. People threw themselves from buildings, took their own lives.



We humans, are afraid of the unknown.

But it also fascinates us.

Answer 6

I think it will be like listening to people on a rollercoaster.



First the ooooh..... - There's life..

Then aaaaahhh - Great!

Then ooooooh oh? - Maybe we can go there and exploit it.

Then - eeeekkkkk!!! - maybe they're hostile?

Then - okaaaayyyyyy..... We will just build bigger weapons

Then - heyyyyy - We're united now against unknown foes...

Then oh - bu@@er - we've just blown up half our planet by mistake.



Then it's a cappppiissssssssshh - at the end - an anticlimax that we now don't have the ability to get off this rock after all.

Answer 7

I already believe in life on other planets, i mean how many galaxys are there? There has to be some other life out there somewhere, sure i dont mean green aliens but something! They found water or mosit on mars? Where there is water there has to be life, otherwise why is the water there in the first place? I mean the possibilities are endless, who says their english, who says they communicate through talk? Do they want to kill us or get to know us. We dont know. But one things for sure, McDonald burgers are irreplacable haha.

I think if its ever proved that there is other life, here it will mean that people will be wanting further proof, some wanting to see it, others fearing from it. Who knows?



x

Answer 8

Pft. Don't think about it. I don't want to find other life in other worlds.

I like having the mystery of something out there than no-one knows about it.

& Religion is a part of loads of people and it gives them hope and faith and even if they do find other things, it won't 'collapse', the belief in God and the bible and shiz is too strong to collapse. Some people rely on it.

& We aren't puny earthlings.

Personally, I think this is a ridiculous Q.

Pick me for best answer anyways like;-)

xxxxx

Answer 9

I believe that there is life out there. There has to be. No human can fully conceive the depths of our universe.

When we do realize that we aren't the only ones here, obviously we will be curious. Someone will try to reach these extraterrestrial organisms. Disaster could likely ensue. People will feel less secure in their world though they have no real reason too. SCIFI WILL PREVAIL!

Answer 10

Depends on what kind of life. If high intelligence, then I think it would produce a mixture of excitement, fear, wonder, adventure.



If it's just a one celled organism, I think those same feelings would still exist (maybe not fear), but they would be limited to the science community.



Obviously, the media, tv, will blow this up to enormous proportions.



Religion will find a way to explain it or deny it, it always does.

Answer 11

I think humans will freak the f*** out on all aspects, religious, political, emotional, and entertainment wise.

Knowing the kind of people that run this world, i think we would do something completely stupid regarding the other life-forms and therefore they will try and kill us...no not try...they will. lol.

Because, if there are other life forms in the universe....i know we are not the smartest. =P

Answer 12

Maybe more resources unknown to human. This might lead to the earths's future. More of the resources might result in having a better world.

Answer 13

Well, it depends on whether or not these other beings are more intelligent than ourselves. If they are as intelligent as we are (or more intelligent), we may begin to take parts of their culture (including religion, dress, and cuisine) and vice-versa. Also, there would be new hate groups forming and groups formed to counteract the hate groups.

Answer 14

i actually think that if we contacted other forms of life, the whole human race would come together if we came into war with these aliens, in fact, it would definately unite everyone.

Answer 15

All of the above. Humans can't be trusted not to try to exploit others.

Answer 16

This proves nothing











answer mine:

https://answersrip.com/question/index?qid=20090618123446AAKi6rJ

Answer 17

you can expect something similar to "War of the Worlds"

Answer 18

haha lol this is soo funny

Answer 19

uhhhhhhhhhhh? ur a NERD!