14 DAY TRIAL // Were aliens to visit our planet sometime in the foreseeable future, scientists would find themselves forced to tell ordinary folks that they simply are not ready to go out for a cup of tea with these visitors from outer space.
Thus, neuro-psychologist Gabriel G. de la Torre with the University of Cádiz claims that, according to the findings of a survey he has recently carried out, people know too little about the cosmos, and religion still holds too strong an influence for interactions with aliens to be possible.
According to Science News, the neuro-psychologist decided to assess humanity's preparedness to handle visits from after space as a response to the work currently carried out by SETI (The Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence) scientists.
These researchers have until now focused on pinning down signals that might originate from extraterrestrial life forms. However, they are now looking into the possibility to emit signals intended to reveal Earth's location in the cosmos themselves.
Gabriel G. de la Torre claims that, were extraterrestrial civilizations to pick up on these signals and decide to spend their next holiday on our planet, they would, shortly after arrival, find that humans simply do not have what it takes to handle such a visit.
The neuro-psychologist explains that, after carrying out a survey of 116 American, Italian and Spanish university students, he has found that humanity still has a long way to go before it can successfully interact with aliens and not be all that shaken up by the experience.
“This pilot study demonstrates that the knowledge of the general public of a certain education level about the cosmos and our place within it is still poor,” the University of Cádiz researcher sums up the findings of this investigation.
“Therefore, a cosmic awareness must be further promoted – where our mind is increasingly conscious of the global reality that surrounds us – using the best tool available to us: education. In this respect, we need a new Galileo to lead this journey,” the neuro-psychologist adds.
In a recent paper in the journal Acta Astronautica, Gabriel G. de la Torre argues that, given the outcome of his survey, it might not be such a bad idea if SETI scientists were to refrain themselves from trying to actively contact extraterrestrial civilizations.
“In fact, it is a global matter with a strong ethical component in which we must all participate,” the University of Cádiz in Spain neuro-psychologist wishes to stress.