In 1938, American film producer Orson Welles performed a radio adaptation of H.G. Wells’ novel The War of the Worlds. The radio broadcast consisted of fictional news reports about an invasion of Martians on Earth. The broadcast was executed so convincingly that it became famous for causing panic among listeners. Even today, there is debate about how widespread the panic actually was.
Many believed the false reports were real, leading to calls to the police and emergency services. Media outlets reported mass hysteria, although some research has shown that the number of truly frightened individuals was much smaller than initially claimed. Nevertheless, Welles’ move confirmed the power of mass media and, more importantly, raised the question of how people would react if an extraterrestrial civilization appeared.
UN Bodies for Contact with Extraterrestrials
Since the topic of human contact with extraterrestrials is not frivolous but a real scenario, the United Nations (UN) addressed it long ago. In 1958, the organization established the Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). This body is responsible for coordinating international space research, including potential contacts with extraterrestrial civilizations. UNOOSA set a framework for international cooperation in space exploration and the exchange of information about possible life beyond Earth.
In addition to UNOOSA, the UN also established the scientific project Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), which was launched in 1960 to search for signs of intelligent life in space. The goal is to explore the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations that might communicate via electromagnetic waves (radio and light signals). Thus, UNOOSA and the UN General Assembly are formal institutions on Earth responsible for potential first contact with aliens.
Possible Reactions to First Contact
When considering the appearance of extraterrestrial life, it’s important to note that we are referring to an intelligent civilization, not primitive life forms like microbes, bacteria, and archaea. Such beings would not have a significant impact, but intelligent extraterrestrial beings would definitely affect the inhabitants of Earth. Moreover, they could fundamentally change the course of life on Earth. The most important factor determining human reaction would be the nature of the extraterrestrials.
If the aliens were hostile, there is no doubt that people would be in panic and fear. Due to the technological gap (the ability for intergalactic travel), the aliens would effortlessly conquer our planet, making human reactions largely irrelevant. Such a civilization would need to possess advanced military technology far beyond anything we can imagine (neutron radiation, manipulation of gravity and climate…). A meeting between Earthlings and hostile extraterrestrials would likely end like the encounter between the Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas with the Spanish: catastrophic for the technologically backward civilization, in this case, the Earthlings.
Different Reactions Among Different Nations
If the aliens were friendly, human reactions would be divided. Some would fall into euphoria and optimism, while others would be gripped by paranoia or take a skeptical stance. Some nations would be more interested in interacting with the extraterrestrials, while others would be less so. Public opinion surveys conducted by leading American media outlets such as The New York Times and The Washington Post show that different nations would react differently. Americans would likely be almost 100% positively or negatively oriented toward the newly discovered civilization (depending on whether it is good or bad), while the Chinese would be more balanced, understanding that contact has both advantages and risks. A 2018 study by scientists at Arizona State University showed that reactions would be predominantly positive or neutral, suggesting that the public could react calmly and rationally.
Impact on Politics
According to a Gallup poll in 2019, 68% of Americans believe that the U.S. government is hiding information about UFOs. The discovery of extraterrestrials would likely reveal that the U.S. government had long been lying to its citizens and had not wanted to acknowledge the obvious reality. This would tarnish the reputation of American, and possibly other governments that had held such information. In an institutional sense, separate agencies or organizations would likely be created by countries to cooperate with the new civilization.
It is certain that states and political movements would seek to obtain advanced technology from the aliens in order to shift the balance of power in their region and globally in their favor. Extraterrestrials might have advanced technologies such as spacecraft using warp drives (faster-than-light speeds), energy weapons using concentrated energy (laser beams or plasma), defense systems with invisibility, and technologies that manipulate space and time. If any country were to obtain even a fraction of extraterrestrial military technology, it could easily dominate Earth. However, it is uncertain that this would actually happen. It is more likely that the extraterrestrials would not want to interfere in human international relations.
Although the sight of spacecraft in the sky would briefly interest nations and other political actors, in the long run, they would return to their political struggles, whether involving daily politics, elections, or war. Extraterrestrials, unless they were a politically extremely advanced civilization, would not resolve burning geopolitical crises such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Russia-NATO standoff, the war in Myanmar, Ukraine, Sudan, ethnic disputes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nigeria, Cyprus, Ethiopia, etc. Even when Europeans discovered the New World at the end of the 15th century, wars in Europe did not stop. They continued uninterrupted as if nothing extraordinary had happened.
Cultural and Societal Impact
The appearance of an extraterrestrial civilization would be a cultural atomic bomb. Ideas about the unique existence of humanity in the universe would automatically be proven wrong, opening up space for new philosophical ideas and concepts. Writers, filmmakers, musicians, and other artists would have an inexhaustible source of inspiration, creating works that explore new social systems and perspectives previously unavailable to us. Earthly culture would be enriched, and the societal impact would be immense. The view of societal issues would change, with greater emphasis placed on collective unity rather than individualism. In these new conditions, Earth would become a smaller part of a much larger galactic picture, and humanity would have to redefine its place and role.
Impact on Religion
The meaning of life is the subject of the most contemplation by theologians. The impact on religions would be even stronger than on culture. Some religions would survive, while others would not. However, those that survived would surely be redefined. Religions like Buddhism or modern spiritual movements such as New Age would interpret extraterrestrials as another form of divine energy or consciousness that exists in the universe. Similarly, Hindus would react in the same way. Hinduism places emphasis on the richness of different divine beings and worldviews. Hindus would see extraterrestrials as part of the cosmic balance. On the other hand, religions like Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, which are based on the belief that Earth was created exclusively for humanity, would likely view an extraterrestrial encounter as a threat to their core dogmas and would need to adapt.
Prominent Christian theologian Ted Peters discussed the impact of the discovery of extraterrestrial life on people’s religious beliefs in 2011. “If you speak to theologians, they occasionally address the question of other worlds and intelligent beings as part of God’s creation. And, believe it or not, this has been happening for 800 years.” In a study conducted by Peters, the majority of respondents said their own religious beliefs could withstand the appearance of unknown beings, while a minority of believers would struggle to reconcile their faith with the appearance of extraterrestrials.
Many believers would be willing to share church pews with extraterrestrials, and the clergy would likely feel the same. Astronomer and then-director of the Vatican Observatory, José Gabriel Funes, stated in 2008 that the Catholic Church would have no problem with the idea of intelligent life existing elsewhere in the universe. “Just as there are many creatures on Earth, there could also be other beings, even intelligent ones, created by God,” Funes said, adding that “this is not in conflict with our faith because we cannot limit God’s creative freedom.” It is also possible that new religious sects would emerge, worshipping extraterrestrial entities, believing in their divine nature.
Impact on the Economy
The appearance of an extraterrestrial civilization could completely transform the global economy if the aliens were willing to share their knowledge with us. Their advanced technologies could revolutionize industries, energy, and transportation, drastically reducing costs and opening up new markets. While initial fear of the unknown might plunge humanity into a global economic crisis, new jobs could emerge in the intergalactic market. People could live better lives. If the aliens did not share economic knowledge with us, the global economy would continue as before, but with new uncertainties. There could be increased competition between nations vying for access to advanced technologies or resources. Additionally, inventions and unique technologies would be protected.
Conclusion
What will happen (if it happens at all) will be revealed by time. Considering the fact that news about UFOs has increasingly become part of mainstream media in recent years, it is possible that something is in the works and that the first contact between Earthlings and extraterrestrials is not far off. Until then, we will live without knowing the answer to the question: are we alone in the universe? Based on the vastness of the universe, the answer is no, but solid evidence is still to come.
Author: Matija Šerić
Covered image: AI
