Curiosmos
  • Home
  • Unsolved Mysteries
  • Ancient Civilizations
  • Cosmic Phenomena
  • Alien Theories
  • Curious Lists
No Result
View All Result
Like us on Facebook
Curiosmos
  • Home
  • Unsolved Mysteries
  • Ancient Civilizations
  • Cosmic Phenomena
  • Alien Theories
  • Curious Lists
No Result
View All Result
Curiosmos
No Result
View All Result

This warning about sending signals to aliens suggests we could be inviting catastrophe

Two scientists warn that sending signals to aliens could provoke a catastrophic first contact—and urge the UN to regulate deep space messaging.

Ivan PetricevicbyIvan Petricevic
March 3, 2019 - Updated on April 18, 2025
in Alien Theories
CC BY 2.0 / Beckie / Alien.

CC BY 2.0 / Beckie / Alien.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Related Posts

An artist's illustration showing the Military and a UFO. Depositphotos.

The Immediate UFO Situation

November 30, 2022 - Updated on January 20, 2024
An illustration of a UFO probe contorlled by superadvanced AI.

Congressperson Links UFOs and Biblical Angels

January 22, 2024

This warning about sending signals to aliens has scientists urging humanity to reconsider its cosmic outreach. Two researchers from Germany argue that trying to contact extraterrestrial civilizations could lead not to discovery—but disaster.

Not every alien encounter ends well

The discovery of intelligent alien life would be a turning point in human history. It could reshape science, religion, politics, and culture all at once. For many, the idea is thrilling: access to alien technology, the end of planetary isolation, even the hope of a more unified world. But others warn that we may be dangerously unprepared for the consequences.

This warning about sending signals to aliens comes from two German scientists—Professor Michael Schetsche and Dr. Andreas Anton of the University of Freiburg—who argue that efforts to communicate with extraterrestrials may be reckless. In their book The Alien Society: Introduction to Exosociology, they explore how contact could mirror past encounters between advanced and less-developed civilizations on Earth—with catastrophic results for the weaker side.

“It’ll be a showdown between Bambi and Godzilla,” said Professor Schetsche. “And we would be Bambi in this case.”

Their concern is simple: history shows that advanced civilizations tend to dominate, not uplift, the ones they encounter.

Three scenarios, none without risk

In their research, Schetsche and Anton describe three types of contact humanity could experience—each carrying unique dangers.

  1. Remote contact
    Earth receives a signal from space—this is the type of interaction pursued by programs like SETI. While seemingly safe, the researchers argue that even this level of contact could disrupt society if the signal contains information we’re not ready to process or understand.

  2. Artifact contact
    Humanity discovers an alien object—perhaps a probe or spacecraft fragment—in or near our solar system. Such an artifact might contain traces of advanced intelligence, potentially offering revolutionary technology. But interacting with it, or bringing it back to Earth, could carry unknown risks.

  3. Direct contact
    This scenario involves encountering an actual alien spacecraft—whether piloted by biological beings or guided by AI. It is the most unpredictable outcome and the one that raises the greatest fears about hostile intentions or technological asymmetry.

All three possibilities, the researchers say, highlight the danger of exposing ourselves without knowing who—or what—might be listening.

The threat of alien technology

One of the most sobering aspects of the warning about sending signals to aliens is the possibility of reverse-engineering alien tech. If a probe were discovered and retrieved, the temptation for governments or corporations to unlock its secrets could override safety concerns.

In their hypothetical scenario, the scientists describe a race to exploit advanced alien materials or systems. This could lead to unstable technologies, uncontrollable consequences, or even planet-wide disaster. Without understanding how this tech works—or why it was left behind—humanity could find itself using tools it was never meant to handle.

They argue that the danger is so great that the United Nations should step in to regulate or even prohibit active deep space messaging. The desire to make contact, they say, must be balanced by global responsibility.

A call for caution

Schetsche and Anton are not opposed to the scientific search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Their concern lies specifically with active broadcasting—intentionally sending signals into deep space in hopes of receiving a reply. They argue that this strategy lacks international oversight and ignores historical precedents in which unequal contact led to exploitation or collapse.

To mitigate risk, the researchers propose that the United Nations take a formal role in regulating interstellar communication efforts. Without a coordinated global policy, they warn, the decision to reveal Earth’s location could be made by individual groups acting without broader consent or accountability.

Their position is clear: contact may be inevitable—but initiating it without caution could have irreversible consequences.

Share2060Tweet98Share27ShareSend
Ivan Petricevic

Ivan Petricevic

I've been writing passionately about ancient civilizations, history, alien life, and various other subjects for more than eight years. You may have seen me appear on Discovery Channel's What On Earth series, History Channel's Ancient Aliens, and Gaia's Ancient Civilizations among others.

Related Posts

UFO flying over Baghdad.
Alien Theories

Cylindrical UFO detected by thermal imaging drone flying over Baghdad

March 9, 2023
The USS Nimitz UFO that reportedly hovered over an underwater disturbance in the ocean. Some believe that there was either another mysterious object or an underwater base where UFOs come from. Credit: US Navy
Alien Theories

U.S. Government’s Treasure Trove of UFO Evidence

December 27, 2022 - Updated on January 20, 2024
An alien holding the earth
Alien Theories

Could the galactic zoo theory explain why aliens haven’t contacted us yet?

March 23, 2019 - Updated on April 24, 2025
An illustration showing a soldier standing in front of a UFO. Depositphotos.
Alien Theories

Former Intelligence Official Claims U.S. Recovered “Non-Human Biologics” from UFO Crash Sites

July 28, 2023 - Updated on January 20, 2024
Screenshot from a declassified video of a UFO encounter in 2004.
Alien Theories

5 Times Astronauts Saw Strange “UFOs” in Space

August 25, 2020 - Updated on January 21, 2024
An illustration of a unidentified submerged object. Depositphotos.
Alien Theories

The UFO Study Needs To Focus On Unidentified Submerged Objects

November 12, 2022 - Updated on February 17, 2023
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Fair Use Notice
  • DMCA / Removal
  • Impressum
  • Contact
  • Fact-Checking Policy
  • Ethics Policy
  • Ownership and Funding Information
  • Impressum
CURIOSMOS.COM

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Unsolved Mysteries
  • Ancient Civilizations
  • Cosmic Phenomena
  • Alien Theories
  • Curious Lists