The prospect of contacting sentient aliens is a staple of science fiction.
Still, speculating about how contact with an alien race might go is something we tend to enjoy.
Here are some fictional first contact scenarios and some thoughts on whether they are, at all, plausible.
The massive invasion Independence Day
I cant believe this movie was made in 1996.
Or rather, I cant believe how long its been since 1996.
(Yes, Im talking about the original.
The sequel doesnt exist in my reality).
40% off TNW Conference!
Theyre here to claim our natural resources.
And, implausibly, theyre stopped by a computer virus.
It would be much, much cheaper for ourhypotheticalaliens to enter into a trade agreement.
If humans can come up with the concept of a Prime Directive, so can aliens.
Wanting to increase diversity, to learn about different views of the world?
Unfortunately, it does require that our hypothetical aliens have some kind of strict rule about not contacting us.
That they never, ever break.
But is it plausible?
Perhaps if they were fleeing a supernova…
It could happen, but it just seems unlikely.
Elevating humanity Arrival
Side note: I loved this movie.
Honestly, I think it might be one of the most plausible first contact movies Ive seen.
The language barrier is profound, neither side understands the other and both sides are afraid.
And in this case, the knowledge is language; language being how we think.
What is the most likely first contact scenario?
So, what do I think is the most likely actual first contact scenario?
First of all,the biggest implausibility about every one of these moviesis FTL.
If we are at all compatible, we mightmake each other sickwith our natural bacterial and viral load.
If we arent compatible, then things in our atmosphere might poison them.
We might or might not be able to share food.
Maybe it doesnt matter.
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