Let’s agree (just for the sake of this convoluted discussion) that the Universe exists.

I mean, I’ve written the sentence above and you’re reading it. Some kind of “thing” exists. In other words, it’s not some kind of “Matrix” projection or extraterrestrial simulation – there is a real world and we live in it. If you kick me in the shin, it will freaking hurt – it’s real.

Many people believe that the Universe “breathes” in an eternal state of expansion and contraction. In other words the Universe expands outward from a “Big Bang” event but eventually (after bazillions of years) contracts back into a “Black Hole” and then a fresh Big Bang begins a new expansion.

Or, possibly, it will continue expanding forever…

The science on this, like many of the scientists, is unsettled. In fact, many scientists belief the Big Bang is holistic hooey as continuing observations do not seem to indicate any contraction at all.

If it is still expanding, as those advanced observations seem to indicate, then there ought to be a “center” or initial point of origin, right? Well, no. Apparently every point of observation “creates” the center, more or less, though we can only hypothesize about other points of observation. Supposedly. Maybe. Possibly. Multiple points of origin perhaps, or maybe a center so far away we have yet to figure out a way to backtrack to it.

Endless contemplation without reliable data leads to gaseous and noxious clouds of gas (trust me on this).

The point is that the Universe is, and the Isness of it, is BIG. The only disconcerting aspect of this is the speed of light. If we look at the telescopic imagery of a galaxy 100 light years away, we are actually seeing that galaxy as it existed 100 years ago – we are traveling back in time, sort of – in reality, the galaxy could be radically different “now.”

We should move on.

Lots of people want to talk about “advanced” civilizations and extraterrestrials with incredible technology that may visit Earth, have visited us in the past, or are already here.

I admit, I enjoy all the books, movies and shows about extraterrestrials and such – very fascinating. The reality of it, however, is quite another story.

Look at it this way – the Earth we call home is over 3.5 billion years old (or possibly, even older). If you started counting 1, 2, 3… in a desire to get to a billion, it will take you around 31 years of non-stop counting. I am sure there is some idiot human somewhere attempting to do it…

Yes, 3.5 billion is a big dang number, but some scientists claim the Universe is something on the order of 13 plus billion years old, a much bigger dang number. Some are even doubting that latter number, thinking it is even more ancient. Science is as much an art as it is science.

Unsettled, remember?

I imagine (would hypothesize) that the progression of civilization (evolution, if you will) proceeds at similar rates in all places in the Cosmos based on a home planet having the right proximity to a star, the correct atmosphere, the correct size, the correct blend of chemicals, et cetera, ad nauseam. A truly prodigious number of variables have to come together in the proper blend. Even then, there is no guarantee of an intelligence arising that is compatible to humans.

Think on it this way – humans in our current form (Home Sapiens) have existed for around 250,000 years plus (according to unsettled science). However, rudimentary civilization, so to speak, only popped up around 10,000 years ago and more advanced ancient civilizations only 5,000 years ago.

We only stopped burning people at the stake for heresy about 400 years ago.

To say we are civilized now (just watch the news) is a mild overstatement of profound optimism.

Still, we are here, trying to make the best of it (though even a cursory glance at the news would suggest we humans are mucking things up pretty good).

In point of fact, there are so many variables which must align to permit life to arise (setting aside all religious ideas) that it seems to be very rare. Then again, if you look at the multitude of life and the variations on Earth, you do have to give pause – many scientists will tell you there are over 7 million different species of life on the Earth. That’s a lot of variety. Humans claim that we are the only species on Earth with authentic consciousness (but we could argue that definition all day) but recent research would seem to indicate that self-awareness and language is not limited to humans.

Any non-Earth civilization (wherever it might be) will probably be in a similar technological phase as we currently are on Earth. That is to say, capable of sending unpeopled probes (see what I did there) to distant points, but even that has limited viability.

Faster than light (FTL) travel is a provocative idea, and human scientists want to talk about wormholes, warp drives, warp bubbles, use of dark matter and other entertaining but highly theoretical notions. Emphasis on “highly theoretical.” Unsettled, if you will, as it probably is mostly bull scat.

While that technology is being “worked” on {insert hearty chuckle}, we have to use what we have, which isn’t much. For instance, the famous Voyager space probe (launched in 1977) now rockets through space at 35,000 miles per hour. The closest place we’d like to explore is the star system with Alpha Centauri in it, about 4.3 light years distant.

Based on Voyager’s speed, it should be there in about 75,000 years.

Sigh. Rhymes with cry.

So, it is with much bemusement that I have noted a recent cultural uptick in the interest in apparently extraterrestrial debris (aka, items of unknown origin). The conspiracy theorists among us swear that many countries, America included, have been able to salvage advanced technology from the remains of these items of extraterrestrial origin.

Permit me to doubt.

Many people will point to ancient architecture, sculptures, paintings and artifacts to convince you that aliens are real and have visited Earth throughout history.

Permit me to doubt.

Let’s look at an alternative idea by stepping into H.G. Well’s little machine and travel back in time about 7,000 years. There were humans back then – just like now – who were remarkably, incredibly, intelligent. In point of fact, one could easily argue that to “normal” humans such people would appear to be other-worldly, godlike, demi-gods, anointed, possessors of secret knowledge.

You know, aliens.

Such highly intelligent people were special and, compared to most of the humans drooling around, obviously from outer space.

Not.

It’s very, very, doubtful that such intelligent people would want to dissuade their ignorant brethren from that mistaken belief because such a belief assists those intelligent people in establishing, maintaining and increasing their power and control. Mostly for themselves, but sometimes for the common good.

Sometimes.

Rarely.

Even if we assume “evolution” proceeded at a breakneck pace in other places in the Cosmos, would lifeforms there be massively more advanced than humans who have been here on Earth, basically in our modern form, for 250,000 years plus?

Kind of doubt it.

My educated guess would be that other lifeforms (if they exist) would be at a similar stage of life as us – wondering where everyone else is and sending out probes to explore strange new places. Would these probes reach us?

Doubtful, but possible. You know, in another 75,000 years or so…

Check this math – the nearest galaxy that might (might/maybe/possibly) have life is 4.3+ light years away. Doesn’t sound all that daunting, right? Well, until you translate it into miles, as in 25 trillion miles.

The Voyager probes that Earth sent out in 1977 are now out to about 13 billion miles, or so.

There are a 1000 (one thousand) billions in a trillion, and Voyager needs to travel 25 trillion miles. The only number bigger than that is the national debt.

Contact with any life form is a long, long, long way off, and that equation works both ways.

Let’s be honest; anything moving through the air that cannot be identified is, well, an Unidentified Flying Object. Actually that phrase is irritating to some people. So, how about UAP – unexplained anomalous phenomena? Anomalous meaning something like deviating from the normal, aberrant, unexpected, non-typical. Unidentified.

Unsettled.

You paint your basketball purple and throw it in the air. Look, an UAP!

Consider this. There are something like 195 countries on Earth. Do they share technology all the time? No. Is it possible that many countries are working on experimental technology? Yes. Is the American intelligence network so incredible that we know about every secret project each of those 195 countries is working on? No.

Every country is working on advanced technological things.

You know, anomalous stuff. Sometimes meant for peaceful applications but, judging from human history, usually research into weapons and other destructive technologies.

Yes, there is speculation about travel through black holes (worm holes), FTL or faster-than-light travel, warp drives that change the space-time continuum (really?) and other fictive devices (emphasis on fictive).

None of which have been invented and are not likely to be. More unsettled stuff. Mind candy or clever ploys to get federal funding. It’s like dealing with a conspiracy theory. You are wasting your time trying to deflate a conspiracy theory because it cannot be proved – or disproved.

Hey, I need $50 million to explore an anti-matter galactic space warp engine…

Are humans “special” and no other life exists in the Universe? Talk about narcissism – hey, snap a selfie! The concern should be not that other life exists in the Universe, but that it partakes of a similar consciousness to our own so that actual communication is possible.

Of course, if our own human history is a reliable guide, we only have to study what happened throughout that history when a more advanced human population encountered a less advanced human population.

The answer is, death, destruction, conquest and enslavement – of the less advanced humans.

There will be (and are) some people who will say it is “God’s plan” or “God’s will” that such things happened and that certain cultures will always prevail over others. You know, if I deploy some kind of horrific weapon and successfully wipe out a country I deem to be a foe, well, that success was because God willed it in my favor.

I am sure if an alien civilization comes to take over the Earth, it will claim it is “God’s will.” I imagine if you are getting your ass handed to you it really doesn’t matter who’s will is behind it, does it?

If humans can do such terrible things to members of its own species, what would a completely different alien species do to humans?

The techie response is that advanced civilizations would have understanding and compassion. You know, like humans have for animals. Animals that we lock up and display in cages. Or force into slave labor. Or make into pets.

Or eat.

Don’t shoot the messenger.

Then again, there is the fervent hope that any advanced alien civilization will have a higher consciousness and recognize the right to life for all creatures and belief systems and help humans reach a new and deeper understanding of life.

Then again, since we can’t even practice that idea here on Earth among ourselves on a regular basis, what would give anyone the idea that extraterrestrials would adopt it, or want to waste time teaching/training humans?

250,000 years have passed and yes, we do have incredible technology. Instant communication. Translator devices to communicate in any language (though you do have to pause and ask yourself why there are over 7,000 languages on earth). Reliable food and water production and distribution (well, in some places). Incredible architecture. A mostly reliable energy grid. Mostly reliable forms of personal transportation. Decent health care. Life is good.

Yes, there are issues.

We can’t seem to find a reliable material to repair our roads. You fix it and come back 6 months later to fix it again. Telephone poles (you know, from the 19^th century) still adorn the landscape from sea to shining sea. The idea of “privacy” is something of a joke. A Model T Ford (circa 1908) got about 20 miles per gallon. Modern cars (circa 2024) get about 25 miles per gallon. We are told petroleum is derived from fossils, yet every chemical compound in petroleum is produced by deep earth processes. So, fossil fuel or abiotic oil?

Science tells us that the single most important contributing factor for our health is our weight, and yet 40% of Americans are obese. Bad genes, bad self-discipline, or useless foods being sold at the store? Maybe a combination, right? We have computers that make us more productive. The internet is a great source of information and knowledge. Sadly, about 40% plus of all downloads involve pornography. Toss in violence, bestiality, pedophilia and similar things and about 70% of Internet users are, well not really searching for knowledge. Sadly, think Bell Curve. The left side.

In the not-so-distant past we were making many things out of paper (you know, that biodegrades organically) but people wailed and moaned about the “poor trees dying” so they forced a switch to plastic. You know, the material with a half-life of plutonium that you see stuck in every fence line, treetop and field. So much for saving the world. Or, one of my favorites, we must cut down on carbon dioxide emissions because it is unhealthy. You know, carbon dioxide that every green living thing on the planet uses and, oddly, converts to oxygen that every living creature on the planet uses.

We want better communication networks and build them without really assessing the radiation risks – electromagnetic waves permeate our world. The next time you drive around, actually focus on how many wires and towers surround you. Wi-Fi, cellular, satellite, radio waves, microwaves, 3G, 4G, 5G, 6G – oh gee.

I would be less concerned with the arrival of aliens from outer space and focus on the aliens among us – which is to say, humans whose perspectives/viewpoints/adaptive strategies are very much foreign to our own (regardless of what country you want to talk about). Especially if that mindset goes like this – “The way I believe is correct, good and the only way. Anyone who believes differently is wrong, evil, and following a bad path. I should live and the unbeliever needs to convert, or die.”

Who needs extraterrestrials from outer space to threaten us – there are plenty of humans around more than willing to fulfill that role. In point of fact, there are many people who hope the extraterrestrials show up not to conquer us, but to save us (you know, from ourselves).

Either way, I’m pretty sure it ends poorly for the less advanced civilization.

End transmission.