Most of the population of our planet does not even suspect that scientists regularly send messages to possible extraterrestrial civilizations. Encrypted data is sent into space, which, according to astrophysicists, can tell about our civilization, and the scientists who compiled them are even waiting for response signals. But, despite the seriousness of the possible consequences of such activities, no one holds referendums or even polls on this topic, the texts of messages are not discussed at UN meetings or at international forums. Meanwhile, Stephen Hawking, a world-renowned scientist, believed that contact with extraterrestrial civilizations could result in death for all mankind, since we are most likely not the most developed civilization in the Universe.
Astrophysicists spend a lot of time and energy searching for extraterrestrial life, both on the objects of the solar system and beyond. But if someone hopes to find at least bacteria as evidence of the existence of life outside the Earth, others believe that highly developed civilizations can exist in several places in the Universe. At the same time, it is believed that life can exist in conditions similar to earthly ones, therefore, each discovery of a planet similar in physical parameters instills a new portion of optimism in scientists.
Pioneer project plate.
For a more efficient search for life on other planets, as well as possible civilizations, in the last century, scientists began to send encrypted messages into outer space. In 1962, the USSR sent the first radio message from the Space Communications Center in the Crimea towards Venus, which consisted of the three words "Mir", "Lenin", "USSR". Then, in the early 1970s, NASA launched the Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 spacecraft, which carried message plates on board. Then the spacecraft Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, launched by NASA in 1977 of the last century and having already left the solar system, were also equipped with plates with messages. They contain information about a person, about our planet, the peoples inhabiting it, the achievements of science, music of different countries and peoples is recorded and there are photographs.
Voyager Gold Plate.
In addition, radio signals were sent to nearby stars, which, according to astronomers, had much in common with our Sun and around which planets like Earth could exist. This is the famous Arecibo message from 1974, which contains information about the structure of DNA, man, chemical elements and the solar system and was sent to the constellation Hercules, as well as about 20 more messages sent to different parts of the universe.
Arecibo message.
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Critics of such projects quite rightly point to the fact that human civilization still knows very little about the structure of the Universe and about who can inhabit outside our relatively studied solar system. And if an extraterrestrial civilization turns out to be aggressive and more developed or numerous, then the consequences for earthlings will be very dire. Stephen Hawking, for example, believed that contact with extraterrestrial intelligence is one of those risk factors that can destroy our civilization, along with resource depletion or global climatic disasters. For this reason, he believed that sending such radio signals should be postponed. Besides him, there are many more scientists around the world who oppose the sending of such signals. But at the same time, supporters of such signals say that in order toto become invisible to other more advanced civilizations, on Earth, it would be necessary to cancel all television and radio signals, since they are a source of information that aliens can easily record. Nevertheless, the question of the appropriateness of such messages remains controversial.