Whilst worldwide intrigue surrounding UFOs and extraterrestrial life continues to intensify, renowned physicist Stephen Hawking consistently advocated restraint, contending that mankind’s enthusiasm to establish contact with alien civilisations could prove catastrophic.
During the period before his passing in 2018, Hawking persistently cautioned that any intentional effort to communicate with extraterrestrial beings, particularly those potentially far superior to our own species, might jeopardise humanity’s survival.
His concern centred on the possibility that rather than approaching us with inquisitiveness or goodwill, a supremely intelligent alien race might view Earth as a world ready for exploitation.
“If aliens ever visit us,” Hawking remarked in a 2010 episode of Into the Universe, “the outcome might be similar to when Columbus landed in America, which didn’t turn out well for the Native Americans.”
Hawking argued it would be foolish to presume that sophisticated civilisations would inherently embrace peace.
What did Hawking say about aliens?
Indeed, according to Hawking’s view of humanity’s historical patterns, particularly when dominant societies encounter less developed populations, it is conquest, colonisation, or disregard for suffering that are equally probable outcomes as diplomatic relations.
Hawking theorised that alien civilisations possessing interstellar travel capabilities would probably have depleted their home planet’s natural resources, driving them to traverse the galaxy seeking fresh territories to occupy or exploit for raw materials.
Under such circumstances, Earth might be perceived as a viable conquest rather than a potential ally. Renowned physicist Stephen Hawking was a fervent supporter of the quest for extraterrestrial intelligence, yet he drew a distinct line at the notion of actively seeking contact.
Hawking endorsed projects like Breakthrough Listen, which scans the cosmos for signals from other worlds, but he staunchly opposed initiatives such as Breakthrough Message and METI (Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence) that involve broadcasting our existence into space.
Hawking’s stance was clear: observing from afar may be scientifically prudent, but to broadcast our whereabouts to potentially unknown and advanced civilisations could be recklessly naive. “We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn’t want to meet,” he cautioned.
Hawking’s warning
This cautionary note has gained traction once more amidst a resurgence of interest in unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), the official term for UFOs, both from the public and political spheres.
The U.S. government’s release of footage depicting military encounters with unexplained aerial objects, coupled with congressional hearings spotlighting whistleblower accounts of possible alien intelligence, has sparked renewed curiosity.
Despite many in the scientific community remaining sceptical about these incidents being of extraterrestrial origin, the fascination among the general public has been rekindled, along with a renewed appreciation for Hawking’s insights on the matter.
Critics of active messaging argue that we have no idea what alien ethics, goals, or behaviours might be. Even if intelligent aliens were aware of Earth, announcing ourselves might trigger a reaction, good or bad, that we’re not prepared to handle.
Does anyone else support Hawking’s view on alien life?
Hawking was not alone in this concern. Figures such as physicist Michio Kaku and SETI pioneer Frank Drake have expressed mixed feelings about interstellar messaging.
The late Carl Sagan, while more optimistic, also emphasised caution, noting the unpredictability of alien psychology.
Despite these warnings, some scientists argue that staying silent is impractical or even counterproductive. Earth has been leaking radio waves into space for over a century, meaning that technologically advanced civilisations could already know we exist.
From that view, deliberate messaging may make little difference.