I have always enjoyed the night sky. Captivated by it and looking up at the billions of stars beaming their rays at us sparks a thought of the possibility of one being a planet, where some species with life as we know it might be inhabiting.
The vastness of the universe is truly overwhelming, and thinking of the small space we occupy it in can feel surreal. That raises the question of whether we are truly alone in this enormous universe as Enrico Fermi once raised the question, "Where is everyone?"
Science has done an interesting job in advancing the frontier of the search of extraterrestrial life: launching of probes, sending out the Golden Record, even broadcasting our cosmic address. Still, the question of whether we’re alone has quite some philosophical weight.
The most general response is fear: triggered when the topic of aliens ever finding us is raised. Most movies showcase aliens as these strange, hyper-advanced species who discover earth and are set to conquer us often by all means possible. When I ask people about their thoughts on aliens, they all share the same view: imagining them as threatening invaders. But doesn't it seem odd for a super advanced race, travelling at lightspeed, exploring galaxies to care about conquering earth.
This depiction, I believe, reflects something deep about the true nature of humans: the drive for dominance, to be in control. I hope someday, we'd realize this and see the world differently, knowing that earth is the only place - as of our current knowledge - where we can survive and living together with equality, fairness and justice is truly the way forward.
