Thursday, September 01, 2011

17 ways humanity's first contact with aliens could go down

The Syfy Channel's DVICE blog posted this great slideshow, based on a report from scientists at Pennsylvania State University and NASA's Planetary Science Division. DVICE spiced it up with pictures and references to classic SFF, but the original report, "Would Contact with Extraterrestrials Benefit or Harm Humanity? A Scenario Analysis," looks equally fascinating. The authors of the report are Seth D. Baum, Department of Geography, Pennsylvania State University, Jacob D. Haqq-Misr, Department of Meteorology, Pennsylvania State University, and Shawn D. Domagal-Goldman, NASA Planetary Science Division. How awesome is it that these serious research institutions are actually thinking about things like this?

17 ways humanity's first contact with aliens could go down


4 comments:

Ms. Yingling said...

I had THREE boys in the library who all wanted books about space aliens. I will have to share this with them.

Unknown said...

It may not be quite what they were looking for, but have you read The True Meaning of Smekday? My son loved that one so much several years ago that he read it over and over again. It's hilarious.

On a more serious and classic note, I think that the Tripods series by John Christopher is one that can still be enjoyed by young people today. I loved that one when I was in middle school, and read it again as an adult and wasn't disappointed. They should read it in the ORIGINAL order though: don't read the prequel (When the Tripods Came) first, because it will spoil The White Mountains.

I think maybe the movie Cowboys and Aliens has raised some interest in aliens.

Lee Wind, M.Ed. said...

Okay, that was truly cool... brain now spinning with other ideas, *grabbing notebook*
thanks!

Unknown said...

Glad it helps, Lee. I can't wait to see what ideas your brain comes up with!