In 1974 a message was sent into space from the Arecibo telescope in Peurto Rico. It contained details about Earth and Humanity, including mathematics, DNA, and information on our Solar System. In 2022, international researchers led by NASA's JPL have designed an updated message with even more information and are preparing to send the broadcast. Although scientific achievements by some definition, many argue that the potential dangers greatly outweigh any benefits. Although proponents of sending such messages argue that we blew our cover long ago, these arguments are still based on human capabilities such as space travel and detecting chemical or electromagnetic radiation from our televisions. In fact, some believe that a 2001 crop formation near the Chilbolton Radio Telescope in England presents us with a response to the original Arecibo message from 1974. The crop formation, which many also believe is just another hoax, used the same type of format as the original but depicted a different DNA structure and the image of beings with small bodies and large heads. It goes without saying that even the notion of such a response, particularly if it doesn't involve physical contact or outright invasion, is almost as chilling. Here we may have hyper-advanced aliens that may be sending us a postcard but want relatively little to do with us. Perhaps this is the real reason that many are motivated to message the cosmos despite the downside being so much greater and probable than the benefits. We desire confirmation from higher intelligence that we are worth communicating with. The idea that nothing is there or that what is there doesn't care, is equally as cold and terrifying, perhaps a greater horror than every Hollywood alien invasion. Being brushed off, evenly politely, by vastly superior intelligence, may be more devastating to our civilization than direct contact.
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