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A virus or bacteria would probably pose no threat at all, because they evolve to live off of certain hosts, and it's unlikely anything from somewhere else in the universe could have evolved to survive in a human host.
Intelligent extraterrestrial life is another matter altogether. I think Unsettomati's hypothetical is far more worriesome than the possibility of microorganisms. Being visited by aliens would probably be the worst thing that ever happened to the human race, and quite likely the last thing as well. Stephen Hawking agrees, and is in fact quite outspoken about it - he has said numerous times that contact with an alien species would be our worst nightmare. He feels that it would have been best had we never announced our presence with electromagnetic transmissions, and regrets that we are past the point where we can put that toothpaste back into the tube.
I agree with Unsettomati that von Neuman probes would be the most likely mechanism of our destruction. There's no need for the aliens to drive all the way here themselves when they can just mail a package that begins replicating itself and consuming the entire planet to do so the minute it unwraps itself.
An advanced species with hostile intent, most likely to take our Planet's natural resources; Or a bacteria/virus that we would have no immunity to that hitches a ride on an asteroid/meteorite?
They'd just have to stay here for a few days to see how we're destroying ourselves more than anything else and just let that happen as it would be less work on their part.
I've always had this theory that we were put here by aliens a long time ago as a little experiment. I think they would come back, take a look at us, and say "What the Hell went wrong here ???!!!" Then they would get back in their little spaceships and go somewhere where it is a little more civilized.
I've always had this theory that we were put here by aliens a long time ago as a little experiment. I think they would come back, take a look at us, and say "What the Hell went wrong here ???!!!" Then they would get back in their little spaceships and go somewhere where it is a little more civilized.
If they can get here, we have no chance in stopping them. None what so ever. The level of technology they would have and be able to bring down on us would be unthinkable. They could kill all of us from orbit and take what they want. We could possible destroy ourselves and the planet on our own so they couldn't take it but that might be our only option.
I don't think people understand the level of technology needed for interstellar travel. They see Star Trek and such and think that is sort of within reach. Not even close.
If they can get here, we have no chance in stopping them. None what so ever. The level of technology they would have and be able to bring down on us would be unthinkable. They could kill all of us from orbit and take what they want. We could possible destroy ourselves and the planet on our own so they couldn't take it but that might be our only option.
I don't think people understand the level of technology needed for interstellar travel. They see Star Trek and such and think that is sort of within reach. Not even close.
Not for us, but for a more advanced species, it could be no more complicated than a shuttle launch for us (well, back when we had shuttles, but you get the point.) For an aboriginal tribe in the Solomon Islands, the level of technology needed to fly to Australia or Hong Kong would be almost unimaginable, yet airplanes fly over their island on the way to Australia or Hong Kong every few hours.
But you're absolutely correct in your first point - the way I always phrase it is, "any civilization that has the technology to visit Earth has the technology to do whatever it wants to us when it gets here." We would be utterly helpless against them. Again, like the aboriginals in the Solomons, it would be akin to throwing spears at F-16s.
If aliens came to visit they would probably come to the conclusion that "there is no intelligent life here" or they would view mankind as a virus on a beautiful planet and they might try to cure the planet of us to make it a vacation spot for their own kind.
An advanced species with hostile intent, most likely to take our Planet's natural resources; Or a bacteria/virus that we would have no immunity to that hitches a ride on an asteroid/meteorite?
Considering the principle in your question, which is total fantasy, proper answer is - Avengers or Superman or Captain America or Agents of the SHIELD will save the world. So worry you not.
Maybe they will send a group of miners to blow that asteroid apart.
An advanced species with hostile intent, most likely to take our Planet's natural resources; Or a bacteria/virus that we would have no immunity to that hitches a ride on an asteroid/meteorite?
What about us???
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