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Dateline: The New York Times, Thursday, December 15, 1960
Mankind is Warned to Prepare
For Discovery of Life in Space
Brookings Institution Report Says Earth's
Civilization Might Topple if Faced
by a Race of Superior Beings
Washington. Dec 14 (UPI) -- Discovery of life on other
worlds could cause the earth's civilization to collapse, a Federal report
said today.
This warning was contained in a research report given to
the National Aeronautical and Space Administration with the recommendation
that the world prepare itself mentally for the eventuality.
The report, prepared by the Brookings Institution, said
"while the discovery of intelligent life in other parts of the universe
is not likely in the immediate future, it could nevertheless, happen at
any time."
Discovery of Intelligent beings on other planets could
lead to an all-out effort by earth to contact them, or it could lead to
sweeping changes or even the downfall of civilization, the report said.
Even on earth, it added, " societies sure of their
own place have disintegrated when confronted by a superior society, and
others have survived even though changed."
Responding to Crisis
"Clearly, the better we can come to understanding the factors
involved in responding to such crisis the better prepared we may be."
The agency's 100-page report, prepared at a cost of $96,000
was for the space agency's committee on beings-in-space studies. The members,
headed by Donald M. Michael also recommended further study of other space
activities, including the diplomatic and propaganda effects and the implications
of communications and weather satellites.
On the question of life in outer space, the report said
that if intelligent or semi-intelligent beings were discovered in the
next twenty years they would probably be found by radio communications
with other solar systems.
Evidence of such existence "might also be found in artifacts
left on the moon or other planets," it said.
An attempt already has been made to contact outer space.
Government scientist at Greenbank, West Virginia used radio astronomy
in an effort to pick up signals that might have been beamed by intelligent
beings. They concentrated on a star about fifteen light years away.
Signals were sent from Greenbank were of a kind that would
show to anyone receiving on other planets that they were man-made and
not natural phenomena.
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