Scientists and Aliens

Professor Stephen Hawking has warned humans not to go looking for aliens if we know what’s god for us. Some people apparently thinks that the reason might be a little selfish :)  [Link]

Of course, we need science — it gives us good things like headache cures and glow sticks — but let’s not pretend it’s warm-hearted. There’s a reason that scientists in comic books and B-movies usually get the prefix “evil”. That’s the wisdom of the people.

I wonder if Professor Hawking is against us communicating with aliens because such contact could prove embarrassing for the scientific community. Though scientists miss out on fun stuff like ghost stories and pulling wishbones, their great consolation is that they know more than anyone else about science. What if a bunch of aliens turn up and know a whole lot more? What if some dude with antennae and sucker-feet takes one look at the Large Hadron Collider and says: “Aren’t you going to take the lens cap off?”