Alien Invasion: Humans are Not Ready for Aliens, SETI Astronomer Says

The science fiction movie "Arrival" has fueled people's interest in the search for intelligent life and has left many wondering -- are we truly ready to meet intelligent life? Are we ready for an alien invasion?

Seth Shostak, an expert from Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute, who has been leading its efforts to detect radio signals from extraterrestrial civilizations, said yes, but not quite.

"There are some protocols, but I think that's an unfortunate name, and it makes them sound more important than they are," Shostak told Live Science.

Shostak revealed that the government has devised "post-detection protocols" for researchers who are working on detecting and monitoring possible alien transmissions. However, Shostak said that the said protocols are rules rather than plans as to how they would deal with extraterrestrials once contact is confirmed.

"They say, 'If you pick up a signal, check it out ... tell everybody ... and don't broadcast any replies without international consultation,' whatever that means," he said. "But that's all that the protocols say, and they have no force of law. The United Nations took a copy of the early protocols and put them in a file drawer somewhere, and that's as official as they ever got."

Researchers or scientists are required to report signals from aliens but there is no government policy stating the plans and establishing procedures in case there is contact, as far as he knows.

In a separate interview with Space.com, Shostak said that if there is a "secret plan" with regards to E.T. arrival, it would not be enough if the E.T.'s arrive in a hostile or predatory manner.

"It would be like taking on the Roman legions with the U.S. Air Force," Shostak said.

According to Shostak, aliens are likely the form of super intelligent machines that is impossible to outwit. Because of their intellect, they have managed to shed off their biological body to transform into formidable machines to survive the treacherous conditions of the outer space.

As such, Daily Mail notes that while we are spending our time looking for aliens or planets flourishing with biological components, we must focus on planets that would serve their digital existence.