Alien Contact - What Happens Next?

Explore the fascinating implications of potential alien contact in this thought-provoking panel discussion from the World Science Festival. Delve into the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, the challenges of interspecies communication, and the societal impact of discovering alien life. Learn about cutting-edge technologies used in the search, the possibility of interpreting alien signals, and the potential consequences of first contact. Examine the parallels between communicating with dolphins and deciphering alien languages, and consider how artificial intelligence might aid in the search. Reflect on humanity's place in the universe and the philosophical questions raised by the possibility of being alone or part of a cosmic community.

- Participant intros
- How are scientists searching for intelligent life?
- Sending messages into space
- What kind of alien signal are we likely to detect?
- Would we be able to interpret an alien signal?
- What is the closest that intelligent life could be to Earth?
- How would we know if far away transmitting civilizations still exist?
- How well can we communicate with dolphins?
- Dolphin research film
- Understanding dolphins vs. understanding aliens
- What are the steps to understand an alien language?
- What happens on earth after we contact alien life?
- "War of the Worlds" broadcast controversy and damage
- Will the discovery of aliens unite humanity?
- What if we’re alone in the universe?
- Could AI help us find aliens?
- Using our children to bridge languages and species