"We cast this message into the cosmos…"

I came across with a peculiar piece of news the other day; it appears that scientists have found a planet outside our solar system whose conditions seem to be very similar to those in Earth. I found this article on the subject:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/H/HABITABLE_PLANET?SITE=NDBIS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT.

You know what I think? I think that this whole talk about humankind reaching out to space in order to gain deeper knowledge of our planet and our existence is just bullocks. These noble intentions are merely there to cover up the real reasons for humankind’s eager expansion of the frontier. What we are actually looking for from the skies above are habitable planets, which we can invade if we manage to develop the technology enough before we destroy the Earth and Homo bloody Sapiens along with it. You know what? Maybe we would deserve it. We had a chance to take care of this planet in which we are, for the time being, living but instead we keep abusing it due to creed, vanity and thoroughly false and naïve feeling of superiority. We are superior only in closing our eyes to have a feeble excuse to ignore all the things we are doing wrong, things some of which we might actually be able to change. So, in our almighty stupidity, we reach out in space, hoping to find a planet to inhabit before it’s too late for us.

See how arrogant we are, thinking we are alone in this vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big universe. I mean, some might say we explore space in order to find signs of life on other planets but really, after the Voyagers, the humankind hasn’t seriously tried to prove the existence of extraterrestrial life forms. We look for places to move when it’s time for us to face the consequences of our own mistakes, mistakes we could have fixed.

Okay. Let us assume we found a habitable planet whose size was relatively similar to Earth's with temperatures that would permit liquid water, and we had the technology to transport life from Earth there. What would this include? Would we build a modern Noah’s ark with the entire earthling fauna as well as flora, to make the new planet resemble Earth as it was before humans began systematically destroying it? Or would the new planet resemble those seen in sci-fi visualisations, with only humans in weird costumes, an animal or two to experiment with, and a huge amount of advanced technology? Or would it be something else?

What if the planet wasn’t big enough to move the whole, ever-growing humankind to live there? On what basis would we choose those to be transported to start a brand new, advanced version of humankind, Homo Sapiens Progressus, Humankind 2.0? With eugenics, perhaps; accepting only those with the best genetic make-up including such qualities as athletic body build, excellent health, outstanding procreation abilities and above average intelligence, all between a certain age scale (of course) so that they could produce more of these über-beings to develop humankind to the point of ruling the entire universe? After all, this would be a golden opportunity to get rid of all those pain-in-the-ass diseases, the by-products of our own ambition; a limited number excluding everyone who have been decided to be too old, too ugly, too unhealthy, or otherwise having aspects the people in power dislike. I’m sure there are plenty of people who would be more than happy to see the Third world with its problems to disappear, drown in the fiery ocean of destruction as Mother Nature gets back at us. Out of sight, out of mind. Or maybe they would come up with a global lottery. “May I present to you this week’s main prize: million one-way tickets to Planet X! Is it you who is going to have this once-in-a-lifetime possibility to wake up watching the Red Dwarf rise on the horizon with your loved ones? With ten correct numbers and only fifty cents a row it might be! Don’t miss this opportunity, because I know you are just dying to get up here!” Yee-ha. I’m sure ex-president Carter didn’t know the message in the Golden Record still travelling in those two Voyagers is now a lie.

"We cast this message into the cosmos… Of the 200 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy, some -perhaps many- may have inhabited planets and space faring civilizations. If one such civilization intercepts Voyager and can understand these recorded contents, here is our message: We are trying to survive our time so we may live into yours. We hope some day, having solved the problems we face, to join a community of Galactic Civilizations. This record represents our hope and our determination and our goodwill in a vast and awesome universe."

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The Meme of the Day:

What planet are you from?
http://www.blogthings.com/whatplanetareyoufromquiz/

“You are from Jupiter.

You are exuberantly curious - and you love to explore newness. Enthusiastic and optimistic, you get a kick out of stimulating intellectual discussions. Foreign cultures and languages fascinate you. You love the outdoors, animals, and freedom. Chances are you tend to exaggerate, so try to keep a lid on that. If you do, you'll continue to be known for your confidence, generosity, and sense of justice.”