ET

International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) formed a private group called "search for extraterrestrial intelligence” (Seti). A giant new array of radio telescopes that will vastly extend the sweep of signals into outer space. Known as the Allen Telescope Array, it was built with the help of a $25m (£12.3m) donation from Paul Allen, the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft. 2 senior scientists resigned from the (Seti) over lack of public discussion about the consequences of attracting the attention of aliens by sending signals deep into space. Michael Michaud, a former US State Department official who has also resigned from the IAA study group is alarmed by his colleagues’ reluctance to halt transmissions pending consideration of the possible consequences. John Billingham, a former Nasa scientist who has quit an extraterrestrial study group warned that "We’re talking about initiating communication with other civilisations, but we know nothing of their goals, capabilities or intent" The scientists involved are all acutely aware of the dangers of ridicule in their discussions of ET and his more sinister cousins. Sir Bernard Lovell, the British founder of Jodrell Bank, once remarked that it was a “dangerous assumption” that any alien life would turn out to be friendly. My question is, should we prepare for other life forms of another planet?