Aliens could wipe us out with ‘coded message’ that shuts down electronics and unleashes killer robots, astrophysicists warn
ALIENS will choose to destroy humanity by "hacking" our planet over blasting us with space weapons.
That's the bonkers claim made by one group of scientists, who warn a single message sent by ET could wipe out all life on Earth.
That message, loaded with computer viruses, is a more efficient way to attack our planet than a fleet of warships, a team of German and American scientists said.
It could shut down our computer systems or gift us the plans to an alien technology that will eventually turn on us.
"After all, it is cheaper to send a malicious message to eradicate humans compared to sending battleships," researchers from the University of Hawaii and Sonneberg Observatory in Germany wrote in a paper on their theory.
The team said messages sent by aliens would likely first be picked up by telescopes on Earth.
There are a number of ways they could be used to destroy us.
One would be to suggest the aliens are about to destroy our sun.
Even if it wasn't true, the resultant chaos on Earth would prove catastrophic for humanity.
Another way would be to introduce an artificial intelligence that takes over or shuts down our computers or electricity grids.
One suggestion from the team is that instructions on how to build nano-robots that are sold as a new miracle cure for cancer could be sent in the message.
These robots may eventually turn on us, chewing up Earth or its inhabitants until there's nothing left.
The scientists said Earthlings need to be careful if we ever have the opportunity to open or decode messages sent by extraterrestrials.
A number of projects around the world are looking for radio signals sent by aliens, including a team at China's new state-of-the-art FAST telescope, the largest telescope in the world.
What are FRBs, and why are they important?
Here's what you need to know...
- FRBs, or fast radio bursts, are a mysterious space phenomenon
- They're very quick radio bursts that last just a few milliseconds (or thousandths of seconds)
- They're detected as huge spikes of energy that change in strength over time
- The first one was discovered back in 2007, found by looking back through space survey data
- Lots of FRBs have been found since then
- There's also one FRB source that is sending out repeated bursts – and no one is quite sure why
- In fact, scientists have struggled to explain exactly what causes any FRB in the first place
- Theories include rapidly rotating neutron stars, black holes, and even alien life
- FRBs are important simply because they're so baffling to experts
- Unlocking the secrets of what causes them will give us a much better understanding of what goes on beyond our galaxy
- And if it does turn out that some other life-form is causing these FRBs, it would be a world-changing discovery
They're looking for "Fast Radio Bursts" – strings of radio waves detected multiple times on Earth that could be messages from a distant alien race.
To avoid disaster, we could "decontaminate" any messages received by aliens, though the researchers suggest this is next-to-impossible.
Instead we may be best off discarding them without ever reading them.
The research was published last year on the preprint server .
Fortunately for us, the chances of us ever meeting – let alone being attacked by – intelligent life are almost zero.
David Morrison, Director of Space at NASA-Ames Research Center, recently admitted that contact with aliens is "extremely unlikely".
He reckons any messages exchanged would come in the form of radio waves sent across galaxies, rather than a physical meet.
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In other news, one scientist claimed earlier this month that hyper-intelligent aliens have already explored the galaxy and visited Earth.
Nasa recently released a stunning image showing the remnants of a massive ancient supernova.
And, a giant golden asteroid contains enough heavy metals to make everyone a billionaire.
Do you believe there is alien life out there? Let us know in the comments...
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