SETTLEMENT VS. THE SEARCH FOR LIFE
As humanity ventures ever farther away from
Earth, the search for a suitable place to settle also
includes the possibility of discovering ET life. Ethical
considerations arise if even fossilized life is found
on Mars, for example. Planetary protection efforts
seek to sterilize space probes, orbiters, and landers
other. A consequence of this is that astrobiology on all of humankind in ways that still receive very like for all mainstream scientists, is to separate fact
has received support and funding from NASA little attention and therefore produce very little from fiction (or misidentification).
because it is “more scientific” while SETI has had understanding.
The future of terrestrial societies depends on
to rely mostly on wealthy benefactors and public
many forces unrelated to space exploration and
support. Recently, however, astrobiologists have
called for folding SETI into astrobiology, which is
starting to impact NASA (Pass, 2019).
CONCLUSIONS
related impactors. Nevertheless, space, and more
precisely, astrosocial phenomena, increasingly
Arguably, the true two sides of the coin related become significant contributors to social change
as best as possible so as to limit the contamination The basic argument is that biosignatures and to the search for ET life is best represented by and cultural identification. In this case, the very
of other cosmic bodies by stray Earth-born life. technosignatures are two sides of the same the separation of the two branches (cultures) of search for ET life itself produces societal and
The recent crash of Israel’s Beresheet lander that coin. Both approaches seek to discover a second science; that is, the physical and natural sciences human impacts that require a much more serious
potentially spilled tardigrades onto the lunar genesis of life and it does not matter if that life is and the STEM disciplines versus the social and and focused effort. Exo-astrosociology brings
surface represents a breach of this protocol. considered intelligent or not. Beyond this, sharing behavioral sciences, the humanities, and the arts. the human dimension into its proper place in
ideas and findings between the two traditionally The question about whether life exists beyond conjunction with the efforts of SETI researchers
separate camps can result in new insights and Earth has long impacted on the cultures of and astrobiologists. In one sense, the discovery
approaches such as a fresh attack on the missing societies throughout the ages. It has not mattered of ET life may never occur – and it does not need
ET life problem. Still, while this cooperative whether or not the search was fruitful. Stories to occur – while the actual discovery will produce
approach represents progress, something big is have arisen and passed down from generation impacts on societies, groups, and individuals
still missing. Both of these approaches are in the to generation about ET civilizations, including that those in the social sciences and humanities,
same branch of science. those that have visited Earth in the past as part of inclusive of futures studies, are best equipped
cultures throughout time and around the world. to study and explain. The best approach moving
In modern societies, the UFO phenomenon seems forward is to search for biosignatures and
to be a continuation of this need to discover ET life. technosignatures as a cooperative effort by both
An important function for exo-astrosociologists, branches of science working in formal concert.
In contrast to planetary protection is future
human space exploration of cosmic bodies and
potential settlement. Keeping spacesuits free of
contamination is exceedingly difficult and mining
operations would potentially destroy possible
microbial life beneath the surface of Mars, for
example. There is no doubt that differing objectives
exist between astrobiologists and settlers, which
presents astrosociologists with an important area
of study that must take place. Competing interests
THE RELEVANCE OF EXO-ASTROSOCIOLOGY
reflected by profits on one hand and scientific The argument as to whether astrobiology and SETI
discoveries on the other already exist even before should be viewed as a single approach is a minor
anyone has landed on the Martian surface. In the problem compared to the relative absence of
best-case scenario, compromises can become social scientists and humanities scholars involved
formalized on Earth first. in research and education focusing on the search
for extraterrestrial life and its impact on terrestrial
societies. While this number is increasing, it
BIOSIGNATURES AND TECHNOSIGNATURES
Traditionally, astrobiologists have sought to discover
biosignatures while SETI scientists have sought
to discover various signs of technosignatures.
The former represents a biologically-centered
approach that focuses on determining conditions
in which ET life can survive, examples of Earth-
represents a pittance compared to those in the
STEM disciplines who focus on the search for ET
life. Somehow lost in the pursuit of detecting
ET life is the fact that this effort is conducted by
humans, and it therefore impacts on humans and
their societies. Exo-astrosociologists add the focus
on astrosocial phenomena to the equation.
based extremophiles that can have relevance for Too few social scientists and humanists focus on
ET life, and other related issues. On the other hand, this search. Additionally, the problem exists as to
SETI research has predominantly concentrates on how organized and interactive these individuals
attempting to detect radio signals, and less on are in their daily activities. The relevance of exo-
sending messages and looking for other types of astrosociology comes into play as an organizing
technosignatures, though that is changing. force seeking to create a community of social
Thus, the two have tended to be viewed as
separate approaches to the search for ET life. Each
pursued its own objectives independently of the
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HUMAN FUTURES
scientists and humanities scholars under a
single umbrella. This is important because the
relevance of exo-astrosociology lies in its focus on
the human dimension of the search, as it impacts
REFERENCES (Further related readings by Dr. Pass)
Pass, Jim (2010). “Astrosociological Implications of Astrobiology (Revisited),” Space Propulsion & Energy Sciences
International Forum (SPESIF 2010), edited by G. A. Robinson, American Institute of Physics,
www.astrosociology.org/Library/PDF/SPESIF2010_Pass_Astrobiology.pdf.
Pass, Jim (2019). “Exo-Astrosociology and the Search for Technosignatures,” AIAA SciTech Forum, 7-11 January 2019,
San Diego, California,
www.astrosociology.org/Library/PDF/JPass--Exo-AstrosociologyAndTechnosignatures.pdf.
HUMAN FUTURES
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