Humans have been sending messages into space for decades in an attempt to communicate with life beyond Earth.

幾十年來，人類一直朝著太空發送訊息，試圖與地球之外的生命溝通。

But the question remains as to what will happen when we first make contact with an extraterrestrial species,

但是我們與外星生物初次接觸時會發生什麼事的這個問題依然存在，

with experts wondering both what we should say and how we should say it⏤which are great questions.

專家們都納悶我們該說什麼、該怎麼說，這兩個都是好問題。

I mean, what would you tell an alien species about humans or life on Earth?

我是說，你會怎麼跟外星物種介紹人類或地球生活呢？

Some believe we should only tell them about our, uh, good qualities and leave out our more, you know, destructive side.

有些人相信我們應該只跟牠們說我們好的特質，然後忽略我們較敗壞的一面。

And so far, that's what we've done.

截至目前，我們也都是這麼做。

Between radio broadcasts beamed into space towards star systems and golden records filled with the sights and sounds of Earth aboard the Voyager spacecraft,

從朝著星系發送進入太空的無線電廣播到航海家太空船上充滿地球景點與聲音的金唱片，

humanity has sent docile messages that include universal mathematical concepts, chemical equations, pictures of parents and babies, sounds of laughter and greetings, 

人們發送出了無數友善的訊息，其中包括通用數學概念、化學方程式、雙親與嬰兒的照片、笑聲和問候聲，

and even advertisements for Dorritos. Yeah.

甚至還有多力多滋的廣告。你沒聽錯。

But what happens if they return our call?

但如果牠們回應了我們的呼喚會怎樣？

There are some basic protocols developed in the 80s by researchers in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence field.

搜尋地外文明計劃領域的研究人員在 80 年代時已經發展了一些基本規則。

They say that anyone who detects a credible signal from an extraterrestrial species should share all their information with the public and other scientists,  

他們說，任何偵測到可信外星物種訊號的人都應該與大眾或其他科學家共享資訊，

and that no response should be given without guidance from an international body like the UN.

而且如果沒有像聯合國這樣的國際機構指導，就不應該做出任何回應。

But, other than that, there's no official government-led plan in place for when we make contact.

但是除此之外就沒有任何在我們做出接觸時由政府正式主導的計劃。

Though it might not make much of a difference.

雖然就算有也不會有太大的影響。

If contact is made when we receive a message through radio signals from distant stars,  

如果我們透過無線電訊號從遙遠星球收到訊息而做出接觸，

it would take centuries for them to get our response anyways,  

牠們反正要好幾個世紀之後才會收到我們的回應，

so we could take our time in figuring out what to say and how to say it.

所以我們可以慢慢地想好要說什麼、該怎麼說。

And if, instead, we first meet when they show up here on Earth, meaning their technology is thousands of years advanced beyond our own,

如果我們與牠們的初次會面是牠們出現在地球時，這表示牠們的技術比我們要先進數千年之久，

they'll be the ones calling the shots.

那將會由牠們發號施令。

Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean they'll be a threat.

當然，這並不一定意味著他們會造成威脅。

Carl Sagan believed that a civilization advanced enough to achieve interstellar travel would also be advanced beyond things like war and destruction.

天文學家卡爾·薩根認為，一個先進到足以實現星際旅行的文明，也將超脫戰爭和破壞等情事。

Or, according to the Zoo Hypothesis, if they determine that we are much less advanced than them,

或者根據動物園假說顯示，如果牠們判定我們發展遠低於牠們，

they may choose to avoid all contact and let us continue to develop naturally.

那牠們可能選擇避免一切接觸，讓我們繼續自然發展。

But if they are friendly and wanted to talk, communication wouldn't be impossible,

但如果牠們友善且想要對談，溝通並非不可能。

as long as we're advanced enough to understand their communication methods and its meaning.

只要我們先進到能夠理解牠們的溝通方式與其意涵。

Like in the movie "Arrival", linguists would first figure out their communication method, whether it be verbal or written or something else.

如同電影《異星入境》一樣，語言學家會先弄清楚牠們的溝通方式，不管是口語或文字或其它方法。

Then they would build up a vocabulary and understanding until we can ask them important questions.

接著他們會建置詞彙與理解，直到我們可以問牠們一些重要的問題。

Like, "Do you have any pizza bagels where you come from?" and "Are you here in peace?"

像是「你的故鄉有披薩貝果嗎？」以及「你們是和平地到來嗎？」等問題。

Hopefully, the  answer to both of these questions is: Yes.

希望兩個問題的答案都是：是的。

So, do you believe in aliens?

那麼，你相信有外星人嗎？

Let me know in the comment section below or tell me: What should we talk about next?

請在留言區跟我說，或者告訴我：我們接下來該談些什麼？

Coming up at 11: What will happen at 11:05 will probably end your life.  

11 點即將播出：11:05 將發生的事可能會結束你的生命。

Make sure you click subscribe and click the bell so you're notified every time we upload a new video.

請務必點擊訂閱並開啟小鈴鐺，就可以在我們每次上傳新影片時接獲通知。

And make sure you click "like" because it really helps us out.

也請務必點讚，因為那真的會幫到我們。

Let's see what else is on⏤Oh! Triangle Bob is getting abducted by aliens!

我們來看看還有什麼節目——喔！三角鮑伯正在被外星人綁架！

Click here if you wanna watch this video we did on aliens,  

如果你想看我們關於外星人的影片，請點擊這裡，

or click here if you wanna watch this video.

或是如果你想看這部影片，請點這裡。

As always, my name is Blocko, this has been Life Noggin; don't forget to keep on thinking!

一如既往地，我的名字是 Blocko、這是 Life Noggin 的節目，別忘了繼續思考！