Getting in Touch with Aliens by Stephen Hawking || Summary and Exercise || Class 11 Opt English

 Who was Stephen Hawking?

•Stephen Hawking (1942-2018) was a world-renowned theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author who made significant contributions to our understanding of black holes, the origins of the universe, and the nature of time. Despite living with a debilitating motor neuron disease, he continued to work and communicate his ideas to the public until his death.
Summary:
"Getting in Touch with Aliens" is an essay written by a famous scientist Stephen Hawking. He discusses the possibility of communicating with extraterrestrial life in this essay. According to Hawking, there is possibility of the existence of
other intelligent civilizations out there in this vastness of the universe.

He then notes that while communication with aliens would be a significant scientific breakthrough, it also poses several potential risks, such as the possibility that aliens might be hostile or that their technology could be dangerous. Hawking suggests that we should be cautious in our approach and prioritize the safety of Earth and humanity.

Hawking goes on to discuss the challenges of interstellar communication, such as the vast distances and the fact that we don't know how alien civilizations might communicate. He proposes several methods for communicating with extraterrestrial life, including sending probes or messages that contain information about human biology, culture, and technology.

However, Hawking acknowledges that any attempt to communicate with aliens is speculative and that we don't know if or when we will make contact. He also notes that any communication with aliens could have profound implications for our understanding of the universe and our place in it.

Overall, "Getting in Touch with Aliens" is a fascinating essay that highlights the potential risks and benefits of communicating with extraterrestrial life. Hawking encourages us to approach this topic with caution and scientific rigor, recognizing the uncertainties and possibilities that come with it.

MCQs:
1. What is the main topic of Stephen Hawking's essay "Getting in Touch with Aliens"?
A. The risks and benefits of interstellar travel
B. The possibility of communicating with extraterrestrial life
C. The history of space exploration
D. The search for habitable planets
Answer: B. The possibility of communicating with extraterrestrial life.

2. According to Hawking, what makes it highly probable that there are other intelligent civilizations in the universe?
A. Recent discoveries of exoplanets
B. The vastness of the universe
C. Evidence of ancient alien civilizations on Earth
D. None of the above
Answer: B. The vastness of the universe.

3. What potential risks does Hawking note in communicating with aliens?
A. Aliens might be hostile
B. Alien technology could be dangerous
C. Both A and B
D. None of the above
Answer: C. Both A and B.

4. How does Hawking suggest we approach communication with extraterrestrial life?
A. With excitement and enthusiasm
B. With caution and safety in mind
C. With aggressive attempts to make contact
D. None of the above
Answer: B. With caution and safety in mind.

5. What are some of the challenges of interstellar communication that Hawking discusses?
A. The vast distances between stars
B. The fact that we don't know how alien civilizations might communicate
C. Both A and B
D. None of the above
Answer: C. Both A and B.

6. What method does Hawking suggest for communicating with aliens?
A. Sending manned missions to other planets
B. Sending probes or messages with information about human biology, culture, and technology
C. A and B
D. None of the above
Answer: B. Sending probes or messages with information about human biology, culture, and technology.

7. What does Hawking acknowledge about attempts to communicate with aliens?
A. They are likely to fail
B. They are speculative
C. They could be dangerous to humanity
D. None of the above
Answer: B. They are speculative.

8. What does Hawking suggest could be the implications of communication with aliens?
A. Advancements in technology
B. A better understanding of the universe
C. Both A and B
D. None of the above
Answer: C. Both A and B.

9. How does Hawking suggest we prioritize our approach to communication with aliens?
A. By putting scientific discovery above all else
B. By prioritizing the safety of Earth and humanity
C. By ignoring the potential risks and focusing on the benefits
D. None of the above
Answer: B. By prioritizing the safety of Earth and humanity.

10. What is Hawking's message in "Getting in Touch with Aliens"?
A. That we should prioritize communication with aliens at all costs
B. That we should approach communication with aliens with caution and safety in mind
C. That communication with aliens is impossible
D. None of the above
Answer: B. That we should approach communication with aliens with caution and safety in mind.

Question-Answers:
1. How might we be able to talk to aliens by radio?
Ans: According to Stephen Hawking's essay "Getting in Touch with Aliens," we might be able to talk to aliens by radio if we can develop a way to transmit information over vast distances. This could involve sending messages that contain information about human biology, culture, and technology, in the hope that aliens will be able to decode and understand them.

2. What did the scientific realize almost 60 years ago?
Ans: In "Getting in Touch with Aliens," Stephen Hawking notes that almost 60 years ago, scientists realized that the vastness of the universe made it highly probable that there were other intelligent civilizations out there. This realization has led to ongoing efforts to search for extraterrestrial life and explore the possibilities of interstellar communication.

3. What has the experiment, called SETI, so far failed to do so?
Ans: In "Getting in Touch with Aliens," Stephen Hawking notes that the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) experiment has so far failed to detect any signals that could be from an alien civilization. This suggests that either aliens are not attempting to communicate with us or that our methods of searching for them are inadequate.

4. "Finding the New World changed everything." Explain.
Ans: In "Getting in Touch with Aliens," Stephen Hawking argues that the discovery of the New World by Europeans in the late 15th century had a profound impact on world history, changing everything from economics to religion to politics. Similarly, the discovery of extraterrestrial life or the ability to communicate with aliens could have similarly far-reaching consequences, potentially revolutionizing our understanding of the universe and our place in it. This is why Hawking believes we must approach the possibility of interstellar communication with caution and careful consideration of the potential risks and benefits.

5. What does Milky Way Galaxy mean?
Ans: Milky Way Galaxy refers to the spiral galaxy that contains our solar system and is home to an estimated 100 billion stars.

6. Do you believe that intelligent aliens really exist?
Ans: The existence of intelligent aliens is a matter of scientific debate, and there is no definitive evidence to prove or disprove their existence. However, given the vastness of the universe and the possibility of habitable planets, many scientists believe that it is likely that there are other intelligent civilizations out there.

7. How can radio waves move between the stars?
Ans: Radio waves can move between the stars because they are a form of electromagnetic radiation that can travel through the vacuum of space. This means that signals sent by radio telescopes can travel through space, potentially allowing us to communicate with intelligent alien civilizations that might exist elsewhere in the universe.

8. What is the main message of this essay?
Ans: The main message of the essay "Getting in Touch with Aliens" by Stephen Hawking is that there is a possibility of intelligent life beyond Earth and that we should actively search for it using advanced technology. The essay also emphasizes the importance of being cautious and considering the potential risks of making contact with extraterrestrial life.

9. Justify the title of the essay.
Ans: The title of the essay "Getting in Touch with Aliens" by Stephen Hawking is justified because the essay discusses the possibility and importance of making contact with intelligent extraterrestrial life using advanced technology. Hawking argues that the potential benefits of such contact, including expanding our knowledge of the universe and advancing our technology, outweigh the potential risks.

10. According to Hawkins, why aren't extra-terrestrials going to be fluent in English or any other earthly language?
Ans: According to Stephen Hawking in "Getting in Touch with Aliens," extraterrestrial beings are unlikely to be fluent in English or any other earthly language because language is a human construct that would not necessarily have any meaning or relevance to other intelligent civilizations. Therefore, Hawking suggests using mathematics and science as a means of communication.

11. Why do you think Hawkins is optimistic about extraterrestrial intelligence being found in the future?
Ans: Stephen Hawking is optimistic about extraterrestrial intelligence being found in the future because of the vastness of the universe and the high probability that there are other habitable planets capable of supporting life. Additionally, he believes that advancements in technology and space exploration will increase the likelihood of discovering intelligent alien civilizations.