You will never meet an alien

No, I'm not saying that aliens aren't real. I'm just saying that you and I, and the next generations of humans living on earth will never meet an alien being. And yes, I am also saying that maybe, aliens have never been on this planet... most likely (99% sure).

But first let me clear something up. By, you'll never meet an alien, I mean specifically aliens who have reached a level of intelligence similar to ours. In other words, simple creatures and creatures with an intelligence level on par with a monkey don't count.

To better understand what I mean, let's take a look at what we believe aliens are and the stories that have led us to believe in little green men with giant eyes that are too big for their giant heads.

What are aliens?

Aliens (often abbreviated as "ETs") are hypothetical life forms that originate beyond Earth. The term is most commonly used to refer to intelligent extraterrestrial beings, although it could also encompass other forms of life such as microbes or plant life.

Aliens have been the subject of speculation and fascination for many years, and are a popular subject in science fiction and popular culture. But there is no concrete evidence for the existence of extraterrestrial life, the possibility that life exists in other parts of the universe is supported by scientific theories and ongoing research in fields such as astrobiology and exoplanetology.

Now, while we have no concrete evidence for the existence of extraterrestrial life outside of our planet, there are several lines of evidence and scientific theories that suggest that life could exist elsewhere in the universe. Here are some examples:

• The size of the universe: The universe is incredibly vast, with billions of galaxies, each containing billions of stars. Given the size of the universe, it seems likely that there are other planets that could support life.
• The discovery of exoplanets: In recent years, astronomers have discovered thousands of exoplanets, planets outside our solar system, many of which are located in the "habitable zone" of their star, where the temperatures are suitable for the existence of liquid water. This has increased the likelihood that some of these planets could support life.
• The Discovery of Extremophiles: Extremophiles are organisms that can survive in extreme environments, such as the deep sea, hot springs, or even outer space. The fact that life can exist under such harsh conditions on Earth suggests that it could exist under similar conditions in other parts of the universe as well.
• Detection of organic molecules: Organic molecules, which are the building blocks of life, have been detected in a variety of places in the universe, including on comets and in the atmospheres of planets and moons in our own solar system. This suggests that the raw materials for life could be spread throughout the universe.
• The possibility of panspermia: Panspermia is the theory that life could spread throughout the universe via comets or other objects that carry microorganisms. While there is no direct evidence of panspermia, it is a possibility that cannot be ruled out.

Although this list of evidence suggests that the existence of extraterrestrial life is plausible, they do not provide conclusive proof of its existence. More research and exploration will be needed to confirm or refute the possibility of extraterrestrial life.

Now, here are some factors that suggest that the hope of one day finding extraterrestrial intelligence may be a waste of time:

• The great distances involved: Even if there are other intelligent civilizations in the universe, the distances between stars and galaxies are so great that it may be impossible for us to make contact with them.
• the difficulty of interstellar travel: if other civilizations exist, they may face the same challenges that we do when it comes to interstellar travel, such as the difficulty of reaching high speeds, the need for space flight long-lasting and the dangers of the cosmic radiation and other hazards.
• The Rarity of Life: While life may exist in other parts of the universe, the conditions required for intelligent life to emerge may be quite rare. For example, Earth's position within the habitable zone of our solar system and its stable climate are thought to have played a crucial role in the emergence of complex life forms.
• The possibility of self-destruction: Intelligent civilizations may be prone to self-destruction through factors such as environmental degradation, nuclear war, or other catastrophic events. If this is the case, then the window of time during which a civilization is able to communicate with other civilizations can be quite narrow.

The historical evidence supporting Alien visitors

Some of you may be thinking; well, what about all the sightings that have been reported throughout history?

Yes, there are alien sightings reported every day all over the world. And yes, we do have some artistic and written "evidence" of alleged alien sightings from past civilizations. Here is a list for you on that.

• The Epic of Gilgamesh: This ancient Sumerian epic, dating to around 2100 B.C. C., includes the story of a man named Etana who is taken on a journey to heaven by an eagle and a serpent.
• The Bible: The Bible contains numerous stories of encounters with divine beings, including angels and even God himself.
• The Mahabharata: This ancient Indian epic, dating to around 400 B.C. C., includes stories of flying cars and other advanced technology attributed to divine beings.
• The Popol Vuh: Dating to around 1550 CE, this Mayan creation myth includes stories of encounters with otherworldly beings who helped create the world.

But please understand that these stories cannot be definitively interpreted as evidence of actual alien encounters. That fact that the stories are recurring throughout literary histories does not make them real.

Little green people with big eyes and big heads

Have you ever wondered why most alien encounters are with green or gray human figures with big eyes and big heads? Sometimes they are small and stubby, and sometimes they are tall and thin. And for some reason they like to probe us by sticking something in our butts.

The phrase Little Green Men in science fiction movies and stories sees its popularity rise in the 1940s and 1950s, during the early years of the UFO phenomenon in popular culture. The term was used in reference to a number of reported sightings of small green humanoid beings in rural areas of the United States, particularly in the Midwest. During this time the phrase was appeared in the short story The Little Green Men of Mayaya, by Harold Lawlor, published in Weird Tales magazine, November 1946, pp. 36-43.

However, the origin of the phrase Little Green Men goes back several decades before that. In a 2006 study published in the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, the phrase goes back to earlier publications:

The titular phrase is repeated many times in the poem "The Little Green Man: A German Story" (1801) by Matthew Lewis [see The Encyclopedia of Fantasy under links below], whose green-spectacled character is an unwelcome if perhaps not supernatural intruder into society. As initially applied to leprechauns, "little green men" appear on page 374 of Sketches in Ireland (1827) by Cesar Otway (anonymous), though it may even then have been a traditional term; the eponym of The Little Green Man (1895) by F M Allen is also a leprechaun. An early small green Extraterrestrial features in the whimsical story "Green Boy from 'Harrah'" (8 October 1899 Atlanta Constitution) by Charles Battell Loomis.

Cognitive dissonance is one of the reasons we keep seeing aliens

Now that we've been through all of that, let's add a bit of psychology to the alien idea.

The psychological phenomenon of believing in something despite evidence to the contrary is known as cognitive dissonance. This occurs when a person holds two or more conflicting beliefs, values, or ideas and experiences discomfort or tension as a result. To reduce this discomfort, the person may seek or interpret information in a way that supports their pre-existing beliefs, while dismissing or rationalizing evidence that contradicts them.

In the case of belief in extraterrestrial life, for example, a person may have a strong desire to believe in the existence of intelligent aliens, either because they find the idea fascinating or because it gives them a sense of comfort or meaning in the universe. When presented with evidence that suggests such beliefs are unfounded, the person may experience cognitive dissonance, which may lead them to reject the evidence or seek alternative explanations that support their beliefs.

Additionally, belief in extraterrestrial life is often fueled by popular culture and media, which can create a sense of excitement and anticipation around the idea of encountering intelligent aliens. This can make it difficult for some people to separate fact from fiction and may contribute to a tendency to believe in the existence of extraterrestrials despite a lack of scientific evidence.

And now let's add that the visual depiction of aliens or extraterrestrial beings has evolved over time through various cultural influences, including literature, art, film, and popular culture. Here are some examples of how the visual representation of aliens has changed over time:

• Ancient Representations: In ancient art and mythology, beings from other worlds were often depicted as divine or supernatural figures, such as the ancient Egyptian god Horus or the Hindu deity Vishnu.
• Science Fiction Literature: With the rise of science fiction literature in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, aliens were often depicted as humanoid beings with advanced technology and a variety of unique physical characteristics, like the pointy ears of Mr. Spock from Star Trek.
• Film and Television: Beginning in the mid-20th century, aliens became a popular subject in film and television, and the portrayal of aliens became increasingly diverse and imaginative. This included everything from the small, green, doe-eyed aliens of 1950s B-movies to the more realistic and nuanced depictions of extraterrestrial life in contemporary sci-fi movies like Arrival.
• Pop Culture: Aliens have become a ubiquitous presence in popular culture, with their imagery appearing in everything from clothing and accessories to video games and music videos. This has led to a wide range of visual interpretations of the aliens, from cute and cuddly to menacing and terrifying.

And the real reason you'll never meet an alien

And now, the two main reasons that prove that you will never meet an alien. All of which have already been mentioned, but when explained together they make more sense. At least for some of us.

• Physical Distances: One of the main reasons we may never be able to find intelligent extraterrestrial life is the great physical distances involved. The universe is so vast that even traveling at the speed of light, it would take tens or even hundreds of thousands of years to reach the nearest star systems outside of our own solar system. This means that even if there are other intelligent civilizations, it is highly unlikely that we will ever be able to communicate or interact with them in person.
• Time: In addition to physical distance, there is also the issue of time. Even if we could receive a message from an intelligent alien civilization, it may have been sent millions or billions of years ago, and the civilization that sent it may no longer exist. Similarly, any messages we send can take thousands or even millions of years to reach their destination, by which time we no longer exists or may have evolved beyond recognition.

These difficulties make it unlikely that we will ever have direct contact with intelligent extraterrestrial life, at least not in the near future. However, we can still search for signs of extraterrestrial life through methods such as searching for biosignatures on other planets or listening for radio signals from other civilizations. While the chances of success are uncertain, the search for extraterrestrial life remains an exciting and important area of scientific inquiry.

To conclude this journey

For those who claim to have seen them; the idea that aliens would travel great distances only to reveal themselves to a select few people is even less plausible than the idea that they would visit Earth and reveal themselves to humans in general.

Assuming that an advanced civilization had the ability to travel such great distances, it is highly unlikely that they would limit their interactions to just a few individuals or specific type of groups of people.

And again, the distances involved in interstellar travel are immense. The energy requirements to travel such distances would be enormous. Even if a civilization had developed advanced propulsion systems, the energy and resources required to build and power the spacecraft would be immense. This means that it would be highly unlikely that an alien civilization would expend the resources necessary to travel such great distances just to visit Earth and reveal itself to a few.

An intelligent being on a voyage of discovery will not travel for hundreds or thousands of years across billions of miles and then hide and talk to a few people on our planet. But then again, maybe there are many advanced aliens civilizations in our own neighborhood, and they are using their advanced technology to hide from us, since they already know our history.