Would Humanity's First Contact with Aliens Be Over Dinner?

Speculation about the first contact with sentient alien species often involves fantasies of first meetings between two intelligent beings. However, a much more unappetizing and real scenario could unfold: such a meeting might end with the aliens being the main course for dinner.

The Unlikelihood of Compatibility

For humans to consume their first contact species as food, they would need a compatible biology. This is a highly improbable scenario for several reasons:

Different Abiogenesis Events

Aliens would have evolved from a different abiogenesis event. The complexity and uniqueness of biological processes make it extremely unlikely for extraterrestrial biology to mirror that of Earth. Alien biochemistry would most likely be as indigestible to us as our biochemistry would be to them. Crude oil, for instance, is a barrel of organic chemicals but is not suitable for consumption, just as alien creatures might not be.

Current Practices in Interstellar Dining

Humans have a long history of consuming sentient species for food, whether directly or indirectly. Throughout human history, we have encountered and consumed many non-human sentient creatures, including crayfish, grouper fish, sea otters, dogs, cats, elephants, whales, and dolphins. These interactions have led to the consumption of sentient beings for food, highlighting the bacterial threat of consuming alien life forms.

Underutilized Questions and Basic Understanding

Questions about eating sentient aliens often appear on platforms like Quora, but these are overused and often problematic. While the idea of encountering extraterrestrial life is intriguing, the reality of interstellar travel and the improbability of immediate contact provide a more grounded perspective:

The Distance and Evolution Problem

We are extraordinarily unlikely to encounter extraterrestrial life forms for at least a million years due to the vast distances in space and the complex paths of evolution. Our understanding of abiogenesis and evolutionary biology is limited, but these fields provide insights into the improbability of complex life evolving on other planets. The Vital Question by Nick Lane is a recommended read for those interested in this topic, as it delves into the challenges of complex animals evolving.

While many people are curious about these scenarios, it's essential to understand and appreciate the scientific perspectives that influence our current and future approaches to extraterrestrial encounters.

In conclusion, while the idea of first contact and dining with aliens captures the imagination, scientific understanding significantly lessens the probability of such an event occurring. The focus should be on the scientific and ethical considerations of first contact, rather than the more fantastical scenarios.