Would Aliens Be Out to Get Us?

When considering the prospect of alien life, humankind should prepare for the worst, according to a new study: Either we’re alone, or any aliens out there are acquisitive and resource-hungry, just like us. These two unpalatable options are pretty much the only possibilities, according to the new study. That’s because evolution is predictable, and alien biospheres should thus produce intelligent creatures much like us, with technological prowess and an ever-increasing need for resources. But the fact that we haven’t run across E.T. yet argues strongly for the latter possibility—that we are alone in the universe’s howling void.