• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation

Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation

  • Policy Issues
    • 25 Years Since September 11
    • Fact Sheets
    • Biological & Chemical Weapons
    • Countries
    • Defense Spending
    • No First Use
    • Non-Proliferation
    • Nuclear Security
    • Nuclear Testing
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Missile Defense
  • Nukes of Hazard
    • Podcast
    • Blog
      • Next Up In Arms Control
    • Videos
  • Join Us
  • Press
  • About
    • Staff
    • Boards & Experts
    • Jobs & Internships
    • Financials and Annual Reports
    • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Search
You are here: Home / Nukes of Hazard blog / Stephen Hawking, Aliens, and Sole Purpose

April 26, 2010

Stephen Hawking, Aliens, and Sole Purpose

Perhaps this is what the authors of the NPR had in mind when they said that “the United States is therefore not prepared at the present time to adopt a universal policy that deterring nuclear attack is the sole purpose of nuclear weapons.”

Or as a colleague put it: “Is anyone else really hopeful about living to see the day that [sic] a Nuclear Posture Review makes an argument about needing reserve nuclear weapons to hedge against extrageopolitical surprise.”

______________________________

Stay home ET. UK scientist: Aliens may pose risks

The Associated Press
Monday, April 26, 2010; 7:42 AM

LONDON — British astrophysicist Stephen Hawking says aliens are out there, but it could be too dangerous for humans to interact with extraterrestrial life.

Hawking claims in a new documentary that intelligent alien lifeforms almost certainly exist, but warns that communicating with them could be “too risky.”

The 68-year-old scientist says a visit by extraterrestrials to Earth would be like Christopher Columbus arriving in the Americas, “which didn’t turn out very well for the Native Americans.”

He speculates most extraterrestrial life will be similar to microbes, or small animals – but adds advanced lifeforms may be “nomads, looking to conquer and colonize.”

The Discovery Channel said Sunday it will broadcast “Stephen Hawking’s Universe” in Britain next month.

Posted in: Nukes of Hazard blog

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Introducing: Neighbors Against Nukes October 1, 2026
  • BONUS Episode: The Costs of False Security – Live Audience Question & Answer Session September 30, 2026
  • Time To Fund the OPCW September 29, 2026
  • The Costs of False Security: The Fallacy of National Missile Defense, the Golden Dome and Nuclear Weapons in Space September 28, 2026
  • 2026 Annual Conference: $1 Trillion and Counting: The Pentagon Budget Squeezing Our Real Security September 16, 2026

Footer

Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation

820 1st Street NE, Suite LL-180
Washington, D.C. 20002
Phone: 202.546.0795

Issues

  • 25 Years Since September 11
  • Fact Sheets
  • Biological and Chemical Weapons
  • Countries
  • Defense Spending
  • No First Use
  • Non-Proliferation
  • Nuclear Security
  • Nuclear Testing
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Missile Defense

Countries

  • China
  • France
  • India and Pakistan
  • Iran
  • Israel
  • North Korea
  • Russia
  • United Kingdom

Explore

  • Nukes of Hazard blog
  • Nukes of Hazard podcast
  • Nukes of Hazard videos
  • Front and Center
  • Fact Sheets

About

  • About
  • Meet the Staff
  • Boards & Experts
  • Press
  • Jobs & Internships
  • Financials and Annual Reports
  • Contact Us
  • Council for a Livable World
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook

© 2026 Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
Privacy Policy

Charity Navigator GuideStar Seal of Transparency